Patent ID: 6238506
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for manufacturing a steering wheel, comprising:a step for covering a mandrel by a tube in which internal pressure is to be applied,a step for laminating fiber-reinforced prepregs on said mandrel covered by said tube, and then removing them from said mandrel together with said tube so as to obtain a preformer,a step for pressing and bending said preformer into a cavity of a steering wheel mold corresponding to a rim of a steering wheel,a step for setting a metal skeleton comprising a center boss and spokes in a one-piece construction, in said steering wheel mold, wherein the spokes have link portions extending perpendicularly to the spokes at outer ends and each link portion has a curved surface and a curved slit extending between upper and lower sides thereof,a step for joining the link portions at the outer ends of said spokes of said skeleton to said preformer by wrapping fiber reinforced prepregs around the link portions and the preformer to connect the spokes and the peformer, anda step for clamping said steering wheel mold, and heating said preformer, said tube being under internal pressure so as to form said steering wheel.2.A process for manufacturing a steering wheel, comprising:a step for laminating fiber-reinforced prepregs on a mandrel, and then removing them from said mandrel so as to obtain a hollow preformer,a step for inserting into a hollow portion of said preformer a tube in which internal pressure is to be applied,a step for pressing and bending said preformer into a cavity of a steering wheel mold corresponding to a rim of a steering wheel,a step for setting a metal skeleton comprising a center boss and spokes in a one-piece construction, in said steering wheel mold, wherein the spokes have link portions extending perpendicularly to the spokes at outer ends and each link portion has a curved surface and a curved slit extending between upper and lower sides thereof.a step for joining the link portions at the outer ends of said spokes of said skeleton to said preformer by wrapping fiber reinforced prepregs around the link portions and the preformer to connect the spokes and the preformer, anda step for clamping said steering wheel mold, and heating said preformer, said tube being under internal pressure so as to form said steering wheel.