VEHICULAR STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN ASSEMBLY INCLUDING TORSIONAL DAMPER DEVICE
First Claim
1. A steering wheel and column assembly for deployment on a vehicle, the steering wheel and column assembly comprising:
- a steering column housing;
a rotatable steering assembly, comprising;
a steering column shaft rotatably coupled to the steering column housing; and
a steering wheel fixedly coupled to the steering column shaft; and
a torsional damper device, comprising;
a stator body fixedly coupled to the steering column housing; and
a rotor body fixedly coupled to the rotatable steering assembly, the rotor body frictionally engaging the stator body to produce a predetermined coulomb torque frictional resistance.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering wheel and column assembly is provided for deployment on a vehicle. In one embodiment, the steering wheel and column assemblies comprises: (i) a steering column housing, (ii) a rotatable steering assembly, and (iii) a torsional damper device. The rotatable steering assembly includes a steering column shaft, which is rotatably coupled to the steering column housing, and a steering wheel, which is fixedly coupled to the steering column shaft. The torsional damper device includes a stator body, which is fixedly coupled to the steering column housing, and a rotor body, which is fixedly coupled to the rotatable steering assembly. The rotor body frictionally engages the stator body to produce a predetermined coulomb torque frictional resistance.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A steering wheel and column assembly for deployment on a vehicle, the steering wheel and column assembly comprising:
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a steering column housing; a rotatable steering assembly, comprising; a steering column shaft rotatably coupled to the steering column housing; and a steering wheel fixedly coupled to the steering column shaft; and a torsional damper device, comprising; a stator body fixedly coupled to the steering column housing; and a rotor body fixedly coupled to the rotatable steering assembly, the rotor body frictionally engaging the stator body to produce a predetermined coulomb torque frictional resistance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A steering wheel and column assembly, comprising:
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a steering column housing; a rotatable steering assembly, comprising; a steering column shaft rotatably coupled to the steering column housing; and a steering wheel fixedly coupled to the steering column shaft; and a torsional damper device, comprising; a stator body fixedly coupled to the steering column housing, the stator body having a first predetermined torsional stiffness; a rotor body fixedly coupled to the rotatable steering assembly, the rotor body having a second predetermined torsional stiffness; and a resilient element maintaining the stator body and the rotor body in frictional engagement. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) coil assembly for deployment within a steering wheel and column assembly of the type that includes a steering column housing, a steering column shaft rotatably coupled to the steering column housing, a steering wheel fixedly coupled to the steering column shaft, and an SIR module mounted on the steering wheel, the SIR coil assembly comprising:
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a stator body configured to be fixedly coupled to the steering column housing; a rotor body configured to be fixedly coupled to at least one of the steering wheel and the steering column shaft, the rotor body frictionally engaging the stator body to produce a predetermined coulomb torque frictional resistance between approximately 0.1 Newton meters and approximately 0.4 Newton meters; and an SIR coil disposed between the stator body and the rotor body and configured to be electrically coupled to the SIR module. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification