Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-07-10
Green, Mary Ann (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Elements
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257088
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to the attachment of a vehicle steering wheel to the steering shaft of a vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to the straight ahead angular adjustment of a vehicle steering wheel relative to the steering shaft of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Most vehicles are steered by manual rotation of a vehicle steering wheel. The steering wheel is fixed for rotation with a steering shaft about a steering axis. Rotation of the steering shaft effects steering movement of the steerable wheels of the vehicle.
It is desirable that the steering wheel have a particular orientation about the steering axis when the vehicle is travelling straight ahead. To enable proper orientation of the steering wheel, the steering wheel is mounted on the steering shaft with an adjustable splined connection. The industry standard splined connection for commercial vehicles is a connection with 36 splines, thus providing a ten degree pitch between splines. This pitch allows for angular adjustment of the steering wheel in ten degree increments. It is desirable to be able to adjust the steering wheel angular orientation in finer increments, so as to enable the desired straight ahead angular adjustment of the steering wheel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus comprising a vehicle steering shaft rotatable about an axis and a rotatable steering wheel. A member drivingly connects the steering wheel and steering shaft to rotate the steering shaft about the axis upon rotation of the steering wheel. The steering wheel has a straight ahead angular position relative to the steering shaft. The apparatus includes structure for enabling the steering wheel straight ahead angular position relative to the steering shaft to be changed. The structure includes cooperating portions of the steering shaft and the member which enable a coarse angular adjustment of the member relative to the steering shaft and cooperating portions of the steering wheel and the member which enable a fine angular adjustment of the steering wheel relative to the member. The fine angular adjustment is of an angle smaller than the coarse angular adjustment.
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patent: 4624596 (1986-11-01), Eckendorff
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patent: 4819961 (1989-04-01), Henigue
patent: 4938094 (1990-07-01), Cochard
patent: 5002422 (1991-03-01), Schremmer et al.
patent: 5816112 (1998-10-01), Hosoi et al.
patent: 5921147 (1999-07-01), Nagata et al.
patent: 3400609 (1985-02-01), None
patent: 475183 (1992-03-01), None
patent: 2592925 (1987-07-01), None
patent: 2600134 (1987-12-01), None
patent: 4-218466 (1992-08-01), None
Green Mary Ann
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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