Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D1/00—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
  • B62D1/02—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle vehicle-mounted
  • B62D1/16—Steering columns
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D1/00—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
  • B62D1/02—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle vehicle-mounted
  • B62D1/16—Steering columns
  • B62D1/20—Connecting steering column to steering gear
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D1/00—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
  • B62D1/02—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle vehicle-mounted
  • B62D1/04—Hand wheels
  • B62D1/10—Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable
  • B62D1/105—Non-rotatable hubs, e.g. the central part of the steering wheel not rotating
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D15/00—Steering not otherwise provided for
  • B62D15/02—Steering position indicators ; Steering position determination; Steering aids
  • B62D15/021—Determination of steering angle
  • B62D15/0215—Determination of steering angle by measuring on the steering column
  • B62D15/022—Determination of steering angle by measuring on the steering column on or near the connection between the steering wheel and steering column

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a modular assembly for use in a steering wheel arrangement, including a method of assembling a steering wheel arrangement incorporating such a modular assembly and a method of modifying such a steering wheel arrangement.
• auxiliary systems associated with the modern motor vehicle.
• auxiliary systems might include, for example, engine management systems, inflatable air-bag systems, diagnostic systems, power management systems such as the Traction Control System (TCS), as well as advanced braking systems such as the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) or the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®).
• TCS Traction Control System
• ABS Anti-lock Braking System
• ESP® Electronic Stability Program
• auxiliary systems for example some air-bag systems and the ESP® in particular, additional functionality must be incorporated into the steering wheel arrangement for the motor vehicle, for example by including one or more angle sensors as part of the steering wheel arrangement, configured to sense the angular position of the steering column of the motor vehicle.
• the specific required functionality of the steering wheel arrangement may vary from motor vehicle to motor vehicle.
• the manufacture of specific, dedicated steering wheel arrangements according to the required functionality for a given motor vehicle may be inconvenient and costly.
• a modular assembly for use in a steering wheel arrangement which incorporates a steering wheel hub element, a steering column connected to a rotatable steering wheel frame, and a steering column sleeve for receiving the steering column therethrough, the modular assembly having an associated functionality and being configured for removable engagement with the steering wheel hub element and the column sleeve, wherein said modular assembly may be positioned between, and engaged with, said steering wheel hub element and said column sleeve so as to fixedly secure the hub element to the column sleeve.
• the modular assembly allows for a significant level of design flexibility in assembling a steering wheel arrangement.
• the modular assembly can conveniently be configured to have a certain, desired functionality in the context of the steering wheel arrangement, so that the overall functionality of the steering wheel arrangement is determined in part by the particular functionality of the modular assembly and, on the other hand, provided the modular assembly is configured to engage both the steering wheel hub element and the column sleeve, without having to modify the configuration of the remaining components of the steering wheel arrangement.
• the modular assembly according to the present invention allows "standardised" steering wheel mechanisms and steering column sleeves to be employed in different steering wheel arrangements having different overall functionalities.
• a steering hub element and steering column is provided, with a column sleeve surrounding said steering column, the steering wheel hub element being spaced axially from the column sleeve and fixedly connect to the column sleeve by means of a modular assembly according to the present invention.
• a method of assembling a steering wheel arrangement comprising providing a steering wheel hub element and a column sleeve for receiving a steering column therethrough, selecting a modular assembly in accordance with the desired overall functionality of the steering wheel arrangement, the modular assembly being selected from a plurality of alternative such modular assemblies having alternative functionalities, positioning the selected modular assembly between the hub element and column sleeve, and engaging the modular assembly with the hub element and column sleeve to fixedly connect the hub element to the column sleeve.
• the modular assembly comprises a single module.
• the modular assembly may comprise a plurality of interconnected modules.
• each module is in the form of a spacer module which functions to space the steering wheel hub element at a predetermined distance from the column sleeve.
• At least one module further incorporates an angle sensor which may function to detect the angular position of a steering column.
• At least one module further incorporates one or more energy absorbing portions which function to dissipate the energy associated with an impact force.
