# US 10,370,021 B2 · Steering wheel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,021 B2 - Document ID: US10370021B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/123,190 - Filed: 2014-03-11 - Published: 2017-03-16 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-11 - Assignees: Guangdong Hua'chan Research Institute of Intelligent Transportation System Co., Ltd - Applicants: Guangdong Hua'chan Research Institute of Intelligent Transportation System Co., Ltd - Inventors: Shugang Gong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370021B2 ## CPC - B62D 1/105: {Non-rotatable hubs, e.g. the central part of the steering wheel not rotating} - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) - B60K 35/80: Arrangements for controlling instruments - B60R 16/027: between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column {(devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00)} - B60R 21/203: in steering wheels or steering columns - B62D 1/046: {Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches} - B60K 2360/139: Clusters of instrument input devices - B60K 2360/782: on the steering wheel - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A steering wheel comprising a steering wheel rim (1) provided with an extended extremity (11), an operating part (2) provided on the radial inner side of the steering wheel rim (1), and an actuating rod (4) fixedly connected to the extended extremity (11). A central shaft (3) is extended from the bottom end of the operating part (2). The central shaft (3) runs through the extended extremity (11) and is inserted into a cavity provided by the actuating rod (4). A bearing component (5) is provided between the inner wall of the extended extremity (11) and the outer wall of the central shaft (3). By fitting the central shaft (3) with the bearing component (5), and by fitting the bearing component (5) with the extended extremity (11), separation of the operating part (2) and the steering wheel rim (1) is implemented, and the steering wheel rim (1) is allowed to be rotated around the central shaft (3). The steering wheel has the operating part (2) and the steering wheel rim (1) arranged separately, when the steering wheel rim (1) is rotated, the operating part (2) does not rotate with the rotation of the steering wheel rim (1), thus ensuring that a driver can easily observe and control the operating part so as to improve the stability and safety of driving. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steering wheel, applied in an automobile, and comprising: a steering wheel rim with an extended extremity protruding outwards along a mounting center; an operating part arranged on a radial inner side of the steering wheel rim; and an actuating rod fixedly connected to the extended extremity, wherein a central shaft extends from a bottom of the operating part, the central shaft runs through the extended extremity and is inserted into a cavity of the actuating rod, a bearing component is arranged between an inner wall of the extended extremity and an outer wall of the central shaft, and by fitting the central shaft with the bearing component and fitting the bearing component with the extended extremity, an isolation between the operating part and the steering wheel rim is achieved, the steering wheel rim being rotatable around the central shaft, and wherein the bearing component includes a cage ring sheathed around periphery of the central shaft and a pair of bearings, the pair of bearings isolated from each other by the cage ring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the operating part includes a panel and a supporting element supporting the panel, the supporting element provided with a connecting end fitting with the central shaft, the supporting element arranged between the panel and the steering wheel rim, and the supporting element fixedly connected to the panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The steering wheel of claim 2, wherein the operating part further includes a control circuit board arranged in a cavity formed by the panel and the steering wheel rim, a plurality of control keys arranged on the panel and electrically connected to the control circuit board, and an instrumental display. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The steering wheel of claim 2, wherein an airbag component configured to protect safety of a driver is arranged between the panel and the supporting element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The steering wheel of claim 2, wherein the central shaft is provided with a receiving end fitting with the supporting element, the receiving end is fixedly connected to the connecting end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein an edge of an outer end of the extended extremity bends along a radial inner side of the extended extremity, and extends inwards to form a step for bearing the bearing component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein a hollow transmission link rod is inserted in a cavity of the actuating rod, and the central shaft is inserted in a cavity of the transmission link rod. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The steering wheel of claim 7, wherein both an inner wall of the cavity of the actuating rod and an outer wall of the transmission link rod are provided with spline grooves, splines arranged in the spline grooves correspondingly, and by fitting the splines with the spline grooves, axial sliding of the transmission link rod in the cavity of the actuating rod is achieved. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The steering wheel of claim 3, wherein an airbag component configured to protect safety of a driver is arranged between the panel and the supporting element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The steering wheel of claim 3, wherein the central shaft is provided with a receiving end fitting with the supporting element, the receiving end fixedly connected to the connecting end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The steering wheel of claim 4, wherein the central shaft is provided with a receiving end fitting with the supporting element, the receiving end fixedly connected to the connecting end. ### Claim 12 A steering wheel, applied in an automobile, and comprising: a steering wheel rim with an extended extremity protruding outwards along a mounting center; an operating part arranged on a radial inner side of the steering wheel rim; and an actuating rod fixedly connected to the extended extremity, wherein a central shaft extends from a bottom of the operating part, the central shaft runs through the extended extremity and is inserted into a cavity of the actuating rod, a bearing component is arranged between an inner wall of the extended extremity and an outer wall of the central shaft, and by fitting the central shaft with the bearing component and fitting the bearing component with the extended extremity, an isolation between the operating part and the steering wheel rim is achieved, the steering wheel rim being rotatable around the central shaft, and wherein the actuating rod runs through and protrudes from the extended extremity, a top end of the actuating rod fixedly connected to the steering wheel rim through a connecting part, and wherein the bearing component includes a cage ring sheathed around a periphery of the central shaft and a pair of bearings, the pair of bearings isolated from each other by the cage ring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The steering wheel of claim 12, wherein the operating part includes a panel and a supporting element supporting the panel, the supporting element provided with a connecting end fitting with the central shaft, the supporting element arranged between the panel and the steering wheel rim, and the supporting element fixedly connected to the panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The steering wheel of claim 13, wherein the operating part further includes a control circuit board arranged in a cavity formed by the panel and the steering wheel rim, a plurality of control keys arranged on the panel and electrically connected to the control circuit board, and an instrumental display. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The steering wheel of claim 13, wherein an airbag component configured to protect safety of a driver is arranged between the panel and the supporting element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The steering wheel of claim 13, wherein the central shaft is provided with a receiving end fitting with the supporting element, the receiving end fixedly connected to the connecting end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The steering wheel of claim 12, wherein a hollow transmission link rod is inserted in a cavity of the actuating rod, and the central shaft is inserted in a cavity of the transmission link rod. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The steering wheel of claim 17, wherein both an inner wall of the cavity of the actuating rod and an outer wall of the transmission link rod are provided with spline grooves, splines arranged in the spline grooves correspondingly, and by fitting the splines with the spline grooves, axial sliding of the transmission link rod in the cavity of the actuating rod is achieved. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The steering wheel of claim 14, wherein an airbag component configured to protect safety of a driver is arranged between the panel and the supporting element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The steering wheel of claim 14, wherein the central shaft is provided with a receiving end fitting with the supporting element, the receiving end fixedly connected to the connecting end. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The steering wheel of claim 15, wherein the central shaft is provided with a receiving end fitting with the supporting element, the receiving end fixedly connected to the connecting end.