Steering device for a vehicle

Abstract

Steering device for a vehicle (34), with a steering axis (A) about which the steering device (1) is rotatable, a handle section (3) for a rider (32), a hub (4) for connecting the steering device (1) to a steering column of the vehicle (34), a spoke (5) connecting the handle section (3) and the hub (4), as well as a spoke gasbag (20) to protect the upper extremities (30) of the driver (32), wherein a receiving space (21) for the spoke gas bag (20) is formed on the rear side of the spoke (5) facing an instrument panel (36) of the vehicle (34) when the steering device (1) is installed, and wherein the spoke gas bag (20) extends from the receiving chamber (21) behind the handle section (3) of the steering device (1) when inflated.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a steering device for a vehicle.

[0002] Most motor vehicles are now equipped with a vehicle occupant restraint system that deploys in the event of a vehicle accident. This restraint system primarily features a driver-side front airbag to protect the driver's head and torso. This front airbag is typically a hub airbag, meaning it is located on the driver-facing front of the steering wheel in the central area of ​​the steering wheel hub. In the event of the driver being thrown forward, the hub airbag effectively cushions the impact on the driver's head and upper body.

[0003] For example, DE 199 51 029 A1 shows a driver-side front airbag located in the central area of ​​the steering wheel hub, with the airbag exiting laterally with reference to the steering wheel hub and unfolding forward through a steering wheel rim to catch the driver's head and upper body.

[0004] In DE 10 2016 002 086 A1, in addition to a front gas bag housed in the steering wheel hub, a further gas bag is provided, which is arranged below a steering shaft and unfolds to the rear and upwards in the event of an oblique collision of the vehicle.

[0005] US 2001 / 0017460 A1 describes a driver-side front gas bag designed as a hub gas bag, wherein the gas bag is folded in such a way that parts of the folded gas bag package extend into the spoke area of ​​a steering wheel.

[0006] Finally, US patent 2017 / 0355341 A1 discloses a driver-side front gasbag designed as a hub gasbag and connected to an inflatable coupling section, the coupling section extending through an opening in the steering wheel to prevent unwanted slippage of the front gasbag relative to the vehicle's steering wheel.

[0007] Due to the high acceleration values, in a vehicle impact the driver's hands often leave the grip section of the steering wheel and can then move essentially freely between the vehicle's instrument panel and the steering wheel. It is therefore possible that the upper extremities, especially the forearms and hands, may strike the instrument panel or other interior elements of the vehicle, which can be uncomfortable for the driver.

[0008] The object of the invention is to create a steering device that provides improved protection for the driver's upper extremities in the event of a vehicle impact.

[0009] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a steering device for a vehicle, comprising a steering axis about which the steering device is rotatable, a handle section for a driver, a hub for connecting the steering device to a steering column of the vehicle, a spoke connecting the handle section and the hub, and a spoke airbag for protecting the upper extremities of the driver, wherein a receiving space for the spoke airbag is formed on a rear side of the spoke facing an instrument panel of the vehicle in the installed state of the steering device, and wherein the spoke airbag extends from the receiving space behind the handle section of the steering device in the inflated state.

[0010] For the purposes of the present invention, a steering device shall be understood to mean, in particular, a commercially available steering wheel suitable for use in a motor vehicle. Accordingly, the steering wheel may, in addition to a steering wheel frame, include, among other things, a steering wheel cover, trim elements, housings, controls, or the like. Such a steering wheel typically comprises a steering wheel rim as a grip section, a central steering wheel hub for connection to a steering column of the vehicle, and at least one steering wheel spoke connecting the steering wheel hub to the steering wheel rim. However, the invention also relates to other designs of steering devices in which, for example, the grip section is not designed as the circumferential steering wheel rim of a conventional steering wheel.

[0011] Within the scope of this invention, terms such as "front" or "rear" refer to a steering device installed in a vehicle from the driver's perspective. For example, the rear of a spoke describes a spoke section facing the vehicle's instrument panel. Consequently, a space "behind" the spoke or grip section corresponds to an area between the instrument panel and the spoke or grip section. Similarly, the front of a spoke describes a spoke section facing the driver, particularly the driver's upper body, or a vehicle seat. Consequently, a space "in front" of the spoke or grip section corresponds to an area between the driver's upper body and the spoke or grip section.

[0012] On the reverse side of the steering device, a receiving space for the spoke airbag is formed along the spoke, between the grip section and the hub. Preferably, the receiving space is arranged in or on the spoke. According to the present invention, the receiving space can have any shape or configuration. In particular, the shape of the receiving space can be substantially adapted to the spoke shape of the steering device.

