Steering wheel
AssigneeJ. I. Case Company
InventorCasimir Moneta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reverse tilt steering wheel, i.e., the pivot point is not located down on the steering column below the wheel. The reverse tilt hereof is accomplished by concealed ramp track and track roller follower mechanism locating the pivot on the column axis, as and when extended, to a point located thereon which is above the wheel, to wit, projected completely without and beyond the structure. The resulting characteristic of the wheel is that it executes combined relative motion, coordinated so as to adjust in position along an arc concave with respect to the operator while simultaneously controlled in tilt to avoid change of wheel angularity from its normal position squarely facing the operator.
Claims25
Vehicle station (14), for an operator thereat, equipped with instrument console and steering column structures (10, 12) having respectively a console face distal to the operator and a tilt steering wheel relatively proximal to the operator, said console and column structures establishing cooperation to cantileverly support the proximal tilt wheel (24) for guided movement by the steering column structure (12) whereby the wheel executes two-way combined relative motion coordinated so as to adjust in position along a first arc concave with respect to the operator while simultaneously controlled in tilt to avoid substantial change of wheel angularity from its normal position squarely facing the operator, and a face slot (26) formed in the console face in receiving relation to, and defining a path for, the steering column structure to accommodate motion of the steering column structure in the instrument console structure by a tracking movement to, and transversely of, the console face of the latter, said face slot and said console face of the instrument console structure being curved on an arc similar to the first arc so as to be likewise concave with respect to the operator.
Vehicle station (14), for an operator thereat, equipped with a supported steering column structure (12) and an instrument console structure (10) having means of support for the steering column structure, said structures having respectively a console face distal to the operator and a tilt steering wheel relatively proximal to the operator;
- said means of support of the console structure (10) for the steering column structure (12) comprising a curved guide ramp (30) carried by one of the structures and engaging devices (32) in running engagement with the ramp and said engaging devices being carried by the other of said structures, whereby the column structure (12) is supported by the console structure (10) for generally up and down guided movement thereon and for cantileverly supporting the tilt wheel for corresponding guided movement;
- said tilt steering wheel and console face in their various positions of relative movement to one another and also said ramp all being tilted from the vertical away from the operator.
Vehicle station (14), for an operator thereat, equipped with console and column structures (10, 12) having respectively an instrument console (68) distal to the operator and a keyboard pod (170) relatively proximal to the operator, said console and column structures (10, 14) establishing cooperation to cantileverly support the proximal keyboard pod (170) for guided movement by the column structure (12) whereby the pod executes two-way combined motion coordinated so as to adjust in position along a first arc concave with respect to the operator while simultaneously controlled in tilt so as to avoid substantial change of pod angularity from its normal position squarely facing the operator, and a face slot (26) formed in the console face in receiving relation to, and defining a path for, the column structure to accommodate the motion of the column structure in the console structure by a tracking movement to, and transversely of, the console face, said face slot and said console face of the console structure being curved on an arc similar to the first arc so as to be likewise concave with respect to the operator.
Vehicle station (14), for an operator thereat, equipped with tilt wheel column structure and a longitudinally slotted console face structure distal to the operator, said tilt wheel column structure (12) operatively related to the face structure (10) within the face slot (26) and constrained by means providing for equivalent movement consistent with the longitudinal face slot and having a tilt steering wheel (24) relatively proximal to the operator, said console face structure and its longitudinal slot having an appreciably curved contour concave with respect to the operator and said slot comprising an approximately bottom to top curvilinear face slot, and means (20) supporting the console face structure (10) and tilt wheel column structure (12) in the operative relationship described.
Vehicle station (14), for an operator thereat, equipped with longitudinally slotted console face structure (10) distal to the operator and relatively proximal telescoping shaft (130) and column (12) structure operatively related therewith in the face slot and constrained by means providing for equivalent movement consistent with the longitudinal face slot (26), said console face structure and its longitudinal slot having an appreciably curved contour concave with respect to the operator and said slot comprising an approximately bottom to top curvilinear face slot, means (20) supporting the longitudinally slotted console face structure and telescoping shaft and column structure in the operative relationship described and with the telescoping shaft (130) further telescopically related to the longitudinal slot operatively, and a wheel (24) for the operator to steer the vehicle, said telescoping shaft having means (22) thereon supporting the wheel for wheel tilting movement up and down therewith, for wheel telescoping movement in and out therewith, and for independent rotation relative thereto.
At a vehicle operator's station, in combination:
- a console structure, and a tilt wheel column structure positioned in and connected to the console structure for relative tilting with respect thereto;
- and
- a leverage handle drive effective forcibly to adjust, from set tilt angle positions, the tilt wheel column structure relative to said console structure, and comprising an arm-carrying rockshaft, said rockshaft having a fixed axis of support in the console structure, having a first arm connected thereto forming an operator's tilt handle to adjust the wheel column structure tilt, and having a second arm connected between the rockshaft and wheel column structure to thereby set the tilt angle position of the latter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.