• FIGURE 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a steering wheel arrangement incorporating a modular assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention
• FIGURE 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a steering wheel arrangement incorporating an alternative embodiment modular assembly according to the present invention.
• FIG 1 shows a steering wheel arrangement 1 comprising a steering wheel hub element 2, incorporating a mounting portion 2a, a rotatable steering wheel frame 3, a steering column 4 operably connected for rotation with the rotatable steering wheel frame 3, and a column sleeve 5, the column sleeve 5 receiving the steering column 4 therethrough.
• the precise details of the steering mechanism being the mechanism by which the steering wheel frame 3 is mounted for rotation with the steering column 4, are not relevant for understanding the present invention. Suffice to say that the steering mechanism (indicated generally as being those components enclosed by the dotted lines shown in Figure 1) allows for rotation of the steering frame 3 with the steering column 4, relative to the hub element 2.
• a modular assembly in this case in the form of an ESP® sensor module 6, is positioned between the column sleeve 5 and the steering wheel hub element 2.
• the sensor module 6 is generally in the shape of a hollow “mushroom” and comprises a collar 6a, incorporating an outwardly extending, peripheral annular flange 6b, and a hollow, generally dome-shaped cover element 6c incorporating a respective outwardly extending, peripheral, annular flange 6d.
• the collar 6a and cover element 6c are fixedly attached to one another by means of a plurality of bolts 7 (of which only two are shown in Figure 1) extending through the respective flanges 6b, 6d.
• a clearance hole 6e is formed in the cover element 6c, the clearance hole being axially aligned with the collar 6a.
• a sensor is mounted within the hollow interior of the sensor module 6, in the form of an annular steering column-angle sensor 8, the sensor 8 similarly being axially aligned with the collar 6a such that the collar 6a, angle sensor 8 and clearance hole 6e together define a through-passage in the sensor module 6.
• the collar 6a is dimensioned to fit around the upper portion of the column sleeve 5 with the upper end of the column sleeve 5 being located against an abutment shoulder 9 formed on the inner surface of the collar 6a.
• a plurality of bolts 10 extend through the collar 6a and column sleeve 5 to engage the collar 6a with the column sleeve 5.
• the cover element 6c incorporates an annular attachment surface 6f which engages the mounting portion 2a of the hub element 2, and is secured to the hub element 2 by means of a plurality of bolts 11 (of which only one is shown in Figure 1 ) which extend down through the hub element 2, mounting portion 2a and through the annular attachment surface 6f of the cover element 6c to secure the cover element 6c to the hub element 2.
• the sensor module 6 is thus positioned between the column sleeve 5 and steering wheel hub element 2, being detachably engaged with both the column sleeve 5 and hub element 2 to fixedly connect the hub element 2 with the column sleeve 5.
• the steering column 4 extends through the collar 6a, angle sensor 8 and clearance hole 6e, whereby the steering column (and steering wheel frame element 3) may be rotated with respect to the hub element 2, sensor module 6 (including the angle sensor 8) and column sleeve 5.
• the angle sensor 8 is connected to an external sensor circuit (not shown) forming part of an auxiliary vehicle system (not shown), in particular an ESP® system. As such, it will be appreciated that it is a function of the sensor module 6 to detect the angular position of the steering column 5.
• the sensor module 6 also functions to space the steering wheel mechanism from the column sleeve 5, such that the sleeve 5 and steering wheel mechanism are appropriately positioned in relation to other components forming the steering wheel arrangement 1.
• FIG. 2 an alternative embodiment of a modular assembly is shown, positioned between steering wheel hub element 2 and column sleeve 5 of a steering wheel arrangement 1a.
• the modular assembly shown in Figure 2 is in the form of a spacer module 12 having a hollow, cylindrical sleeve-like shape.
• the spacer module 12 is dimensioned to fit around the upper end of the column sleeve 5, with the upper end of the column sleeve 5 being located against a pair of inwardly projecting abutment flanges 13 formed near the lower end of the spacer module 12.
• a plurality of bolts 14 (of which only one is shown in Figure 2) extend through the wall of the spacer module 12 and into the column sleeve 5 to secure the spacer module 12 to the column sleeve 5.
