Steering Wheel Mounting Assembly
First Claim
1. A steering wheel mounting assembly, comprising:
- a first stationary ring having a first bearing and a first cylindrical raceway,a second stationary ring having a second bearing and a second cylindrical raceway and being constructed and arranged to be fixed to a vehicle frame;
a steering hub having a spindle with a radial flange extending therefrom, the spindle being constructed and arranged for connection with a steering shaft and the radial flange being constructed and arranged for connection with a steering wheel, the spindle having a first bearing raceway to engage the first bearing and a second bearing raceway to engage the second bearing, the radial flange having at least one opening that defines a bearing surface; and
at least one friction roller assembly having a shaft with a third bearing thereabout, wherein the friction roller assembly is positioned in the opening such that as the third bearing rotates relative to the bearing surface, the third bearing moves radially outward and the shaft engages the first and second cylindrical raceways.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering wheel mounting assembly comprising first and second stationary rings, the second stationary ring being adapted for connection to a vehicle frame. The assembly further comprises a steering hub having a spindle with a radial flange extending therefrom. The spindle is adapted for connection with a steering shaft and the radial flange is adapted for connection with a steering wheel. The spindle has a first bearing raceway for engaging a bearing of the first stationary ring and a second bearing raceway for engaging a bearing of the second stationary ring. The steering hub has at least one opening that defines a bearing surface. A friction roller assembly, having a shaft with a third bearing thereabout, is positioned in the opening such that as the third bearing rotates relative to the bearing surface, the third bearing moves radially outward and the shaft engages the first and second cylindrical raceways.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A steering wheel mounting assembly, comprising:
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a first stationary ring having a first bearing and a first cylindrical raceway, a second stationary ring having a second bearing and a second cylindrical raceway and being constructed and arranged to be fixed to a vehicle frame; a steering hub having a spindle with a radial flange extending therefrom, the spindle being constructed and arranged for connection with a steering shaft and the radial flange being constructed and arranged for connection with a steering wheel, the spindle having a first bearing raceway to engage the first bearing and a second bearing raceway to engage the second bearing, the radial flange having at least one opening that defines a bearing surface; and at least one friction roller assembly having a shaft with a third bearing thereabout, wherein the friction roller assembly is positioned in the opening such that as the third bearing rotates relative to the bearing surface, the third bearing moves radially outward and the shaft engages the first and second cylindrical raceways. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A steering wheel mounting assembly, comprising:
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a first stationary ring member; a second stationary ring member constructed and arranged to be mounted to a vehicle frame; a steering hub member having a first member and a second member, the first member being constructed and arranged to be mounted to a steering shaft, the second member being constructed and arranged to be mounted to a steering wheel; and at least one friction roller assembly receivable by the steering hub member and comprising at least one rotatable element, the friction roller assembly being constructed and arranged to be in frictional contact with a portion of the steering hub member, a portion of the first stationary ring member, and a portion of the second stationary ring member, wherein, in use, when the steering wheel is rotated in a first orientation, the at least one rotatable element is constructed and arranged to rotate in a second orientation counter to the first orientation, such that the first stationary ring member remains in phase with the second stationary ring member. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of producing counter rotation relative to a steering wheel, the method comprising:
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providing a first stationary ring member; mounting a second stationary ring member to a vehicle frame; mounting a first member of a steering hub member to a steering shaft; mounting a second member of the steering hub member to a steering wheel; and installing at least one friction roller assembly in the steering hub member such that the friction roller assembly is in frictional-contact with a portion of the steering hub member, a portion of the first stationary ring member, and a portion of the second stationary ring member, and such that, in use, when the steering wheel is rotated in a first orientation, a rotatable element of the friction roller assembly rotates in a second orientation counter to the first orientation, such that the first stationary ring member remains in phase with the second stationary ring member. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification