Steering column comprising a steering wheel for a motor vehicle

• US 20050173915A1
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Stich, Anton
• Application Number:
  US10/517,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20050173915A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/779
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/224 acting between the steering wheel and the steering gear, e.g. on the steering column
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/005 using electro- or magnetostrictive actuation means generating of mechanical vibrations operating with electrostriction B06B1/06, with magnetostriction B06B1/08; vehicle suspension arrangements characterised by use of piezoelectric elements B60G17/01941; piezoelectric, electrostrictive and magnetostrictive devices per se H10N30/00

Abstract

A system for dampening vibrations transmitted from a surface over which a vehicle traverses and the engine of the vehicle, the vehicle having a steering column being supported on a retainer connected to the body of the vehicle, operatively connected to a steering gear and having a steering wheel, generally including means for emitting suppressing vibrations, mounted on the steering column between the retainer of the steering column and the steering wheel, and operatively connected to a control means; and means for sensing vibrations, mounted on the steering column between the vibration emitting means and the steering wheel and operatively connectable to the control means.

Claims

1-4. -4. (canceled)

5. A system for dampening vibrations transmitted from a surface over which a vehicle traverses, and the engine of said vehicle, said vehicle having a steering column being supported on a retainer connected to the body of said vehicle, operatively connected to a steering gear and having a steering wheel, comprising:

means for emitting suppressing vibrations, mounted on said steering column between said retainer and said steering wheel, and operatively connectable to a control means; and

means for sensing vibrations, mounted on said steering column between said vibration emitting means and said steering wheel, and operatively connectable to said control means.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said suppression vibration emitting means comprises a piezoceramic actuator.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said actuator includes at least two piezoceramic elements spaced about the periphery of said steering column and being firmly secured to the surface thereof.

8. A system according to claim 6 wherein said actuator comprises a stack of piezo elements forming a longitudinal section of said steering column across the cross-section thereof.

9. A system according to claim 5 including a control means operatively connected to said sensing means and said suppression vibration emitting means.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said control means is operable to apply a signal to said actuator causing said actuator to vibrate at a frequency equal and opposite in phase to a sensed frequency.