Abstract:
To facilitate the joint raising and lowering and pivoting of the steering wheel ( 2 ) or the steering column ( 1 ) and the dashboard ( 4 ) of a motor vehicle, it is suggested to form an assembly consisting of the steering column ( 1 ) and the dashboard ( 4 ), which can be secured in a motor vehicle as a pre-manufactured unit by using a suitable bracket ( 7 ). The dashboard ( 4 ) is associated with a stabilizing device ( 18 ) including slideway guide arrangements ( 40/41  and  37 ) combined with a toothed wheel/rack connection ( 35/36  and  33/34 ) provided on each of widely spaced guide rails ( 19/20 ).

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/051,563, filed Apr. 13, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,295 issued May 30, 2000 which is a con of PCT/EP 96/04357 Oct. 8, 1996. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a position adjustable steering wheel and a position adjustable dashboard. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Studies directed to development of a new concept of working places of bus drivers, in particular, of city bus drivers show, see, e.g., an offprint from ATZ (1994), Heft 7/8, that from the medical and ergonomical point of view, the shape and the adjustment possibilities of a driver&#39;s seat alone is not sufficient to achieve an optimal posture of a motor vehicle driver. Rather, in order for a plurality of drivers to be in a position in which they can take a healthy and comfortable working posture, it is additionally necessary to provide possibilities for axial adjustment and for pivoting of the steering wheel and, in addition, to provide prerequisites for changing a position of the dashboard. At that, there exists a direct correlation between the angle of the steering wheel to a horizontal and the angle of the display plane of the dashboard to a horizontal. In other words, considering the position of the driver&#39;s eyes, for a relatively big driver, the steering wheel would occupy an elevated, only slightly included position, and the instrumentation panel of the dashboard would be in a flat, slightly inclined position. Whereas for a relatively small driver, the steering wheel would occupy a lowered, more included position, and likewise the instrumentation panel of the dashboard would occupy a more upright position. 
     The realization of medical and ergonomical recommendations present significant technical problems, in particular with regard to the locking and adjustment of a relatively large, widely-spread mass of the dashboard and to its stabilization, i.e., with regard to its oscillation-free suspension. It is to be noted that with regard to the adjustment, the necessary forces should be relatively small particularly in buses, which often have a change of drivers with the possibility that the driver may be female. Additional difficulties consist in that the required ergonomical-technical optimization should be conducted in a technical area in which smallest possible costs and a series production capability, that is, good reproducing capability, as well as inexpensive assembly, are required. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to so arrange a steering wheel and a dashboard in a motor vehicle so that the position of the steering wheel and the dashboard can easily be changed, that the self-oscillation with respect to the driver&#39;s cab is prevented, and that the costs of assembly of such arrangement, in a motor vehicle are reduced to the most possible extent. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This and other objects of the present invention, which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing a motor vehicle with a position-adjustable steering wheel and a position-adjustable dashboard, in which the dashboard and an axially adjustable and pivotally supported steering column, which carries a steering wheel, are fixedly connected with each other, and in which there is provided a bracket, which is connectable with a front side cross-spar of the driver&#39;s cab, on which a supporting frame, which carries the steering column and is provided with slideway guides for the steering column, is secured. A stabilizing device, which is associated with the dashboard, is connected with the supporting frame. The stabilizing device has two, spaced from each other by a relatively large distance, guide rails and functional elements which are connected with the dashboard and which are associated operatively with the guide rails in such a way that the stabilizing device provides for both height adjustment and pivotal movement of the steering column/dashboard about a rotational axle displaceable in the supporting frame. 
     It is to be noted that according to the found solution, the steering column and the dashboard do not move relatively to each other, but rather form a raising and lowering as well as pivotable assembly which is displaceable by using suitable parallel slideway guides, and is locked in each position. The steering wheel serves as a handle for an ergonomically-appropriate accommodation of this assembly to a particular male or female driver. A particular advantage can be seen in that the assembly is arranged with a three-point support using a bracket which is easily secured on the front side cross-spar of the driver&#39;s cab of a respective motor vehicle, so that as a result, the assembly simply follows the driver&#39;s cab oscillations. At that, the assembly can be produced as a functional unit outside of the motor vehicle and be inserted into the motor vehicle as pre-manufactured unit. 
     Of a particular importance for the found solution is the stabilizing device which insures a relatively wide support of the dashboard by suitably mounted guide rails and prevents jamming of the assembly formed of the steering wheel and the dashboard during its position-adjustment. The means for preventing jamming associated with each of the rails for the dashboard, a combination consisting of a gear wheel/toothed rack arrangement and a slideway guide and which provides for a uniform distribution of forces generated during raising or lowering and during pivotal movement of the steering wheel/dashboard assembly. To this end, a hinge connection is provided between the dashboard and a connection rod which carries both gear wheels. 