• the upper edge of the spacer module 12 incorporates an outwardly extending attachment flange 12a which engages the mounting portion 2a of the hub element 2, the spacer module 12 being secured to the mounting portion 2a by means of a plurality of bolts 11 (of which only one is shown in Figure 2) extending down through the hub element 2, mounting portion 2a and into the attachment flange 12a.
• the spacer module 12 is thus positioned between the column sleeve 5 and steering wheel hub element 2, and detachably engaged with both the column sleeve 5 and hub element 2 to fixedly connect the hub element to the column sleeve 5.
• the steering column 4 extends through the sleeve-like spacer module 12, whereby the steering column (and steering wheel element 3) may be rotated with respect to the hub element 2, spacer module 12 and column sleeve 5.
• the overall functionality of the steering wheel arrangement 1a does not require a steering column angle sensor; nevertheless, the spacer module 12 performs the function of spacing the steering wheel mechanism from the column sleeve 5, such that the sleeve 5 and steering wheel mechanism are appropriately positioned in relation to other components forming the steering wheel arrangement 1a.
• each of the modular assemblies 6, 12 shown in Figures 1 and 2 are configured for engagement with the same column sleeve 5 and steering wheel hub element 2.
• a modular assembly affords the possibility of assembling different steering wheel arrangements having different overall functionalities without the costly task of having to manufacture multiple different components, such as the steering wheel mechanism, hub elements and column sleeves. Rather, one need only incorporate the desired functionality into the modular assembly itself in order to determine the overall functionality of the steering wheel arrangement, the modular assembly being configured to be positioned between the steering wheel hub element and column sleeve, without having to modify the steering wheel mechanism and/or column sleeve to accommodate the particular functionality (so that 'standard' steering wheel components can, for example, be used regardless of the overall desired functionality of the steering wheel arrangement).
• a steering wheel column sleeve and steering hub element may be provided, and a modular assembly selected from a plurality of alternative modular assemblies having alternative functionalities and each being configured for engagement between the given steering wheel column sleeve and steering wheel hub element.
• the modular assembly may then be positioned between the hub element and column sleeve and engaged thereto so as to fixedly connect the hub element to the column sleeve.
• the modular assembly is selected in accordance with the desired overall functionality of the steering wheel arrangement, whilst the same steering hub element 2 and column sleeve 5 can be used in each case.
• the use of a modular assembly allows for a convenient method of modifying the particular functionality of a steering wheel arrangement.
• the steering wheel arrangement 1 (Fig. 1) could conveniently be modified by directly substituting the sensor module 6 with the spacer module 12, thereby resulting in steering wheel arrangement 1a (Fig. 2), without the need to modify the hub element 2 or column sleeve 5.
• This is particularly advantageous where it is required to "retro-fit" a particular auxiliary system which requires modification of the steering wheel arrangement to accommodate the desired new functionality.
• the present invention has been described with reference to a modular assembly incorporating the function of an angle sensor (sensor module 6) and a spacer member (spacer module 12), it is to be appreciated that the invention might equally apply to a modular assembly having any particular desired functionality.
• the modular assembly might incorporate one or more energy absorbing portions, for example in the form of elastomer inserts or springs, for dissipating the energy associated with an impact force.
• the modular assembly is in the form of a single module (i.e. sensor module 6 or spacer module 12) it is to be noted that the modular assembly might comprises a plurality of interconnected modules, each module having an associated functionality.
• each module (or at least two modules) within the modular assembly may have a different functionality, whereby the functionality of the modular assembly as a whole would be determined by the different functionalities of the modules making up the modular assembly. It is envisaged that a modular assembly incorporating a plurality of modules would afford an even greater degree of design flexibility in assembling a steering wheel arrangement.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Air Bags (AREA)
• Steering Controls (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=36998436

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (12)

• 2006
  • 2006-07-20 GB GB0614446A patent/GB2440158A/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2007
  • 2007-06-26 EP EP07748276A patent/EP2043900A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-06-26 WO PCT/SE2007/000615 patent/WO2008010758A1/en not_active Ceased

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