Loudspeaker module
By using spring components on the horn module on the Vehicle steering wheel, the springs component is pre -positioning and sale, the airbag module caused by the vibration of the vehicle to accidentally exercise and noise, and achieve a more stable and quiet speaker operation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380047926.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-07-01
- Filing Date
- 2023-04-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-28
AI Technical Summary
The horn module on the existing vehicle steering wheel can easily cause unexpected movement of the airbag module and generate noise when the vehicle vibrates.
Design a horn module on the Vehicle steering wheel, using spring elements to be pre -tightened on the positioning sales, loading positioning and sales against the direction of the speaker, thereby fixed positioning to the steering wheel to reduce noise.
Effectively reduce the noise of vehicle vibration and speaker operation, ensure that positioning is fixed on the steering wheel in any state, reducing the possibility of accidental exercise.
Smart Images
Figure CN119384373A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to a speaker module on a vehicle steering wheel. Background Art
[0002] In known arrangements, the horn contacts are positioned in such a way that the movably mounted driver airbag module moves when pressure acts on the steering wheel hub. This closes the circuit and the horn sounds. In order to achieve the necessary displacement, the airbag module is fixed to the steering wheel frame by means of dowel pins, which have a latching groove at their free ends, into which a spring wire arranged on the steering wheel frame engages. In a known embodiment, the airbag module is arranged movably relative to the dowel pins. A spring is located between the airbag module and the steering wheel frame, which in the neutral position keeps the horn contacts spaced apart and provides a restoring force to the neutral position. Summary of the invention
[0003] The object of the present invention is to reduce noises which are generated due to unintended movements of the airbag module, for example due to vibrations of the vehicle.
[0004] This object is achieved by means of a horn module on a vehicle steering wheel, which has a module body that can be linearly moved along a dowel pin in a horn actuation direction. The dowel pin is fixed to the steering wheel in a direction opposite to the horn actuation direction. A spring element is arranged between a component fixed to the steering wheel and the module body, the spring element being permanently fixed to the dowel pin in the region of the free end of the dowel pin and supported on the component fixed to the steering wheel, so that the spring element loads the dowel pin in a direction opposite to the horn actuation direction even when the module body moves in the horn actuation direction.
[0005] In a conventional horn module, when the airbag module moves in the horn operating direction, there is no spring force acting on the positioning pin. Therefore, in this state, the positioning pin can move, which can cause greater noise during vehicle vibration or horn operation.
[0006] According to the invention, however, the spring element exerts a force on the locking pin in any position of the module body, which forces the locking pin in the opposite direction of the horn actuation, i.e. away from the steering wheel frame, and pulls the locking pin toward its fastening on the steering wheel. This is achieved by the preloaded spring element acting directly on the locking pin. As a result, even in the case of poor terrain and corresponding vehicle vibrations, the noise generation is greatly reduced both when the horn is actuated and in the neutral position of the module body.
[0007] Typically, the module body comprises an airbag module, and the horn operation direction coincides with the direction of movement of the module body perpendicular to the steering wheel surface. The component fixed to the steering wheel is mostly formed by the steering wheel frame, in particular by the edge of an opening in the steering wheel frame, through which the positioning pin passes. As usual, the spring element should also provide a restoring force for returning the module body to its neutral position after operating the horn.
[0008] The fixing of the module body on the steering wheel is preferably realized as conventionally known by locking the locating pin on the spring wire that is retained on the steering wheel skeleton. Therefore, the module body can be installed on the steering wheel skeleton by overpressure, and the spring wire for example embeds in the locking groove on the locating pin free end.
[0009] In the state not mounted on the steering wheel, the spring element is, for example, caught at the axial end of the latching groove, so that the spring element can be pre-mounted on the positioning pin and on the module body.
[0010] In the neutral position, ie when no force is applied to the module body in the horn actuation direction, the spring element preferably presses the module body against the stop and the positioning pin against the spring wire counter to the horn actuation direction.
[0011] In order to permanently fix the spring element on the positioning pin, a fixing structure is preferably formed on the spring element, which fixing structure acts on the positioning pin.
[0012] For example, the spring element is a cylindrical or conically wound helical spring, and the fixing structure is formed by the narrowing of the last spring coil. Therefore, the fixing can be realized simply and cost-effectively.
