VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL

Abstract

A vehicle steering wheel comprising: a hub, a movable structure that is able to move with respect to the hub between a driving position and at least one console position, an articulation arranged between the hub and the movable structure and comprising at least one articulation shaft, at least one electrical conductor running from the hub to the movable structure,
wherein the articulation shaft comprises a recess so as to form a cable passage, and in which the electrical conductor runs from the hub to the movable structure passing through the cable passage.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A vehicle steering wheel comprising: a hub; a mobile structure that is mobile relative to the hub between a driving position and at least one console position, a link arranged between the hub and the mobile structure and comprising at least one link shaft, at least one electrical conductor leading from the hub to the mobile structure, wherein the link shaft comprises a recess so as to form a cable channel, and wherein the electrical conductor leads from the hub to the mobile structure passing via the cable channel.

17. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 16, wherein the electrical conductor has one end arranged on the hub side comprising a connector, and wherein the connector has a dimension greater than a dimension of the cable channel.

18. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 16, wherein the link shaft is an add-on part discrete from the mobile structure and the hub.

19. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 19, comprising a clearance compensation device arranged at the link between the mobile structure and the hub.

20. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 19, wherein the clearance compensation device comprises a resilient member such as a spring washer.

21. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 16, comprising a friction reduction device arranged at the link between the mobile structure and the hub.

22. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 21, wherein the friction reduction device comprises at least one part having a coefficient of friction of less than 0.15, preferably less than 0.10 and even more preferentially less than 0.07, such as a part comprising polytetrafluoroethylene, or bronze.

23. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 16, comprising two links, each with a link shaft comprising a recess.

24. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 16, wherein the mobile structure comprises a reinforced portion.

25. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 24, wherein the reinforced portion comprises at least one rim reinforcement, and/or at least one spoke reinforcement.

26. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 25, wherein the rim reinforcement is discrete from the spoke reinforcement.

27. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 16, comprising an electric apparatus or device built into the mobile structure, and wherein the electrical conductor has one end arranged on the mobile structure side and connected to the electric apparatus or device.

28. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 16, comprising a cable positioning insert, arranged in the cable channel, between the electrical conductor and the link shaft.

29. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 16, wherein the link is of the pivot link type.

30. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 16 in combination with an automotive vehicle.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0041] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are provided by way of non-limiting examples and illustrated by the attached drawings, in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a general top view of a vehicle steering wheel equipped with a movable structure that can move relative to a hub;

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view showing an internal articulation of the steering wheel of FIG. 1, as well as an electrical conductor;

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the cross-section of FIG. 2;

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section along a plane of FIG. 1 containing the axis IV-IV;

[0046] FIG. 5 depicts an alternative implementation of the implementation of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle steering wheel comprising a hub 20, a rim 10 and spokes 30 connecting the hub 20 to the rim 10. The steering wheel shown in FIG. 1 comprises a movable structure that can move relative to the hub 20.

[0048] In the example shown, the movable structure comprises in particular the rim 10 and a part of the spokes 30, and can pivot relative to the hub 20 about the axis IV-IV, thanks to articulations 40 visible in FIGS. 2 to 4. In FIG. 1, the movable structure is in the driving position; the steering wheel can be used to steer the vehicle. The movable structure can pivot relative to the hub 20 for example to release space in an autonomous driving situation or when the vehicle is stopped, straight wheels, to provide a substantially horizontal surface which can for example receive a computer.

[0049] Alternatively, provision may be made for only a part of the rim 10 to be movable, or even several movable parts.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows the steering wheel of FIG. 1 in perspective for showing a part of the internal structure. To this end, the external central part of the steering wheel is absent (typically the airbag and its cover have been removed), to show two articulations 40 and an electrical conductor 50.

[0051] The articulations 40 provide the connection between the hub 20 and the movable structure (rim 10 and spokes 30) by forming a pivot connection and each comprise an articulation shaft 41 as will be described in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

[0052] The electrical conductor 50 is typically connected to an electrical member on board the movable structure (a module for heating the rim 10, light indicators in the rim 10, a capacitive sensor for detecting a presence in the rim 10, control buttons installed on the spokes 30, etc.) and makes it possible to connect this electrical member to the on-board network of the vehicle, via for example a terminal block or a socket installed in or at the hub 20.

