Steering wheel device

• US 4,742,727 A
• Filed: 11/28/1986
• Issued: 05/10/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Mizuno, Shigeo, Kubota, Kazuhisa, Ichikawa, Takafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Application Number:
  US06/938,323
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 74/484 R, 74/492, 74/552, 200/61.54, 339/3 S
• US Class Current: 74/484.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/105 Non-rotatable hubs, e.g. the central part of the steering wheel not rotating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/1616 Position or guide means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20256 Steering and controls assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

A steering wheel apparatus is disclosed. It has a steering shaft and a boss fitted onto the steering shaft. A base is mounted on the rear portion of the boss in such a manner as to be fixed with respect to the axial direction but free with respect to the rotary direction of the steering shaft. A locking disc is rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of the base. A pin holder having a plurality of through holes is mounted on the front portion of the boss. The same number of slide pins are arranged in such a manner as to penetrate through the corresponding through holes in the pin holder for engaging with the stopper. A steering wheel is mounted on the boss through a boss plate. The steering wheel is improved in operation.

Claims

1. A steering wheel apparatus comprising:

a steering column (18) fixed to a car body;

a steering shaft (1) inserted into said steering column axially rotatably therein and having a rear portion projecting out of said steering column (18);

a steering wheel (2) having an elongated boss (3) fixed to said steering shaft at said rear portion of the steering shaft (1), said elongated boss (3) having a front portion (3a) and a rear portion (3b);

a base (12) supported around said front portion (3a) of the elongated boss (3);

means for fixing said base (12) to said steering column (18) to prevent said base from rotating relative to the steering column;

a locking disc (14) provided around said base (12);

means for provisionally coupling said base (12) and said locking disc (14);

a pad base (19) rotatably supported around said rear portion (3b) of the elongated boss;

a boss plate (2a) fixed to said steering wheel (2) and said elongated boss (3) and extending between said locking disc (14) and said pad base (19); and

rotation control means for normally preventing said pad base (19) from rotating relative to said locking disc without interference with said boss plate (2a).

2. A steering wheel apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotation control means incudes

a cam plate (21) fixed to said elongated boss therearound on a rear side of the pad base (19), said cam plate having a cam face (21b) at a periphery thereof;

a plurality of through holes (19b) formed in said pad base (19) longitudinally radially; and

a plurality of slide pins (22) extending through said through holes (19b) and having cam follower portions at rearward ends thereof, said cam follower portions being in engagement with the respective cam faces (21b);

said locking disc (14) having a plurality of coupling recesses (14a) formed therein in radial alignment with respective through holes (19b), said slide pins (22) having engaging portions at a front end thereof; and

said cam plate having a first portion extending in a forward plane and a second portion extending in a rearward plane, said second portion aligning with said boss plate (2a) when viewed longitudinally such that slide pins (22) engaged with said second portion are retracted out of corresponding recesses (14a) and into corresponding through holes (19b) to avoid interference with said boss plate (2a).

3. A steering wheel apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotation control means includes

a first annular portion provided in said pad base (45), said first annular portion being formed with first gear teeth in an inner, periphery thereof;

a second annular portion provided in said locking disc, said second annular portion being formed with second gear teeth in an inner periphery thereof;

first planet gears fixedly carried on said boss plate, said first planet gears being in mesh with said first gear teeth; and

second planet gears fixedly carried on said boss plate, said second planet gears being in mesh with said second gear teeth.

4. A steering wheel apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of said first planet gears and each of said second planet gears being connected with each other.

5. A steering wheel apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said provisional coupling means includes

at least a pair of V-shaped cuts (12a) formed in said base (12) at a periphery thereof;

a recess (14a) formed in said locking disc at an inner periphery thereof circumferentially between said pair of V-shaped cuts; and

a leaf spring rested within said recess and having both ends thereof (15a) folded to be engaged with said V-shaped cuts.

6. A steering wheel apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said provisional coupling means includes

a plurality of holder holes (12c) formed in said base (12) at an axial face thereof;

resilient means provided in said respective holes (12c);

coupling balls (40) provided in said holder holes (12c) to be biased by said resiient means rearwardly; and

coupling recesses (14c) formed in said locking disc at an inner axial face thereof to receive said respective coupling balls (40).

7. A steering wheel apparatus comprising:

a steering column fixed to a car body;

a steering shaft inserted into such steering column axially rotatably therein and having a rear portion projection out of said steering column;

a steering wheel having an elongated boss fixed to said steering shaft at said rear portion of the steering shaft, said elongated boss having a front portion and a rear portion;

a base supported around said front portion of the elongated boss;

means for fixing said base to said steering column to prevent said base from rotating relative to the steering column;

a pad base rotatably supported around said rear portion of the elongated boss;

a boss plate fixed to said steering wheel and said elongated boss and extending between said pad base and said base; and

rotation control means for normally preventing said pad base from rotating without interference with said boss plate;

wherein said rotation control means includes

a cam plate (55) fixed to the elongated boss (3) therearound on a forward side of the base (52), said cam plate having a cam face (55a) at a periphery thereof;

a plurality of through holes (52b) formed in said base longitudinally radially;

a plurality of slide pins (56) extending through said through holes (52b) and having cam follower portions (56a) at forward ends thereof, said cam follower portions being in engagement with the respective cam faces (55a); and

a plurality of coupling recesses (61a) formed in said pad base (61) in radial alignment with respective through holes (52b), said slide pins having engagement portions at rear ends thereof;

said cam plate (55a) having a first portion extending in a rearward plane and a second portion extending in a forward plane, said second portion aligning with said boss plate (2a) when viewed longitudinally such that slide pins (22) engaged with said second portion are retracted out of corresponding recesses (61a) and into corresponding through holes (52b) to avoid interference with said boss plate (2a).