Steering device for a drive-by-wire vehicle

• US 7,017,704 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SKF Engineering & Research Center BV
• Original Assignee: SKF Engineering & Research Center BV
• Inventors: Kapaan, Hendrikus Jan, Holweg, Eduardus Gerardus Maria, Vries, Alexander Jan Carel
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rosenberg, Laura B.
• Application Number:
  US10/276,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 180/315, 180/333, 180/335, 180/336, 180/402, 180/405, 745/005, 745/016, 745/52, 74554-558
• US Class Current: 180/315
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches

Abstract

A steering device (1) for drive-by-wire functions in a vehicle comprises a base (2) which can be fixed to the vehicle interior at the location of the driver, and two steering grips (3, 4) at opposite sides of the base, which steering grips each can be gripped by a hand of the driver, said steering grips being coupled and being moveable with respect to the base in mutually opposite directions.

Claims

1. Steering device for drive-by-wire functions in a vehicle, comprising a base which can be fixed to a vehicle interior at a location of a driver, and two steering grips at opposite sides of the base, which steering grips each can be gripped by a hand of the driver, said steering grips being coupled and being moveable with respect to the base in mutually opposite directions, each steering grip being moveable along a curved trajectory formed according to a circular arc for each steering grip, characterized in that the distance between the curved trajectories is smaller than a sum of a radius of the circular arc of each curved trajectory.

2. Steering device according to claim 1, wherein the steering grips are slidable from a neutral position under the influence of a resistance device simulating steering resistance, the resistance device being at least one of a spring and/or an electric motor and/or hydraulic means.

3. Steering device according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor is provided for sensing a movement of the handgrips, said sensor being in closed loop configuration with a steering control device.

4. Steering device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the base and/or the steering grips comprise(s) a display and operating buttons, for at least one of accelerating/decelerating, gear shifting, shifting indicators, lighting, route planning and telecommunications means.

5. Steering device according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises an airbag.

6. Steering device according to claim 1, wherein each steering grip has a straight or arc-shaped outer circumference.

7. Steering device according to claim 1, wherein each steering grip has an arc-shaped rod, connected to a slide which is slidably supported on the base.

8. Steering device according to claim 7, wherein the rod and slide of each steering grip are connected through a spoke.

9. Steering device according to claim 1, wherein the base carries a head-up screen or LCD screen for displaying at least one of vehicle control performance data, and telecommunication.

10. Steering device according to claim 1, wherein signalling means is provided for signaling a left-hand turn and a right-hand turn.

11. Steering device according to claim 1, wherein the steering grips are moveable according to trajectories which are non-parallel.

12. Steering device according claim 1, wherein each steering grip has a tooth rack which is curved according to the circular arcs, pinions being rotatably accommodated in the base which engage the curved tooth racks.

13. Steering device according to claim 12, wherein the pinions each engage a central tooth wheel, said central tooth wheel being connectable to a steering control.

14. Steering device according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a hand rest which extends past the hand grips.

15. In combination, a steering device according to claim 1, and a mechanically operated backup system for controlling prime vehicle safety functions.

16. Combination according to claim 15, wherein a lock is provided for locking the steering grips with respect to the base in the case of a power failure, said base being linked to the backup system and being released from a fixed position to a rotatable position in the case of said power failure.

17. In combination, a steering device according to claim 1, and a steering column structure comprising at least one foot pedal for at least one of acceleration and braking.

18. Combination according to claim 17, wherein the steering column structure comprises electric lines and a connector for connection to a vehicle electronics controller.