Steering wheel adaptive mass dampening system

A steering wheel and column assembly for a vehicle includes a steering column housing and a steering column shaft rotatably coupled to the steering column housing. A steering wheel includes a central hub coupled to the steering column shaft and a steering wheel rim connected to the central hub by one or more spokes extending radially from the central hub. A dampening system cooperates with the steering wheel and includes at least one mass damper body disposed adjacent to central hub. One or more vibration damping elements extend at least partially through the at least one mass damper body and the central hub. One or more resilient support members cooperate with the at least one mass damper body, central hub and the one or more vibration damping elements to absorb vibrations in the steering wheel and column assembly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure pertains to vehicular steering systems and, more particularly, to a steering wheel and column assembly including a dampening system.

BACKGROUND

Vehicle steering wheel and column assemblies have been extensively engineered to provide desirable steering characteristics. Conventional steering wheel and column assemblies may still permit minor torsional vibrations to be transmitted through the steering column shaft to the steering wheel. Such vibrations may be produced by various periodic sources at the rotating corners of the vehicle, such as the tires, wheels, brake rotors, bearing hub assemblies and the like, in response to such conditions as imbalance and non-uniform tires. The vibrations may be produced even when the vehicle is traveling over a relatively smooth road.

This vibratory condition may be characterized by the unwanted dynamic rotational movement of the steering wheel at or above thresholds perceptible to a driver. Although this rotational movement is relatively minor, it is readily perceptible to a driver and consequently undesirable. A mass damper may be incorporated in a steering wheel to dampen the vibration by either adding a mass on the steering wheel armature or using the driver airbag or the inflator itself as the mass dampening device. However, a mass damper may be limited by design to anticipate a range of frequencies.

Traditional steering wheel mass dampeners are tuned to dampen one frequency of vibration in a single position that may be referred to as a mid-mid position of the steering column. The frequency of vibrations may change if the steering column is adjusted away from the mid-mid position, such as when a telescopic or tilt feature on the steering wheel is adjusted, which may increase vibrations as the steering wheel and column is extended towards the driver.

SUMMARY

A steering wheel and column assembly for a vehicle includes a steering column housing and a steering column shaft rotatably coupled to the steering column housing. A steering wheel includes a central hub coupled to the steering column shaft and a steering wheel rim connected to the central hub by one or more spokes extending radially from the central hub.

A dampening system cooperates with the steering wheel and includes at least one mass damper body disposed adjacent to the central hub. One or more vibration damping elements extend at least partially through the at least one mass damper body and central hub. One or more resilient support members extend at least partially around an outer periphery of the one or more vibration damping elements and cooperate with the one or more vibration damping elements to absorb vibrations in the steering wheel and column assembly.

In one embodiment of the disclosure, the one or more resilient support members are disposed between the at least one mass damper body and the central hub of the steering wheel to absorb vibrations in the steering wheel and column assembly. The one or more vibration damping elements and one or more resilient support members may be formed of an elastomeric material. The one or more resilient support members may include a body having a channel formed at least partially through an inner periphery to receive the one or more vibration damping elements.

A plurality of apertures are formed in the at least one mass damper body and central hub and aligned with the channel in the one or more resilient support members to receive and support the one or more vibration damping elements. The at least one mass damper body further comprises a unitary body formed to cooperate with and be disposed adjacent to the central hub of the steering wheel. A supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) module may be mounted on the steering wheel.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, a steering wheel and column assembly for a vehicle includes a steering column housing and a steering column shaft rotatably coupled to the steering column housing. A steering wheel including a central hub coupled to the steering column shaft and a steering wheel rim connected to the central hub by one or more spokes extending radially from the central hub cooperates with a dampening system.

The dampening system includes at least one mass damper body disposed adjacent to central hub having a plurality of apertures configured for alignment with corresponding apertures in the central hub. One or more vibration damping elements extend at least partially through and are disposed within the apertures in the at least one mass damper body and the central hub. One or more resilient support members include a body having an inner periphery with a channel formed at least partially therethrough that extends at least partially around an outer periphery of the one or more vibration damping elements. The one or more resilient support members cooperate with the one or more vibration damping elements to absorb vibrations in the steering wheel and column assembly.