[0013] Preferably, the fixing structure is held on the dowel pin in a form-fitting manner. For example, a groove or undercut on the dowel pin can be used together with a spring ring with a reduced diameter. Here, a latching structure on the free end of the dowel pin can be used, into which the spring wire is embedded, so that a conventional dowel pin can be used.
[0014] Advantageously, the spring element is supported spatially close to the fixed structure on a component fixed to the vehicle, i.e., for example, the penultimate spring coil adjacent to the last spring coil rests on the frame. In this way, the majority of the spring element can be used for the reset function, while only a small portion, in particular only the last spring coil, is used to generate the preload acting on the locking pin.
[0015] The spring element should be supported on a component fixed to the vehicle in any state of the horn module.
[0016] The module body-side end of the spring element can be supported on the module body and is preferably not fixed to the dowel pin, but is connected to the module body or to a component fixed to the module body only by a positive or non-positive connection.
[0017] In order to reduce the vibrating movements of the module body, a damping element can be arranged on the dowel pin in the force flow between the module body and the component fastened to the steering wheel.
[0018] For example, the damping element is a sleeve made of elastic material surrounding the positioning pin, a rigid sleeve surrounding the damping element and the module body sliding on the rigid sleeve when moving in the horn operating direction. The rigid sleeve is preferably firmly fixed to the module body side end of the positioning pin so that the damping element is located in the force flow between the positioning pin and the module body.
[0019] In one possible embodiment, one horn contact is arranged on the positioning pin, preferably directly on the axial upper side of the positioning pin. The second horn contact is usually positioned on the module body in this case. Therefore, the horn circuit can be integrated with a small installation space requirement.
[0020] The second speaker contact can be realized, for example, by a wire ring arranged on the module body, which extends on the upper side of all the positioning pins. For fixing to the module body, the wire ring is preferably embedded in the plastic layer on the module body. Therefore, there is no need to install the speaker contact separately, which saves time and costs.
[0021] In this embodiment, the positioning pin, the spring element and the region of the spring element supported on the frame are preferably designed to be conductive and the horn contact on the positioning pin is permanently grounded via the spring element. The positioning pin can thus assume the function of grounding the horn contact, which reduces the number of required components. The contact of the spring element with the frame ensures the grounding of the horn contact in any operating state. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings using two embodiments. The accompanying drawings are as follows:
[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a horn module according to the present invention mounted on a vehicle steering wheel according to a first embodiment;
[0024] Figure 2 and Figure 3 shows possible shapes of the spring element of the speaker module according to the present invention;
[0025] Figure 4 The horn module according to the present invention is shown before being installed on a vehicle steering wheel;
[0026] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing a horn module according to the present invention mounted on a vehicle steering wheel according to a second embodiment; and
[0027] Figure 6 Show Figure 5 Schematic perspective view of a module body of a speaker module in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Figure 1 A horn module 10 is shown fixed to a vehicle steering wheel, of which only its rigid frame 12 is shown. The horn module 10 comprises a module body 14, on which an airbag module (not shown) is normally arranged. The module body 14 is arranged movably in a horn operating direction B perpendicular to the steering wheel surface. If the driver presses on the hub area of the steering wheel, the module body 14 is pressed into the steering wheel in the horn operating direction B.
[0029] A plurality of positioning pins 16 are provided on the module body 14 , and the positioning pins 16 protrude from the module body 14 along the horn operating direction B.
[0030] Each positioning pin 16 is firmly and permanently fastened in the region of the free end 18 to a component 19 fixed to the steering wheel, here the frame 12 of the steering wheel. Therefore, the terms "component fixed to the steering wheel" and "frame" are used synonymously in this document.
[0031] A latching groove 20 is formed in the region of the free end 18, into which a spring wire 22 engages, which is fixed to the frame 12. If the module body 14 is mounted on a steering wheel, the spring wire 22 forms a fixed stop for the locking pin 16 in the direction opposite to the horn actuation direction B.
[0032] Each positioning pin 16 passes through an opening 24 in the frame 12 with its free end 18, without the positioning pin 16 contacting the inner edge of the opening 24. The opening 24 widens in a funnel-shaped manner toward the module body 14, so that the edge 26 of the opening 24 forms a conical surface in the transition to the surrounding area of the frame 12. Of course, other geometric shapes of the edge 26 are also conceivable.
[0033] Arranged between the underside 27 of the module body 14 and the edge 26 of the opening 24 is a spring element 28 which is permanently supported at its end 30 facing the module body on the underside 27 of the module body 14 and at its end 32 facing away from the module body on a conical surface.
