Motor vehicle steering wheel assembly
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsWalter Manning, Terry G. Bradley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering wheel assembly comprising a wheel rim and a tubular member for use as at least a part of a steering column. The tubular member has its longitudinal axis aligned with the center of the wheel rim. A plurality of spokes each has a first portion extending from the rim transversely of the tubular member axis to a location adjacent the axis and a second portion extending parallel to the axis. The second portions are secured within the tubular members. The effect is that the upper steering shaft or tubular member is permanently fixed to the steering wheel resulting in reduced manufacturing cost and reduced assembly time.
Claims6
A steering wheel assembly comprising a wheel rim and a tubular member for use as at least part of a steering column,
- the tubular member having its longitudinal axis aligned with the center of the wheel rim,
- and a plurality of spokes of circular cross section each having a first portion extending from the rim transversely of said axis to a location adjacent the axis and a second portion extending parallel to said axis,
- the cross section of the tubular member having a number of flat sides equal to the number of spokes and joined by radii equal to the spoke cross-sectional radius,
- the second portions of the spokes being secured within the tubular member.
A steering wheel assembly comprising a wheel rim and a tubular member for use as at least part of a steering column,
- the tubular member having its longitudinal axis aligned with the center of the wheel rim,
- and a plurality of spokes each having a first portion extending from the rim transversely of said axis to a location adjacent the axis and a second portion extending parallel to said axis,
- the second portions of the spokes being secured within the tubular member,
- the tubular member being crimped around said second portions.
A steering wheel assembly comprising a wheel rim and a tubular member for use as at least part of a steering column,
- the tubular member having its longitudinal axis aligned with the center of the wheel rim,
- and a plurality of spokes each having a first portion extending from the rim transversely of said axis to a location adjacent the axis and a second portion extending parallel to said axis,
- the second portions of the spokes being secured within the tubular member,
- the spokes being welded together at the transition between said first and second portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.