STEERING WHEEL DAMPER AND ALTERNATE POWER STORAGE DEVICE

• US 20130152721A1
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Cortina, Roger M., Trendov, Christopher R., Said, Ryan J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,471,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/484.R
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/222 acting on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/1028 the inertia-producing means being a constituent part of the system which is to be damped
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/108 on plastics springs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20256 Steering and controls assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

A damper for a steering wheel is provided. The damper may include a housing attached to the steering wheel and an energy-storage medium supported by the housing.

Claims

1. A damper for a steering wheel, the damper comprising:

a housing operable to be attached to the steering wheel; and

an energy-storage medium supported by said housing.

2. The damper of claim 1, wherein said housing includes an internal cavity receiving said energy-storage medium.

3. The damper of claim 1, wherein a weight of said housing and a weight of said energy-storage medium cooperate to provide the damper with a desired weight and frequency response.

4. The damper of claim 1, wherein said energy-storage medium is one of a battery and a capacitor.

5. The damper of claim 1, further comprising a controller supported by said housing and operable to control at least one of said energy-storage medium and a system of the steering wheel.

6. The damper of claim 5, wherein said system is at least one of a temperature-control system, a horn, and a light and selectively receives voltage from said energy-storage medium.

7. The damper of claim 5, wherein said controller stores operating parameters of said system.

8. The damper of claim 1, further comprising an elastomeric material disposed between said housing and the steering wheel.

9. The damper of claim 8, further comprising a bracket disposed between said elastomeric material and the steering wheel.

10. The damper of claim 9, wherein one of said housing and said bracket includes an electromagnet selectively receiving current to alter a magnetic field between said housing and said bracket to adjust a frequency response of the damper.

11. A steering wheel comprising:

a rim;

a hub attached to said rim; and

a mass damper supported proximate to said hub and including a housing and an energy-storage medium supported by said housing.

12. The steering wheel of claim 11, wherein said housing includes an internal cavity receiving said energy-storage medium.

13. The steering wheel of claim 11, wherein a weight of said housing and a weight of said energy-storage medium cooperate to provide said mass damper with a desired weight and frequency response.

14. The steering wheel of claim 11, wherein said energy-storage medium is one of a battery and a capacitor.

15. The steering wheel of claim 11, further comprising a controller supported by said housing and operable to control at least one of said energy-storage medium and a system of the steering wheel.

16. The steering wheel of claim 15, wherein said system is at least one of a temperature-control system, a horn, and a light and selectively receives voltage from said energy-storage medium.

17. The steering wheel of claim 15, wherein said controller stores operating parameters of said system.

18. The steering wheel of claim 11, further comprising an elastomeric material disposed between said housing and said hub.

19. The steering wheel of claim 18, further comprising a bracket disposed between said elastomeric material and said hub.

20. The steering wheel of claim 19, wherein one of said housing, said bracket, and said hub includes an electromagnet selectively receiving current to alter a magnetic field between said housing and said bracket to adjust a frequency response of said mass damper.