Steering device for a drive-by-wire vehicle

• US 20040012175A1
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SKF Engineering & Research Center BV
• Original Assignee: SKF Engineering & Research Center BV
• Inventors: Vries, Alexander Jan Carel, Kapaan, Hendrikus Jan, Holweg, Eduardus Gerardus Maria
• Granted Patent: US 7,017,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches

Abstract

A steering device (1) for drive-by-wire functions in a vehicle comprises a base (2) which can be fixed to the vehicle interior at the location of the driver, and two steering grips (3, 4) at opposite sides of the base, which steering grips each can be gripped by a hand of the driver, said steering grips being coupled and being moveable with respect to the base in mutually opposite directions.

Claims

1. Steering device (1) for drive-by-wire functions in a vehicle, comprising a base (2) which can be fixed to the vehicle interior at the location of the driver, and two steering grips (3, 4) at opposite sides of the base, which steering grips each can be gripped by a hand of the driver, said steering grips (3, 4) being coupled and being moveable with respect to the base (2) in mutually opposite directions.

2. Steering device according to claim 1, wherein the steering grips (3, 4) are slidable from their neutral position under the influence of a resistance device simulating steering resistance, e.g. a spring and/or an electric motor and/or hydraulic means.

3. Steering device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one sensor is provided for sensing a movement of the handgrips, said sensor being in closed loop configuration with a steering control device.

4. Steering device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the steering grips (3, 4) are coupled by means of a tiltable lever (5), which at each end engages a respect steering grip (3, 4), and which midway between said ends is pivotably (7) connected to the base (2).

5. Steering device according to claim 4, wherein the lever (5) engages each steering grip (3, 4) through a slidable/pivotable connection (6).

6. Steering device according to claim 2 and 4, wherein the resistance device is connected to the lever (5) for urging the steering grips (3, 4) towards their neutral position.

7. Steering device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (2) and/or the steering grips (3, 4) comprise(s) a display (10) and operating buttons, e.g. for accelerating/decelerating, gear shifting, shifting indicators, lightning, route planning, telecommunication means, e.g. telephone.

8. Steering device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (2) comprises an airbag (12).

9. Steering device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each steering grip (3, 4) has a straight or arc-shaped outer circumference.

10. Steering device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each steering grip (3, 4) has an arc-shaped rod (13), connected to a slide (14) which is slidable supported on the base (2).

11. Steering device according to claim 10, wherein the rod (13) and slide (14) of each steering grip are connected through a spoke (15).

12. Steering device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (2) carries a head-up screen or LCD screen for displaying vehicle control and performance data, telecommunication means e.g. telephone, route planning.

13. Steering device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein signalling means (16) are provided for signally a left-hand and a right-hand turn.

14. Steering device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the steering grips are parallelly moveable.

15. Steering device according to any of the claims 1-13, wherein the steering grips are moveably according to trajectories which are non-parallel.

16. Steering device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein each steering grip (3, 4) is slidable along the base by means of a linear bearing (9) e.g. a plain bearing.

17. Steering device according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein each steering grip (3, 4) is slidable according to a curbed trajectory.

18. Steering device according to claim 17, wherein the curbed trajectory of each steering grip (3, 4) is formed according to a circular arc.

19. Steering device according to claim 18, wherein the distance between the curbed trajectories is smaller than the sum of the radii of their circular arcs.

20. Steering device according to claim 19, wherein each steering grip (3, 4) has a tooth rack (20) which is curbed according to the circular arcs, pinions (21) being rotatably accommodated in the base (2) which engage the curbed tooth racks (20).

21. Steering device according to claim 20, wherein the pinions (21) each engage a central tooth wheel (22), said central tooth wheel (22) being connectable to a steering control.

22. Steering device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the basis (2) comprises a hand rest (23) which extends past the hand grips.

23. Steering device according to claim 11, wherein the rod (13) is connected to the slide (14) through a pivot (24).

24. In combination, a steering device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, and a mechanically operated backup system (18) for controlling prime vehicle safety functions, such as steering and braking in case of a power failure.

25. Combination according to claim 24, wherein locking means are provided for locking the steering grips (3, 4) with respect to the base (2) in the case of a power failure, said fixed base (2) being linked to the backup system (18) and being released from a fixed position to a rotatable position in the case of said power failure.

26. In combination, a steering device according to any of claims 1-25, and a steering column structure (18) comprising one or more foot pedals (19) for e.g. acceleration and/or braking.

27. Combination according to claim 26, wherein the steering column structure (18) comprises electric lines and connector for connection to the vehicle electronics car management.