[0034] In the example shown here, the spring element 28 is a helical spring, which is exemplarily Figure 2 Medium conical winding (see also Figure 1 ) and in Figure 3 The middle cylindrical coil is shown.
[0035] A fixing structure 34 is formed on the spring element 28, by means of which the spring element 28 is fixed directly on the positioning pin 16. In these examples, the fixing structure 34 is formed by a narrowing of the last spring coil 36 at the end 32 of the spring element 28 facing away from the module body. The last spring coil 36 is located in the latching groove 20 on the positioning pin 16 and therefore has an inner diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the positioning pin 16 axially connected to the latching groove 20, so that the movement of the spring coil 36 is limited in principle by the axial limiting surfaces 38, 40 of the latching groove 20.
[0036] The penultimate spring ring 42 adjoining the last spring ring 36 is located radially outside the latching groove 20 and is permanently supported on the edge 26 of the opening 24 , ie, on the conical surface.
[0037] The module body 14 is arranged to be displaceable relative to the positioning pin 16 in order to operate the horn, and the stop 44 limits the displacement movement, usually to a few millimeters.
[0038] In the example shown here, a rigid sleeve 46 is arranged at the module body-side end of the positioning pin 16 , which sleeve radially surrounds a damping element 48 , which is designed here as an elastic sleeve, for example made of elastomer, which is placed over the positioning pin 16 .
[0039] The damping element 48 and the rigid sleeve 46 are locked in their position on the positioning pin 16 , in this example by means of a collar 50 and by means of the radially widened module-body-side end of the positioning pin 16 .
[0040] The module body 14 has an annular flange 52 on each positioning pin 16, through which the rigid sleeve 46 extends and along which the rigid sleeve 46 can slide. The module body-side end 30 of the spring element 28 here rests radially outside the annular flange 52 and is not in direct contact with the rigid sleeve 46, the damping element 48 or the positioning pin 16.
[0041] The spring element 28 generates a force F both in the force-loaded position of the module body 14 (when the force acts on the module body in the horn actuation direction B) and in the neutral position (when no external force is applied to the module body 14), which acts along the locating pin 16 away from the frame 12 opposite to the horn actuation direction B and moves the module body 14 away from the frame 12.
[0042] Since the spring element 28 with its fixing structure 34 directly abuts on the module body side axial limiting surface 40 of the latching groove 20 on the positioning pin 16, the positioning pin 16 is also constantly loaded in the direction of the module body 14 in any position of the module body 14, which results in that the limiting surface 38 of the latching groove 20 away from the module body is always pressed against the spring wire 22 and thus always remains in abutment against the spring wire 22. This reliably prevents the generation of noise between the positioning pin 16 and the spring wire 22.
[0043] Since the penultimate spring coil 42 bears against the skeleton 12 , the force acting on the locking pin 16 can be adjusted largely independently of the force of the spring element 28 which counteracts the movement of the module body 14 into the steering wheel hub.
[0044] In order to operate the horn 53 (which is achieved by closing the horn circuit 55), the module body 14 is moved in the horn operation direction B until the horn contact 54 on the module body 14 and the horn contact 46 at a suitable position on the steering wheel contact each other and the horn circuit 55 is closed. Here, the spring element 28 is compressed and provides a predetermined resistance for the horn operation. The position of the fixing structure 34 on the module body side limiting surface 40 of the latching groove 20 does not change here, so that the positioning pin 16 does not follow the movement of the module body 14, but remains loaded against the horn operation direction B.
[0045] If the horn operation is completed and the force loading the module body 14 in the horn operation direction B is removed, the spring element 28 restores its original shape and applies a restoring force, which returns the module body 14 to the neutral position against the horn operation direction B. During this movement, the fixing structure 34 also remains against the module body side limiting surface 40 of the locking groove 20 and continues to load the positioning pin 16 in the direction of the module body 14. Therefore, during the operation of the horn, the positioning pin 16 never loses contact with the spring wire 22.
[0046] Even during vehicle vibrations in the neutral position of the module body 14 , the spring element 28 continuously maintains the force F in the direction of the module body 14 , so that the positioning pin 16 does not move in the horn operating direction B and the limiting surface 38 does not lose contact with the spring wire 22 .
