Stationary wheel hub

• US 20060202462A1
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kaufmann, Timothy W., Menjak, Damir, Menjak, Ratko, Magnus, Brian J., Cole, Michael J., Gillman, Stephen V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,380,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/771
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/02 vehicle-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/16 Steering columns

Abstract

The invention provides a steering column assembly for a vehicle and a method for manufacturing the steering column assembly. The steering column assembly includes a steering column member having an aperture extending along an axis. The steering column assembly also includes a steering shaft rotatably disposed at least partially in the aperture. The steering shaft includes a steering wheel engaging end axially spaced from the aperture. The steering column assembly also includes a supporting member for supporting a vehicle accessory. The supporting member is cantilevered from the steering column member and cooperates with the steering column member to define a groove substantially surrounding the steering wheel engaging end.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a steering column member having an aperture extending along an axis;

a steering shaft rotatably disposed at least partially in said aperture and having a steering wheel engaging end axially spaced from said aperture; and

a supporting member for supporting a vehicle accessory and cantilevered from said steering column member and cooperating with said steering column member to define a groove substantially surrounding said steering wheel engaging end.

2. The steering column assembly of claim 1 wherein said supporting member extends parallel to and spaced from said steering shaft.

3. The steering column assembly of claim 1 wherein said steering column member and said supporting member are rotationally fixed with respect to one another.

4. The steering column assembly of claim 1 wherein said groove extends transverse to said axis.

5. The steering column assembly of claim 1 wherein said supporting member further comprises:

a beam portion extending parallel to said steering shaft away from said steering column member beyond said steering wheel engaging end; and

a plate portion extending substantially perpendicular to said beam portion towards said axis such that said steering wheel engaging end is rotatably disposed between said plate portion and said steering column member along said axis.

6. The steering column assembly of claim 5 wherein steering column member includes a second aperture and said beam portion extends in said second aperture.

7. The steering column assembly of claim 5 wherein said beam portion defines an interior.

8. The steering column assembly of claim 7 wherein said plate portion further comprises an aperture communicating with said interior.

9. The steering column assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a bracket engaged with said steering wheel engaging end and extending out of said groove and around said supporting member; and

a steering wheel engaged with said bracket and encircling at least a portion of said supporting member.

10. The steering column assembly of claim 9 wherein said bracket and said supporting member cooperate to limit rotation of said steering shaft.

11. The steering column assembly of claim 10 wherein said steering shaft is rotatable less than 360 degrees.

12. The steering column assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a steering column jacket pivotally engaged with said steering column member about a tilt axis, wherein said groove and said tilt axis extend parallel to one another.

13. A steering column assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a steering column member having an aperture extending along an axis;

a steering shaft rotatably disposed at least partially in said aperture and having a steering wheel engaging end axially spaced from said aperture;

a supporting member for supporting a vehicle accessory and cantilevered from said steering column member and cooperating with said steering column member to define a groove substantially surrounding said steering wheel engaging end, wherein said steering column member and said supporting member are rotationally fixed with respect to one another;

a bracket engaged with said steering wheel engaging end and extending out of said groove and around said supporting member; and

a steering wheel engaged with said bracket and encircling and axially offset from at least a portion of said supporting member.

14. The steering column assembly further comprising:

at least one sensor operably disposed to sense rotation of said steering wheel and emit a signal corresponding to said sensed rotation;

a power cylinder spaced from said steering wheel and having a piston moveable in first and second opposite directions;

a pump disposed to pump fluid to said power cylinder;

a valve operably positioned between said pump and said power cylinder to direct fluid to one of side of said piston; and

a controller disposed to receive said signal from said at least one sensor and control said valve and said pump in response to said signal.

15. A method of manufacturing a steering column assembly for a vehicle comprising:

extending an aperture in a steering column member along an axis;

rotatably disposing a steering shaft having a steering wheel engaging end at least partially in the aperture wherein the steering wheel engaging end being axially spaced from the aperture; and

supporting a vehicle accessory with a supporting member cantilevered from the steering column member and cooperating with the steering column member to define a groove substantially surrounding the steering wheel engaging end.