The one or more resilient support members are disposed between the at least one mass damper body and the central hub of the steering wheel to absorb vibrations in the steering wheel and column assembly. The one or more vibration damping elements and one or more resilient support members may be formed of an elastomeric material, such as rubber or the like. The at least one mass damper body further comprises a unitary body formed to cooperate with and be disposed adjacent to the central hub of the steering wheel. A supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) module may be mounted on the steering wheel.

In yet another embodiment of the disclosure, a dampening system for use with a steering wheel including a central hub and a steering wheel rim connected to the central hub by one or more spokes extending radially from the central hub includes at least one mass damper body disposed adjacent to central hub. One or more vibration damping elements extend at least partially through and connect the at least one mass damper body with the central hub. The one or more resilient support members extend at least partially around an outer periphery of the one or more vibration damping elements and cooperate with the one or more vibration damping elements to absorb vibrations in the steering wheel.

The one or more resilient support members may include a body having a channel formed at least partially through an inner periphery to receive the outer periphery of the one or more vibration damping elements. The one or more vibration elements extend through a plurality of apertures in the at least one mass damper body and a corresponding plurality of apertures in the central hub to be received in the channel in the one or more resilient support members.

The one or more vibration damping elements and one or more resilient support members may be formed of an elastomeric material, such as rubber or the like. The at least one mass damper body further comprises a unitary body formed to cooperate with and be disposed adjacent to the central hub of the steering wheel.

The above noted and other features and advantages of the present disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the disclosure that are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, up, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front, may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar to directional terms are not to be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers correspond to like or similar components throughout the several figures,FIG. 1illustrates a steering wheel and column assembly20for a vehicle. The vehicle may include a motorized vehicle, such as, but not limited to, standard passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, light trucks, heavy duty vehicles, minivans, buses, transit vehicles, bicycles, robots, farm implements, sports-related equipment or any other transportation device.

Steering wheel and column assembly20includes a steering wheel22, a steering column housing24, and a steering column shaft26. Steering column housing24is fixedly mounted to a base mounting structure provided on a host vehicle (not shown). Steering wheel22includes a steering wheel rim30that is connected to a central hub28by a plurality of radial spokes32. Central hub28is fixedly coupled to the upper end of steering column shaft26, which is, in turn, rotatably mounted within steering column housing24.

During the occurrence dynamic motions at the threshold of driver detection, imbalances internal to the vehicle produce vibrations that are transmitted through steering column shaft26, through central hub28, through spokes32, and to steering wheel rim30. These vibrations may result in the rotational or axial movement of steering wheel rim30.

As is shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, steering wheel and column assembly20may be adjustable to a variety of positions using a telescopic or tilt feature on the steering wheel and column.FIG. 2illustrates steering wheel and column assembly20adjustable between at least a first position referenced by numeral11and a second position12, wherein the steering column tilts the steering wheel relative to the first position11.FIG. 3illustrates steering wheel and column assembly20that allows steering wheel22to be telescopically adjustable between a min-min position, referenced by numeral14, a mid-mid position, referenced by numeral16and a max-max position, referenced by numeral18.

FIG. 4is an exploded view of a portion of a steering wheel and column assembly34in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Steering wheel and column assembly34is similar to assembly20described above in conjunction withFIG. 1. For example, steering wheel and column assembly34comprises a steering wheel36and a steering column38partially shown inFIG. 4. Steering column38includes a stationary steering column housing42and a steering column shaft44, which is rotatably mounted within steering column housing42.

Steering wheel36may be affixed to the exposed end of steering column shaft44utilizing, for example, splined interconnecting features and a locking bolt46or other such fastener. Steering wheel and column assembly34further includes a supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) or airbag module48and a horn contact50, which are each deployed on steering wheel36. In one embodiment of the disclosure, SIR module48may be mounted to the central hub28of steering wheel36over horn contact50.