[0053] It is important to guarantee that the electrical conductor 50 does not risk being pinched, rubbed, worn, cut, etc. during movements of the movable structure relative to the hub 20. For this purpose, it is in particular provided to pass the electrical conductor 50 into a recess of the articulation shaft 41, to provide a cable passage that is housed in an area where the rotational movements of the components have a low amplitude.

[0054] For this purpose, FIG. 3 shows a detail of the steering wheel of FIG. 2. The electrical conductor 50 comprises a cable 51 and a connector 52. An actuator 61 is coupled to a control arm 62 to form a locking means 60 of the movable structure (at the lower part of the spoke 30 and the hub 20), and a tightening nut 42 is screwed onto the articulation shaft 41.

[0055] The articulation shaft 41 comprises a recess (in this case a through central hole, but it is possible to consider a longitudinal outer groove, for example) which forms a cable passage through the articulation 40. Consequently, the cable 51 of the electrical conductor 50 can pass through the recess to go from the central part of the steering wheel (the hub 20) to the peripheral part (the movable structure: spoke 30 and rim 10).

[0056] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section of the steering wheel according to a plane normal to FIG. 1 containing the axis of rotation IV-IV.

[0057] The articulation 40 mainly comprises the articulation shaft 41, the tightening nut 42 and a sliding ring 43.

[0058] The articulation shaft 41 is mounted (for example screwed, inserted or force-fitted) into a frame 31 of the spoke 30 to form a connection allowing the articulation shaft 41 to drive the frame 31 in rotation, for example a connection of the recessed type.

[0059] The sliding ring 43 is typically made of a material with a low friction coefficient (polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE for example) and is mounted on a return wall of the hub 20 in order to limit the friction at the articulation 40.

[0060] The tightening nut 42 is screwed onto the articulation shaft 41 in order to sandwich a control plate 63 which interacts with the control arm 62 of FIG. 3.

[0061] The articulation shaft 41 is typically provided with a flat or a groove to ensure a rotation stop with the control plate 63, in order to provide effective locking via the kinematic chain connecting it to the actuator 61.

[0062] It can be noted in FIG. 4 that the frame 31 of the spoke 30 is shared and/or continuous with the frame of the rim 10, an overmolding 32 forming a continuous and aesthetic covering for the user.

[0063] It can therefore be noted that the cable 51 of the electrical conductor 50 starts from the central part of the hub 20 and passes into the recess or central hole of the articulation shaft 41 in order to go directly into the overmolding 32 of the movable structure. Thus, the cable 51 is remote from the other parts of the steering wheel and is protected from vibrations, pinching, interferences, friction which could otherwise be imposed on the electrical conductor 50.

[0064] Not shown, it is possible to provide an insert for positioning in the recess of the articulation shaft 41 in order to fasten or attach the cable 51 (by clipping for example) in order to prevent it from moving or moving relative to the articulation shaft 41, or even better protecting the cable 51 from edges which would be present on the articulation shaft 41.

[0065] It should also be noted that the connector 52 visible in FIG. 3 has a dimension greater than that of the cable passage in the articulation shaft 41, which prevents it from sliding in the recess or the hole during assembly. The connector 52 can for example be connected to the cable 51 after the insertion of the latter into the articulation shaft 41.

[0066] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment relative to the implementation of FIG. 4. The identical parts will not be described again.

[0067] In particular, the articulation 40 comprises a clearance compensation device, in the form here of conical and/or resilient washers forming a resilient member placed between the spoke 30 and two sliding washers 45 bearing on the return of the hub 20. Alternatively, a spring may be provided. This makes it possible to limit the risks of clicking, but without imposing strenuous requirements as to the tolerances and manufacturing clearances.

[0068] Finally, the frame of the movable structure (spoke 30 and rim 10) is in two parts 31A and 11A, fastened together by a screw 12 (or any other means such as a rivet, a splined pin screwed or force-fitted, etc.)

[0069] Such an implementation makes it possible to mount the spokes 30 on the hub 20, each independently of the other, and then attach the rim 10.

[0070] Furthermore, it may be noted that the rim 10 is overmolded independently of the spoke 30, but it is possible to provide a single overmolding for the entire frame of the movable structure, as for the implementation of FIG. 4.

[0071] It will be understood that various modifications and/or improvements which are obvious for the person skilled in the art may be made to the different embodiments of the invention described in the present description, without departing from the scope of the invention.