     The found solution further consists in that for effecting a pivotal movement of the assembly, a smallest possible play is contemplated in gear wheel/toothed rack engagement and between slideways provided in the guide rails and the connection rod engageable in both slideways. The spacial arrangement of the functional elements secured to the dashboard of the stabilizing device with respect to the rotational axis of the steering wheel is so effected that the plane, in which the connection rod and rotational axis are arranged, extends, in the middle position of the pivotal angle, substantially perpendicular to the plane in which both slideways of the stabilizing device are located. 
     In addition, relatively simple, with regard to manufacturing and particularly with regard to mounting, means is provided for locking the stabilizing device. First to be mentioned is a spring-biased, pneumatically releasable clamp element loosely supported on the connection rod. The force for effecting this force-locking fixation is transmitted from the clamp element via tightening sleeves, which are supported on the connection rod and are provided with play-compensating means, in the direction toward the guide rails and thereby in the direction of the outwardly located gear wheels of the stabilizing device. The latter are connected with the connection rod by throated sleeves and are counteracted in an appropriate manner. That is, the force flow is closed by a tensioned connection rod. 
     For completeness, it should be mentioned that despite a considerable weight of the steering column/dashboard assembly, the dimensioning can be so effected that raising requires little force and, if necessary, can be effected automatically. To this end, the slideway guides, which are inclined in a direction opposite to the working direction of the gravity force, cooperates with a telescopic shaft, which forms part of a cadran shaft extending from the steering column and which is provided with a gas spring. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Below, the invention will be explained in detail on the basis of an embodiment example shown in the drawings. The drawings show: 
     FIG. 1 a side view of a steering column/dashboard assembly according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 a side view of a bracket and a stabilizing device relative to a stationary frame, with respect to a motor vehicle; 
     FIG. 3 a view of the bracket and the stabilizing device in the direction of arrow “A” in FIG. 2, without the stationary frame; 
     FIG. 4 a partially cross-sectional view of the stabilizing device alone line B in FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 5 a schematic view showing displacement of the steering column/dashboard with respect to the driver&#39;s cab. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in the general view of FIG. 1, a steering column  1  in which a shaft (not shown) of a steering wheel  2  is arranged, or a supporting frame  3  associated with steering column  1 , and a dashboard  4  in the body of which, formed of two shells  5 ,  6 , display and recording instrument, switches and other control elements are located, are associated with a bracket  7  which is supported on a front side frame  8  of a driver&#39;s cab of a corresponding motor vehicle and which is secured to the frame  8  in an appropriate manner not shown in detail. 
     The frame  8  in this case is formed of a cross-spar  8   a  of the driver&#39;s can and of preferably two posts or upright supports  8   b  welded to the cross-spar  8   a  and extending to the driver&#39;s cab floor. The jacket of the steering column  1  is designated with a reference numeral  9 , reference numerals  10  and  11  designate ventilation hoses leading toward the dashboard  4 , and reference numeral  12  designates a protective hose for electrical connections of the dashboard  4 . Two conduits  13  and  14  represent pressure air conduits. They are connected, respectively, with clamp elements  15  and  16  (FIG.  2 ), which serve for locking of the steering column/dashboard assembly. Reference numeral  17  designates an element of a cadran shaft extending toward the steering gear and connected with the shaft of the steering wheel. Preferably, this cadran shaft element is formed as a telescopic shaft provided with a pneumatic spring. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 show a stabilizing device  18  associated with the dashboard  4 . The stabilizing device has guide rails  19  and  20  which are attached to cheeks  21  and  22  of a cross-bar  23  supported on the bracket  7 . Appropriate connection screws are designated with a reference number  24 . The cross-bar  23 , which is formed as a U-shaped part, represents an additional reinforcement for the bracket  7 . Through-bores  25 ,  26 ,  27  and slots  28  and  29  are provided for securing the bracket  7  to the frame  8 . Ledges  30  and  31  are provided on the bracket  7  for releasing of the screw connection and also for facilitating the assembly, namely, the suspension of the steering column/dashboard assembly on the cross-spar  8   a  before screwing. Reference numeral  32  designates one of the four through-bores provided in the bracket  7  for screwing the bracket  7  with the supporting frame  3  of the steering column  1 . 
