Vehicle steering wheel
AssigneeTRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
InventorJohn-Oliver Derrick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle steering wheel has a skeleton that is made by using a metal foam, preferably on the basis of aluminum, magnesium and their alloys. The density of the metal foam lies between 0.3 and 1.0 g/cm3. The modulus of elasticity of the skeleton lies in the range from 2 to 14 GPa.
Claims17
A vehicle steering wheel comprising a steering wheel skeleton, the improvement consisting in that said steering wheel skeleton is at least partially made by using a metal foam.
A method of producing a vehicle steering wheel comprising a steering wheel skeleton which is at least partially made by using a metal foam, the method comprising the following steps:
- mixing a metal powder and a foaming agent powder in order to form a foamable mixture, compacting said mixture and heating it under degradation of said foaming agent powder in order to form a metal foam, said metal foam being formed in a mold for said steering wheel skeleton.
A use of a metal foam in the production of a steering wheel with a steering wheel skeleton that is at least partially made by using a metal foam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.