Motor vehicle steering wheel

• US 5,291,800 A
• Filed: 02/18/1992
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Kuhn, Klaus, Kieserling, Joachim, Peitsmeier, Karl, Patzelt, Helmut, Ruckert, Walter, Link, Manfred, Russ, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MASSEY, RYAN
• Application Number:
  US07/836,511
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 29/527.5, 29/894.1, 29/894.3, 29/894.33, 29/894.36, 29/894.361, 74/552, 280/750, 280/777
• US Class Current: 74/552
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/11 incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible padded linings associated with the steering wheel B60R21/05; shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

A motor vehicle steering wheel has flat steel deformable spokes which connect a steering-wheel rim to a hub to be mounted on a steering shaft. The associated free ends of the spokes are cast into the cast hub, and each spoke has in the cast-in area a passage bore which extends in the axial direction of the steering wheel and penetrated by the hub material during the casting process. In order to achieve an increase in rigidity in the hub/spokes connecting area, the passage bore is arranged directly adjacent to the entry area of the spoke into the hub, forming a rolling step, such that in this area a tension-rod connection is formed between the hub material located above and below the spoke.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle steering wheel, comprising a steering-wheel rim, a cast hub, flat steel deformable spokes connecting the steering-wheel rim to the cast hub for mounting on a steering shaft, associated free ends of the spokes being cast into the cast hub in a cast-in area, and each spoke having in the cast-in area a passage bore which extends in an axial direction of the steering wheel and is penetrated by hub material during the casting process to form a tension-rod connection between hub material located above and below the spoke at the entry area of said spoke into the hub, wherein said passage bore is arranged directly adjacent to the entry area of the spoke into the hub, said hub having a rolling step at the outer peripheral edge of the hub on the underside of the hub, a portion of said spoke immediately curving away from the rim in a gradual manner at the rolling step, the spoke gradually continuing to curve as a function of distance from the hub such that the spoke curves towards the rim at a predetermined distance from the hub, whereby said curvature of said spoke in cooperation with said rolling step permits said spoke to deform in a defined manner having a large radius.