[0047] Figure 4The horn module 10 is shown before being mounted on the steering wheel frame 12. The spring element 28 is pre-mounted on the positioning pin 16, and the fixing structure 34 blocks the end 32 of the spring element 28 facing away from the module body on the limiting surface 38 of the latching groove 20, so that the spring element 28 cannot be separated from the positioning pin 16. When mounted on the steering wheel, the positioning pin 16 is pushed through the opening 24. Here, the second-to-last spring coil 42 contacts the edge 26 of the opening 24, whereby the last spring coil 36 is also blocked by the fixing structure 34 and finally pressed against the limiting surface 40 on the module body side. The free end 18 of the positioning pin 16 pushes the spring wire 22 radially to one side until it is latched into the latching groove 20.
[0048] exist Figure 5 In the second embodiment shown, the horn contact 54 is formed on the axial upper side of the positioning pin 16 . A complementary horn contact 56 is arranged on the module body 14 .
[0049] In this example, the speaker contact 56 is formed by a metal wire which is also electrically conductive on its outer side and which extends over the upper sides of all the positioning pins 16 (see also Figure 6 The wire is embedded in a plastic layer 58 disposed on the module body 14, which prevents undesired electrical contact with other components and at the same time firmly connects the wire to the module body 14. The plastic layer 58 is interrupted radially within the flange 52 and the wire is exposed and extends on the upper side of the positioning pin 16, thereby ensuring good electrical contact between the speaker contacts 54, 56.
[0050] When the module body 14 moves in the horn operating direction B, the horn contacts 54 , 56 come into contact with each other, whereby the horn circuit is closed.
[0051] The positioning pin 16, the spring element 28 and the frame 12 itself and the surface are designed to be electrically conductive, at least in the area of their direct contact. Since the penultimate spring coil 42 is always in contact with the frame 12 and the last spring coil 36 always rests on the limiting surface 40 on the positioning pin, an electrically conductive connection is established between the horn contact 54 and the frame 12 via the spring element 28 in all driving situations and the horn contact 54 is constantly grounded.
[0052] Apart from the arrangement of the horn contacts 54 , 56 and the possible electrically conductive connection between the positioning pin 16 , the spring element 28 and the frame 12 , this embodiment does not differ substantially from the first embodiment described above.
[0053] All features of the various embodiments may be interchanged or combined.
[0054] For the sake of clarity, not all identical parts are provided with reference numerals. In different embodiments, the same reference numerals represent identical or substantially identical or functionally identical parts and components.
Claims
1. A horn module on a vehicle steering wheel, the horn module comprising a module body (14) which can be linearly moved along a positioning pin (16) in a horn operating direction (B), the positioning pin (16) being fixed to the steering wheel in a direction opposite to the horn operating direction (B), a spring element (28) being arranged between a component (19) fixed to the steering wheel and the module body (14), and the spring element (28) being permanently fixed to the positioning pin (16) in the region of a free end (18) of the positioning pin (16) and supported on the component (19) fixed to the steering wheel, so that even when the module body (14) moves in the horn operating direction (B), the spring element (28) loads the positioning pin (16) in the opposite direction to the horn operating direction (B).
2. The speaker module according to claim 1, wherein: A fixing structure (34) is formed on the spring element (28) and acts on the positioning pin (16).
3. The speaker module according to claim 2, wherein: The spring element (28) is a cylindrically or conically wound helical spring, and the fixing structure (34) is formed by a narrowing of the last spring coil (36).
4. The speaker module according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein: The fixing structure (34) is held on the positioning pin (16) in a form-fitting manner.
5. The speaker module according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: The spring element (28) is supported on the component (19) fixed to the vehicle in a spatially close manner to the fixing structure (34).
6. A speaker module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The module body-side end (30) of the spring element (28) is supported on the module body (14).
7. A speaker module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: A damping element (48) is arranged on the positioning pin (16) in the force flow between the module body (14) and the component (19) fastened to the steering wheel.
8. The speaker module according to claim 7, wherein: The vibration-damping element (48) is a sleeve made of elastic material surrounding the positioning pin (16), and a rigid sleeve (46) surrounds the vibration-damping element (48) and the module body (14) slides on the rigid sleeve (46) when moving in the speaker operating direction (B).
9. A speaker module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: A horn contact (54) is arranged on the positioning pin (16).
10. The speaker module according to claim 9, wherein: The positioning pin (16), the spring element (28) and the region supporting the spring element (28) on the component (19) fastened to the steering wheel are designed to be electrically conductive, and the horn contact (54) is permanently grounded via the spring element (28).