Steering control for self-propelled vehicles

• US 20060022442A1
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aphrodite Agencies Limited
• Original Assignee: Aphrodite Agencies Limited
• Inventors: Rubboli, Gian Mario
• Granted Patent: US 7,954,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/06 Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/00 Steering devices steering devices specially adapted for one particular kind of cycle specified in groups B62K1/00 - B62K17/00, see the relevant group
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2087 Rim grips and covers

Abstract

The present invention concerns a steering control for vehicles such as automobiles or motorcycles in the form of a steering wheel or of a handlebar, with a gripping zone presenting an elastically variable geometry deformable under the action of the hand or the hands of the driver gripping the steering control fast and forcefully in case of danger, and thus of panic, in such a manner that a hydraulic or pneumatic sensor located inside the gripping zone is activated.

According to the present invention the sensor (8, 16) extends over essentially the whole zone of the steering control (1) that can be gripped by at least one hand of the driver, and consists of a tube (9, 17) of elastic material, filled with a liquid, and embedded entirely in a foamed plastic material (6). The advantages of the present invention are seen in the high effectiveness and reliability of the safety device, in the elimination of potential danger caused by mistaken reactions of the driver, and in the economic feasibility of the inventive device.

Claims

1. Steering control for self-propelled vehicles, such as motorcycles, automobiles, etc., with a gripping zone, which for driving is held by at least one hand of the driver, in which arrangement the gripping zone is provided with an elastically variable geometrical shape in such a manner that, if the pressure exerted by the hand, or of the fingers respectively, of the driver increases, its shape changes and/or its volume decreases, and in which inside the gripping zone at least one hydraulic or pneumatic sensor (8) is provided, which reacts to deviations of the shape and/or of the volume of the gripping zone, and in which the sensor furthermore is connected to at least one control and/or monitoring element for the operation of the vehicle, which thus is activated by the reaction of the sensor,

characterised in that

each of the hydraulic or pneumatic sensors (8) extends over essentially the whole zone of the steering control (1), which can be contacted by at least one hand of the driver of the vehicle, and which consists of a tube (9) of elastic material filled with a fluid, and embedded essentially totally in a foamed plastic material (6),

2. Steering control according to the claim 1,

characterised in that

the final elasticity of the expanded foam plastic material (6) is equal or lower than the elasticity of the material of which the tube (9) is made.

3. Steering control according to the claim 1,

characterised in that

the tube (9) at one of its ends is sealed tight using a sealing clip (11), whereas its other end is connected to a pressure gauge and signal transmitter for analogue electric measuring values (12).

4. Steering control according to the claim 1,

characterised in that

the sensor (8) is a hydraulic sensor and consists of a tube (9) filled with a liquid presenting minimum thermal dilatation over temperatures ranging from −

40°

C. and +100°

C.

5. Steering control according to the claim 1,

characterised in that

the steering control is the steering wheel (1) of an automobile and that the hydraulic or pneumatic sensor (8) is arranged extending over the whole circumference of the steering wheel (I) in its lower portion at a distance (d) from the surface of the steering wheel (1) ranging from 1 to 6 mm.

6. Steering control according to the claim 1,

characterised in that

the steering control is the steering wheel (1) of an automobile and that the hydraulic or pneumatic sensor (8) is arranged extending over the whole circumference of the steering wheel (1) in its outer portion at a distance (D) from the surface of the steering wheel (1) ranging from 1 to 6 mm.

7. Steering control according to the claim 1,

characterised in that

the steering control is the steering wheel (1) of an automobile and that the hydraulic or pneumatic sensor (8) is arranged extending over the whole circumference of the steering wheel (1) in its upper portion at a distance (f) from the surface of the steering wheel (1) ranging from 1 to 6 mm.

8. Steering control according to the claim 1,

characterised in that

the tube (9) presents an outside diameter ranging from 2 to 6 mm and is made from a plastic material such as silicon, EVA (vinyl-ethylene acetate) or from a similar material.

9. Steering control according to the claim 3,

characterised in that

the filling liquid is glycol, silicon or a similar liquid.

10. Steering control according to claim 5,

characterised in that

the steering wheel (1) of the vehicle comprises a support structure (5) embedded entirely or partially in the foamed plastic material (6), comprising a steering column head, spokes and a wheel rim, made from light metal alloys, preferentially from magnesium, and that the tube (9, 17) of the sensor (8, 16) rests against at least one point of the support structure (5).

11. Steering control according to the claim 1,

characterised in that

the foam plastic material (6) is an expanded polyurethane foam material.

12. Steering control according to the claim 1,

characterised in that

the foam plastic material (6) is a rigid polyurethane foam material, which on its outside is covered with a leather cover (7), and in which, along the circumference of the steering wheel, a slot (18) is provided in the polyurethane foam material (6), into which the hydraulic or pneumatic sensor (16) is placed protruding from the surface of the polyurethane foam material with a portion corresponding to 6 to 8% of the circumference of the tube (17) of the sensor (16).