A lower cover52may also be mounted between steering column38and steering wheel36as shown inFIG. 2. When steering wheel36is turned by a driver, both steering wheel36and steering column shaft44rotate relative to steering column housing42. For this reason, steering wheel36and steering column shaft44may be collectively referred to as a “rotatable steering assembly” herein.

Referring now toFIGS. 1 and 5-7, a dampening system40for integration with and use in a steering wheel and column assembly for a vehicle is described in greater detail. Dampening system40may include at least one mass damper body54disposed adjacent the central hub28of the steering wheel22. The at least one mass damper body54may be weighted within a predetermined range to reduce vibrations of the vehicle through the steering wheel22. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the at least one mass damper body54is formed as a unitary body to be disposed adjacent and mounted to the central hub28of the steering wheel22. It is understood that the at least one mass damper body54may be formed of one or more sections that may be assembled or placed on the central hub28of the steering wheel22.

Apertures56may be provided in and extend through the at least one mass damper body54. Apertures56may be configured to align with corresponding apertures58formed in the central hub28of steering wheel22to cooperate to receive one or more vibration damping elements60. The one or more vibration damping elements60extend at least partially through the apertures56in the at least one mass damper body54and apertures58in the central hub28of the steering wheel22.

As is best shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the one or more vibration damping element60includes a body62defining an inner periphery64therein and a corresponding outer periphery68. As illustrated additionally inFIG. 7, body62may include one or more ribs or projections66formed on an outer periphery68of body62that are sized to cooperate and engage surfaces of the at least one damper body54and central hub28. The at least one vibration damping element60may be formed of an elastomeric material and cooperate with the central hub28and at least one damper body54to reduce vibrations in the steering wheel and column assembly.

Referring now toFIGS. 8-10, the dampening system for use with a steering wheel and column assembly of a vehicle may further include one or more resilient support members70. Resilient support members70may include a body72defining an inner periphery74and an outer periphery76. A channel78may be formed at least partially through an inner periphery74of the one or more resilient support members70and configured to receive a portion of the one or more vibration damping elements60.

In one embodiment of the disclosure, the one or more resilient support members70extend at least partially around the outer periphery68of the one or more vibration damping elements60and cooperate with the one or more vibration damping elements60to absorb vibrations in the steering wheel and column assembly34. In another embodiment of the disclosure, the one or more resilient support members70may be formed of an elastomeric material, including, but not limited to rubber.

One or more resilient support members70may be disposed between the at least one mass damper body54and the central hub28of the steering wheel to absorb vibrations in the steering wheel and column assembly. It is contemplated, as shown inFIGS. 8-10, that channel78of the one or more resilient support member70cooperates with apertures56in the at least one mass damper body54, projections66on the outer periphery68of the body62of the one or more vibration damping elements60and apertures58in the central hub28of the steering wheel22to receive and engage a portion of the at least one vibration damping elements60.

The one or more vibrations elements60may extend through apertures56,58into channel78of the one or more resilient support members70. The channel78in the inner periphery74of the body72of resilient support members70may include receiving surfaces80configured to releasably engage the outer periphery68of the one or more vibration damping elements60.

In one embodiment of the disclosure, dampening system40can be activated to increase stiffness to improve the performance of the steering wheel and column assembly in response to noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) conditions which may include the noise level in the vehicle during operation, the vibration that can be felt by the driver during operation of the vehicle and the harshness of the vehicle ride during abrupt transitions in vehicle motion. It is contemplated that the one or more resilient support members70may rotate about the one or more vibration damping elements60in an axis parallel to the steering column assembly axis to reduce vibrations.

Use of the one or more resilient support members70in combination with the one or more vibration damping elements60allows for reduction of vibrations without a change in the mass or geometry of the at least one mass damper body54as may be required in traditional steering systems. The one or more resilient members70coupled to the one or more vibration damping elements60may increase the stiffness of the one or more vibration elements whenever the steering wheel and column assembly receives higher vibrations based upon the position of the steering wheel and column assembly. This arrangement of the one or more resilient support members70and one or more vibration damping elements60allows for tuning of the materials to reduce a single vibration frequency on the steering wheel and column assembly even when positioned in the max-max or min-min positions.