Assembly for a steering system of a motor vehicle

• US 20070099465A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Ruetz, Christian
• Application Number:
  US11/589,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20070099465A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/164
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1461 Multifunction switches for dimming headlights and controlling additional devices, e.g. for controlling direction indicating lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2032 the inflator or inflatable member not being rotatable with the steering wheel; Arrangements using the steering column or steering wheel rim for storing, supplying or evacuating the inflation gas or for storing the inflatable member
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/105 Non-rotatable hubs, e.g. the central part of the steering wheel not rotating
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/16 Steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/022 on or near the connection between the steering wheel and steering column
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/001 Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/10 characterised by means for sensing or determining torque

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an assembly for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprising an integrated support (38) on which a steering wheel hub (70) of a steering wheel (30) is rotatably mounted, wherein a rotor element (4) is provided for mounting the steering wheel hub (70) of the steering wheel (30) on the support (38).

Claims

1. An assembly for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprising an integrated support on which a steering wheel hub of a steering wheel is rotatably mounted, characterized in that a rotor element is provided for mounting the steering wheel hub of the steering wheel on the support.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor element is designed substantially with a sleeve shape.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor element and the steering wheel hub of the steering wheel are mutually connected via an elastic element allowing rotation angle offset.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor element is configured to accommodate a gearbox element, which is part of a gearbox for transmitting the rotational motion of the steering wheel to a steering shaft.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the steering wheel and/or the steering wheel hub are connected torque proof to a first coding element, which is part of a rotation angle sensor arrangement and/or torque sensor arrangement.

6. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that rotor element is configured to accommodate a second coding element, which is part of a rotation angle sensor arrangement and/or torque sensor arrangement.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that an air bag unit is fastened to the support such that the unit is decoupled from the rotation of the steering wheel.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the air bag unit has a retainer plate for arranging the air bag, which plate has an aperture for a free end of the support.

9. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly includes a steering column switch unit, which has at least one steering column switch and a switch housing.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the switch housing is configured to accommodate a circuit board and/or a clock spring.

11. An assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the switch housing and/or the circuit board are configured to accommodate stationary sensors of a torque sensor and/or a rotation angle sensor.

12. An assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the switch housing is positioned on a component that is integrated on the vehicle body and secured against twisting.

13. An assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the switch housing is positioned at least indirectly by the rotor element and/or the steering wheel hub and/or the steering wheel and is secured against twisting on a component that is integrated on the vehicle body.

14. An assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that the component that is integrated on the vehicle body is formed by the support and/or by a jacket tube surrounding the steering shaft.

15. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly includes a drive, which drives the rotor element.

16. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly is provided for a steer-by-wire steering system.

17. A method for installing an assembly for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

forming a first assembly by joining at least one of a steering column switch unit, at least one coding element of a rotation angle sensor arrangement, and a torque sensor arrangement with a rotor element;

joining at least a steering wheel to at least one of the first assembly and the rotor element; and

joining the rotor element with an integrated support.

18. A method for installing an assembly according to claim 17, characterized in that the rotor element is joined with a gearbox element.

19. A method for installing an assembly according to claim 17, characterized in that an air bag unit is inserted in the steering wheel and joined with the integrated support.

20. A method for installing an assembly according to claim 17, characterized in that the assembly is joined with a gearbox for transmitting the rotational motion of the steering wheel to a steering shaft.