FR2798351A1 - DEVICE FOR FIXING A STEERING WHEEL OF A MOTOR VEHICLE ON A STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY - Google Patents

Abstract

This device, in which the flywheel (2) is adapted to be engaged on the column assembly (1) and is provided with a transverse recess (3) in which is disposed a clamping member (4) for fixing of the steering wheel on the column assembly, accessible to a corresponding tool (5) by one end (6) of this recess (3), is characterized in that the steering wheel (2) comprises means (7) for closing off this end (6) of the recess (3) allowing access to the clamping member, movable between an active shutter position and a retracted position for releasing this end of the recess, when the steering wheel is placed in the correct mounting position on the column assembly.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for fixing a steering wheel

  motor vehicle steering on a steering column assembly thereof.

  More particularly, the invention relates to a device in the-

  which the flywheel is adapted to be engaged on the column assembly and is provided with a transverse recess in which is arranged a clamping member for fixing the steering wheel on the column assembly, this clamping member

  being accessible to a corresponding tool by one end of this recess.

  Such fastening devices have been developed in the state of

  technique for solving problems with fixing steering wheels fitted with mo-

air bag dules.

  However, these structures have a number of disadvantages.

  in particular with regard to the reliability of the attachment of the steering wheel to the column assembly, because it may happen for one reason or another that the operator

  does not correctly place the handwheel in position before tightening the

tightening gane.

  The object of the invention is therefore to solve these problems.

  To this end, the invention relates to a device for fixing a motor vehicle steering wheel to a steering column assembly, in which the steering wheel is adapted to be engaged on the column assembly and

  is provided with a transverse recess in which is arranged a service member

  rage to secure the steering wheel on the column assembly, accessible to a corresponding tool by one end of this recess, characterized in

  that the steering wheel includes means for closing this end of the recess

  ment allowing access to the clamping member, movable between an active shutter position and a retracted position for releasing this end of

  the recess, when the steering wheel is placed in the correct mounting position on the

looks columnar.

  The invention will be better understood using the description which follows

  given only by way of example and made with reference to the drawings on the-

  which: - Figures 1 and 2 show sectional views respectively, in

  active position of a shutter member and in the retracted position thereof.

  There is indeed shown in these figures, a device for fixing a

  motor vehicle steering wheel on a steering column assembly

tion.

  The steering column assembly is designated by the reference ge-

  1, while the steering wheel conventionally includes a fixing hub

  designated by the general reference 2.

  This steering wheel hub is then adapted to be engaged on the assembly

  column and is provided with a transverse recess designated by the reference ge-

  neral 3, in which is arranged a clamping member, designated by the reference

  general 4, to secure the steering wheel on the column assembly.

  This clamping member 4 is accessible to a corresponding tool by

  example 5 by an end of this recess, designated by the general reference

line 6.

  According to the invention, the steering wheel also comprises means designated by the general reference 7, for closing this end 6 of the recess 3 allowing access to the clamping member, these means being movable between an active position of closing this end of the recess, shown in FIG. 1, and a retracted position for releasing this end of the recess, shown in FIG. 2, when the flywheel is placed in position

  correct mounting on the column assembly.

  These sealing means designated by the general reference 7 com-

  in fact carry for example an elastic tongue produced for example in

metallic or other material.

  This tongue then comprises a portion 8 for fixing to the steering wheel hub, an operating portion 9 adapted to cooperate with the column assembly when the steering wheel is engaged thereon and a shutter portion

  of the corresponding end 6 of the recess 3.

  Of course, different embodiments of these sealing means

tion can be considered.

  It will simply be noted that in the example described, when the flywheel hub 2 is engaged on the column assembly, the end of the latter abuts against the corresponding end of the operating portion 9 of this tongue to ensure , during the continued engagement of the steering wheel hub on the column assembly, the displacement of the shutter portion 10 of this

  tongue towards its retracted position, which then gives access to the

clamp 4.

  This can then be clamped on the column assembly, for example in an imprint thereof, to ensure reliable fixing of the hub.

steering wheel on the column assembly.

  To this end, the corresponding tool 5 can be adapted to be engaged

  in a cavity 4a of complementary shape to the clamping member 4.

  This clamping member can for example be formed by a screw

  adapted to move in a threaded recess of the hub.

  This then avoids any problem fixing the hub of your

  lant on the column assembly because the mounting operator can have access to the clamping member only when the steering wheel hub is in the correct position on

the entire column.

Claims (2)

  1. Device for fixing a motor vehicle steering wheel to a steering column assembly, in which the steering wheel (2) is adapted to be engaged on the column assembly (1) and is provided with a recess transverse (3) in which is disposed a clamping member (4) for fixing the flywheel to the column assembly, accessible to a corresponding tool (5) by one end (6) of this recess (3), characterized in that the flywheel (2) comprises means (7) for closing this end (6) of the recess (3) allowing access to the clamping member, movable between an active position   shutter and a retracted position for releasing this end of the evi-   When the steering wheel is placed in the correct mounting position on the looks columnar.   2. Fastening device according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure means (7) comprise an elastic tongue comprising a fixing portion (8) on the steering wheel, an operating portion (9) adapted   to cooperate with the column assembly when the steering wheel is mounted on it   ci and a portion (10) for closing the end (6) of the recess (3).