Attachment device for a vehicle steering wheel

• US 5,941,131 A
• Filed: 03/13/1998
• Issued: 08/24/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Repa GmbH
• Original Assignee: TRW Repa GmbH
• Inventors: Fohl, Artur
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US09/039,043
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 74/552, 403/319, 403/359, 403/259
• US Class Current: 74/552
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/10 Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/403 Threaded clamping parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/71 Blocking disengagement of catches or keys
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/04 with clamping hub; with hub and longitudinal key
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/0864 due to tangential loading of the hub, e.g. a split hub
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2001/103 the torque is transmitted via splined connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/06 specially adapted to allow axial displacement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7033 including a lock or retainer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

A device for attaching a steering wheel on a steering shaft by a connecting sleeve, which is attached to the hub of the steering wheel. At its end, the steering shaft has a section with exterior splines, which are complementary to interior splines in the connecting sleeve. The connecting sleeve has an axial slot and is clamped by a clamping screw against the section of the steering shaft which has the splines. The steering wheel constitutes a sub-assembly with an integrated air bag module and may be supplied for the final assembly of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An attachment device for mounting a steering wheel on a steering shaft of a vehicle, said steering shaft having a splined end section and said device comprising a tubular sleeve having a first end connected to a hub portion of said steering wheel and a second, open end for accommodation of said steering shaft end section, said second sleeve end having a wall portion with a cutout extending in peripheral and axial directions of said sleeve, an internally splined clamping yoke fitting into said cutout, and clamping means for engaging said clamping yoke on said steering shaft end section in a direction transverse to said axial direction.

2. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said sleeve and said clamping yoke have corresponding pairs of outwardly projecting flanges defining said cutout in the peripheral direction, and said clamping means comprises at least one pair of clamping screws extending through said flanges.

3. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said splined steering shaft end section has a reduced diameter and is defined between a pair of axially spaced radial shoulders, said clamping yoke being engaged between said radial shoulders.

4. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said hub portion is connected to said sleeve by injection casting and swaging said hub portion around said first sleeve end.

5. The attachment device of claim 1, wherein said steering shaft end section has a tapered end and said first sleeve end has a bottom portion shaped for fitting accommodation of said tapered shaft end.