Steering wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12103582-B2
Application number	US-202118043838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2021
Priority date	Sep 9, 2020
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

A steering wheel, including a steering wheel rim and a steering wheel support, the steering wheel rim being movable relative to the steering wheel support, and the steering wheel rim being mounted rotatable about a first axis of rotation. The steering wheel further includes: a pivot shaft, fixedly connected to the steering wheel rim so as to move together with the steering wheel rim, the pivoting of the pivot shaft about a second axis of rotation causing the steering wheel rim to rotate about the second axis relative to the steering wheel support, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis; and a transmission mechanism, configured to be drivingly connected to the pivot shaft and configured to transmit power to the pivot shaft when driven by a driving apparatus so that the pivot shaft pivots about the second axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A steering wheel, comprising a steering wheel rim and a steering wheel support, the steering wheel rim being movable relative to the steering wheel support, and the steering wheel rim being mounted so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation,
wherein,
the steering wheel further comprises:
a pivot shaft, configured to be fixedly connected to the steering wheel rim so as to move together with the steering wheel rim, the pivoting of the pivot shaft about a second axis of rotation causing the steering wheel rim to rotate about the second axis of rotation relative to the steering wheel support, wherein the first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation; and
a transmission mechanism, configured to be drivingly connected to the pivot shaft and configured to transmit power to the pivot shaft when driven by a driving apparatus so that the pivot shaft pivots about the second axis of rotation, wherein the transmission mechanism comprises:
a transmission shaft;
a first transmission mechanism; and
a second transmission mechanism spaced apart from the first transmission mechanism so as to transmit power from the driving apparatus to the transmission shaft.

2. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the steering wheel support comprises an accommodation cavity configured to accommodate the transmission mechanism, and a portion of the pivot shaft extends into the accommodation cavity.

3. The steering wheel according to claim 2 , wherein the first transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism are spaced apart from each other in an axial direction of the transmission shaft, the first transmission mechanism being configured to be drivingly connected to the driving apparatus so as to transmit power from the driving apparatus to the transmission shaft, and the second transmission mechanism being configured to be drivingly connected to the pivot shaft so as to transmit power from the transmission shaft to the pivot shaft.

4. The steering wheel according to claim 3 , wherein the first transmission mechanism comprises a worm gear and a worm, the worm gear being configured to be drivingly connected to the driving apparatus, and the transmission shaft being configured to be the worm.

5. The steering wheel according to claim 4 , wherein the second transmission mechanism is configured to be a first gear and a second gear meshing with each other, the first gear being configured to be fixed on the transmission shaft, and the second gear being configured to be fixed on the pivot shaft.

6. The steering wheel according to claim 4 , further comprising a fixed shaft fixed to the steering wheel rim, wherein the steering wheel support is provided with a track configured to guide the movement of the pivot shaft, and the pivot shaft moves, under the action of the power transmitted by the second transmission mechanism, along the track, so that the pivot shaft pivots about the fixed shaft.

7. The steering wheel according to claim 6 , wherein the second transmission mechanism is configured to be a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod connected to each other at end portions thereof, wherein the first connecting rod is configured such that one end thereof is fixed to the transmission shaft, and the second connecting rod is configured such that one end thereof is fixed to the pivot shaft.

8. The steering wheel according to claim 6 , wherein the second transmission mechanism is configured to be a third gear and a gear rack meshing with each other, the third gear being configured to be fixed to the transmission shaft, and the gear rack being disposed on the track.

9. The steering wheel according to claim 7 , wherein a self-locking device is further provided, and is configured to lock the position of the steering wheel rim relative to the steering wheel support.

10. The steering wheel according to claim 9 , wherein the self-locking device comprises a retractable pin and positioning holes disposed on the accommodation cavity, and when the retractable pin is positioned in the positioning holes, the position of the steering wheel rim relative to the steering wheel support is locked.

11. The steering wheel according to claim 10 , wherein an angle measurement device is further provided, and is configured to measure an angle of rotation of the steering wheel rim relative to the steering wheel support.

12. The steering wheel according to claim 11 , wherein the angle measurement device is configured to determine the angle of rotation of the steering wheel rim relative to the steering wheel support by measuring an angle of rotation of the transmission shaft.

13. The steering wheel according to claim 12 , wherein the angle measurement device comprises a first measurement gear and a second measurement gear meshing with each other, the first measurement gear being fixed to the transmission shaft, and the second measurement gear being connected to a sensor of the angle measurement device.

14. The steering wheel according to claim 8 , wherein a self-locking device is further provided, and is configured to lock the position of the steering wheel rim relative to the steering wheel support.

15. The steering wheel according to claim 14 , wherein the self-locking device comprises a retractable pin and positioning holes disposed on the accommodation cavity, and when the retractable pin is positioned in the positioning holes, the position of the steering wheel rim relative to the steering wheel support is locked.

16. The steering wheel according to claim 15 , wherein an angle measurement device is further provided, and is configured to measure an angle of rotation of the steering wheel rim relative to the steering wheel support.

17. The steering wheel according to claim 16 , wherein the angle measurement device is configured to determine the angle of rotation of the steering wheel rim relative to the steering wheel support by measuring an angle of rotation of the transmission shaft.

18. The steering wheel according to claim 17 , wherein the angle measurement device comprises a first measurement gear and a second measurement gear meshing with each other, the first measurement gear being fixed to the transmission shaft, and the second measurement gear being connected to a sensor of the angle measurement device.

19. A steering wheel, comprising a steering wheel rim and a steering wheel support, the steering wheel rim being movable relative to the steering wheel support, and the steering wheel rim being mounted so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation,
wherein,
the steering wheel further comprises:
a pivot shaft, configured to be fixedly connected to the steering wheel rim so as to move together with the steering wheel rim, the pivoting of the pivot shaft about a second axis of rotation causing the steering wheel rim to rotate about the second axis of rotation relative to the steering wheel support, wherein the first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation; and
a transmission mechanism, configured to be drivingly connected to the pivot shaft and configured to transmit power to the pivot shaft when driven by a driving apparatus so that the pivot shaft pivots about the second axis of rotation,
wherein the steering wheel support comprises an accommodation cavity configured to accommodate the transmission mechanism, and a portion of the pivot shaft extends into the accommodation cavity, and
wherein the transmission mechanism comprises a transmission shaft, and a first transmission me

Assignees

• Autoliv Dev

Inventors

• Chen Wenyuan
• Wang Shuhao
• Sang Ruigang

Classifications

• G01D5/04

  using levers; using cams; using gearing · CPC title

• B62D1/06

  Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D1/183

  adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access · CPC title

• B62D1/08

  Spokes, e.g. resilient (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D1/181

  with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory · CPC title