Steering Wheel with Stationary Hub Mounted Portion

Abstract

A steering wheel having a stationary portion supporting a DAB or similar module, comprises an armature ( 1 ) having a hub ( 2 , H) directly mounted to a vehicle steering shaft and provided with an opening ( 3 ) through which a coiled element ( 5 ) passes. A non-rotating housing ( 41 ) is assembled with the hub ( 2 ) and the coiled element ( 5 ) connects the non-rotating housing ( 41 ) to a fixed part ( 61 ) of the vehicle and carries one or more electric wires to the DAB. The coiled element ( 5 ) is screwing or unscrewing itself to or from the hub ( 2 , H) via the opening ( 3 ) when the steering wheel is rotated. A gear assembly is provided for supporting the stationary portion ( 41 ) when the steering wheel is rotated.

1 . A steering wheel comprising an armature ( 1 ) having a hub ( 2 , H) and means to directly couple said hub to a vehicle steering shaft ( 7 ), the hub ( 2 , H) being provided with an opening ( 3 ), and a non-rotating housing ( 41 ,  41 A) assembled on a side ( 24 ) of the hub ( 2 , H) that will be proximal with a vehicle driver, a coiled element ( 5 ) that extends through said opening ( 3 ) in the hub ( 2 , H) to carry one or more electric wires and that is fixed to at least a fixed part ( 61 ,  61 A) of the vehicle, the coiled element ( 5 ) spiraling through said hub ( 3 ) when the steering wheel is rotated, and a second non-rotating housing ( 61 ,  61 A) fixed to a fixed part of the vehicle, wherein said first non-rotating housing ( 41 A) and said second non-rotating housing ( 61 A) are provided with teeth ( 41 B,  61 B) and further comprising a gear means (G) having an axis of rotation (Y-Y) for matching said teeth ( 41 B,  61 B) while being rotated by said Hub (H) around an axis (X-X) of the vehicle steering shaft ( 7 ) thereby rotating also around its own axis (Y-Y). 
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . The steering wheel of  claim 1 , wherein said coiled element ( 5 ) housing electric wires is axially elastically extendible and compressible along the axis of rotation (X-X) of the steering. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The steering wheel according to  claim 4 , wherein said gear means (G) comprises a first gear (G 1 ) to match said non-rotating housing and a second gear (G 2 ) to match said fixed part ( 61 A), said first and second gears being fixed coaxially on the same driving shaft (G 3 ) which engages said hub (H) at a distance from the axis (X-X) of the steering shaft ( 7 ). 
   
   
       6 . The steering wheel according to  claim 5 , wherein the gear ratio between said gear means (G) and both said non-rotating housing ( 41 A) and said second ( 61 A) is such that as the steering wheel ( 1 ) is rotated, the non-rotating housing ( 41 A) rotates in the opposite direction relatively to said hub (H) and at the same speed, thereby remaining stationary. 
   
   
       7 . The steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein an end of said coiled element ( 5 ) is secured to said fixed part ( 61 A) of the vehicle and the opposite end is secured to said non-rotating housing ( 41 A). 
   
   
       8 . The steering wheel according to  claim 7 , wherein said coiled element ( 5 ) is rigid against torsion. 
   
   
       9 . The steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion ( 45 ) of the driver side non-rotating housing ( 41 , 41 A) is slidable on the hub ( 2 , H) when the steering wheel rotates. 
   
   
       10 . The steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein said driver side non-rotating housing ( 41 A) and said second housing ( 61 A) are externally provided with teeth respectively matching said first gear (G 1 ) and said second gear (G 2 ) of said gear means (G). 
   
   
       11 . The steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion ( 65 ) of fixed part ( 61 ,  61 A) of the vehicle is slidable on the hub ( 2 ,H) when the steering wheel rotates. 
   
   
       12 . The steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the coiled element ( 5 ) is a cylindrical helix arranged coaxially with the steering wheel shaft ( 7 ). 
   
   
       13 . The steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the coiled element ( 5 ) is provided with a slot ( 57 ) to convey a conductor of power or signals ( 58 ) through the opening ( 3 ) in the hub ( 2 ). 
   
   
       14 . The steering wheel according to  claim 13 , wherein the coiled element ( 5 ) comprises coils ( 53 ) and the slot ( 57 ) runs along the coils ( 53 ) of the coiled element ( 5 ).