     As further can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, two toothed racks  33  and  34  are secured on the guide rails  19  and  20  with screws, which is not shown in detail, in such a manner that respective toothings are provided on the outer sides of the guide rails  19  and  20 . Two gear wheels  35  and  36 , which are secured on a connection rod  37  with nuts  38  and  39 , respectively, engage the racks  33  and  34 . That is, the connection rod  37  extends through both guide rails  19 ,  20  and thus, through slideways  40  and  41  formed in the guide rails  19  and  20 . As shown particularly in FIG. 3, two tightening sleeves  42  and  43  are associated with the clamp element  16  loosely supported on the connection rod  37 . The tightening sleeves  42  and  43  are likewise loosely supported on the connection rod  37 . One of the tightening sleeves, sleeve  42 , is provided with a thread, without a reference numeral, for receiving counteracting nuts  44  and  45 , which are designated for backlash compensation. Reference numeral  46  designates a support which is formed as a bearing bracket and which is fixedly connected with the shell  6  of the dashboard  4 . One of the through-bores for screwing them together is designated with a reference numeral  47 . As is particularly shown in FIG. 3, the legs  48  and  49  of the support  46  are rotatably supported on the tightening sleeves  42  and  43 , i.e., the dashboard  4  is pivotally connected with the connection rod  37  and the functional elements arranged thereon. FIG. 4 shows that one leg, leg  48 , of the support  46 , is not supported directly on the sleeve  42  but rather on a shoulder  50  formed on the nut  44 . As further shown in FIG. 4, the gear wheel  35  is provided with a threaded bushing  51  the neck  52  of which has surfaces, not shown in detail, engageable by a tool. The same is true for the gear wheel  36 . The neck of a threaded bushing associated with gear wheel  36  can be seen in FIG.  3  and it is designated with a reference number  53 . A washer designated with a reference numeral  54  serves for compensating the difference in diameters between the sleeve  42  and a pressure member  55  of the camp element  16 . 
     From the schematic view of FIG. 5, it can be seen that the steering column/dashboard assembly is displaceable in a plurality of parallel slideway guides and that it can be lifted or sunk in a direction of arrow X, and that it can further pivot in a direction of arrow Y in each position in the direction of arrow X by an angle α. It can further be seen that, on one hand, the dashboard  4  is fixedly connected with the steering column  1  and, on the other hand, is drivingly connected with the guide rails  19  and  20  of the stabilizing device  18 , which are fixedly secured to the bracket  7  by functional elements  35  and  36 ,  37 ,  38  and  39 , and  46 . 
     The pivoting of the assembly is effected abut a stationary, with respect to the steering column, rotational axle  56  which supports two ball bearings arranged, for example, on opposite sides of a steering column  1 , which is formed as a U-shaped body, and serving as running rollers  57  and  58 . The running rollers  57  and  58  engage in the groove  59 ,  60  formed in the supporting frame  3  and functioning as slideways. The second guide for the steering column  1  is likewise formed in the supporting frame  3  as slots  61  and  62  also functioning as slideways limiting the stroke of the steering column  1 . To this end, the steering column  1  is associated with an axle  63  which is engageable in both slots  61  and  62 . The axle  63  serves as a stop limiting the pivotal movement of the steering column  1 , with the axle  63  extending through elongate openings  64  and  65  formed in the side walls of the steering column  1 . As can be seen in FIG. 1, the clamp element  15  is supported on the axle  63 . The clamp element  15  serves for providing a force-locking connection between the supporting frame  3  and the steering column  1  and thus, for locking the steering column  1  in a lift/pivotal position. 
     In FIG. 5, the reference numeral  66  designates a shaft which is fixedly connected with the steering wheel  2  and is rotatably supported in the steering column  1 . The reference numeral  67  designates a universal joint provided between the shaft  66  and the telescopic shaft  17 , which supports the steering column/dashboard assembly when the clamp elements  15 ,  16  are released. From FIG. 5, it is further clear that the radial stroke of the connection rod  37  and thus, of the gear wheels  35  and  36 , would be minimal upon pivotal movement of the assembly when the functional elements, which are associated with the dashboard  4  are so arranged that in the middle position  68  of the angle α, the plane in which both the connection rod  37  and the rotational axle  56  are located extends to the plane in which the slideways  40  and  41  are located, at a right angle. 
     It should be further mentioned that the bracket  7  is so formed between the cross-bar  23  and support arms  69 ,  70  associated therewith, that it forms, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a guide channel  71 , preferably between the supports  8   b  of the frame  8 , for the ventilation hoses  10  and  1   1 , protective hose  12  for the electrical conductors and the pressure air conduit  14 . The base  72  of the bracket  7  forms flange surfaces for the supporting frame  3  of the steering column  1 . Because shearing of the conductors and hoses over the edges of the guide channel  71  during adjustment of the steering column/dashboard should be prevented, it is advisable to provide a plastic coating, together with appropriate rounding of the edges, at least a plastic sole plate secured to the bottom of the guide channel  71 . Reference numeral  73  designates the attachment plane of the bracket  7 .