| 摘要 |
1,164,259. Steering wheels. GENERAL MOTORS CORP. 15 Aug., 1968 [15 Sept., 1967], No. 38999/68. Heading B7J. A steering wheel 14 comprises an annular rim 16, spokes 18, 19, 20, a hub 22 axially offset with respect to the centre plane of the rim and a substantially undeformable rigid support member 24 which has a central portion 32 overlying the hub, and arms 34 overlying the spokes; a connection between each arm 34 and spoke being so arranged that a predetermined axial movement of the rigid member towards the. hub 22, caused by high impact forces, produces bending of the spokes as a unit relative to the hub, while allowing relative movement of each spoke and respective arm in a direction radially of the hub. The connection between each spoke and arm comprises a bracket 40, Fig. 4, secured to an offset portion 42 of the spoke, and a bracket 48 secured to the arm 34, a helical spring 60 being disposed between the brackets. The separation between the brackets is adjusted by a bolt 56 screwed into a spring clip 52 on the bracket 48, which bolt passes through a headed plastics bush 54 passing through an elongated slot 44 in the bracket 40. A washer 58 is disposed between the clip 52 and the bush 54. A slight impact on the steering wheel is absorbed by the springs 60 but in the event of a high impact the washers 58 contact the brackets 40, which function as levers to transfer the load directly to the spokes causing all the spokes to bend simultaneously. |