[0013] Preferably, the receiving space between the grip section and the hub extends over at least a portion of the rear side of the spoke. The receiving space can be provided as a recess in the spoke's rear surface or as a projection on the spoke's rear surface. Particularly preferably, the receiving space is arranged along the spoke in such a way that it is concealed or not visible when the gas bag is housed within a functional steering device.

[0014] In its inflated state, the spoke airbag extends from its housing at least partially behind the steering mechanism, particularly behind the handlebar grips. The inflated state of the spoke airbag refers to its complete deployment upon the introduction of a filling gas during a vehicle impact, thus providing beneficial restraint. Specifically, in its inflated state, the spoke airbag extends from its housing into an area behind the steering mechanism, thereby providing protection for the driver's upper extremities. This additional support allows a greater proportion of the driver's kinetic energy to be dissipated through their shoulders, thus advantageously reducing the forces exerted on the head and torso in a collision.Furthermore, this additional support of the upper extremities also has a positive effect on restraint and thus the protection of the driver in the event of an oblique impact.

[0015] Apart from the rear spoke airbag described above, the steering device according to the present invention can, of course, also include a hub airbag, i.e., a central, driver-side front airbag located in the area of ​​the hub on the front of the steering device and extending forward towards the driver. Such a hub airbag is provided to protect the driver's head and thorax in the event of a vehicle collision in the conventional manner. In combination with the spoke airbag for protecting the upper extremities, this results in advantageous, comprehensive protection for the driver in the event of an accident.

[0016] Preferably, the spoke airbag, when inflated, extends between the rear of the steering mechanism and an instrument panel in such a way that the driver's upper extremities are guided and protected. The spoke airbag can extend radially outwards with respect to a steering axis beyond the grip section, which may, for example, form the steering wheel rim.

[0017] In particular, it is conceivable that the spoke airbag expands radially outwards from its recess in the spoke, across the back of the handlebar section, and then radially outside the handlebar section towards the rider. The inflated spoke airbag then extends, for example, behind the steering mechanism and around the handlebar section or steering wheel rim, thus providing a covering and guidance for the rider's hands and arms. In this way, comprehensive protection of the upper extremities can be ensured, and in the event of an angled impact, the risk of the head or torso slipping off the hub airbag can be prevented.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the steering device, the spoke airbag is designed to be partially annular in its circumferential state when inflated. If the handle section is configured as a steering wheel rim, this means, in particular, that the inflated spoke airbag covers only a portion of the rim on the rear side of the steering wheel. Specifically, the inflated spoke airbag may extend from the receiving space of the steering wheel spoke only over an angle of approximately 180° behind the steering wheel.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the steering device, several spokes and several spoke airbags are provided, wherein the several spoke airbags, when inflated, jointly form a substantially ring-shaped structure in the circumferential direction. The ring-shaped structure is, for example, segmented from at least two partially annular spoke airbags, with the gaps between adjacent partially annular spoke airbags being negligible. Thus, comprehensive protection for the rider's upper extremities can be achieved over a circumferential angle of almost 360°, regardless of the rider's chosen grip position on the handlebar section and the steering angle.

[0020] The spoke gas bag, which is housed in the spoke's receiving space, is preferably heat-set. This means that the spoke gas bag is folded into a gas bag package by pressurization and is first heated and then rapidly cooled during this process. This method allows for a particularly compact gas bag package, which is especially advantageous due to the limited space available in the spoke area.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the steering device, a hub gas bag is provided, which is arranged on a front side of the hub and can be unfolded towards the driver.

[0022] In this embodiment, a gas generator is preferably provided that is in flow communication with both the hub gas bag and the spoke gas bag. Consequently, only a single gas generator is required to fill the hub gas bag and the spoke gas bag with generator gas. This advantageously results in a particularly compact, simple, and cost-effective design of the steering device.

[0023] Alternatively, it is also conceivable that a separate, independent gas generator is provided for filling the spoke airbag located at the rear of the steering mechanism. In this case, the deployment of the spoke airbag can be controlled individually, meaning independently of a hub airbag. Consequently, deployment parameters such as the airbag's internal pressure, activation point, and deployment speed can be adjusted exclusively for the spoke airbag, unaffected by the requirements of the hub airbag.

[0024] The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached schematic drawings.

[0025] It shows: - Fig. 1 a side view of a steering device known from the prior art with an inflated hub gas bag; - Fig. 2 a side view of a steering device according to the invention with an inflated hub airbag and spoke airbag; and - Fig. 3 a rear view of the steering device according to Fig. 2.

[0026] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a side view of a steering device 1' installed in a vehicle 34 and designed as a steering wheel, according to the prior art. The illustration depicts a situation following a vehicle impact and the resulting activation of a vehicle occupant restraint system, whereby a driver 32 of the vehicle 34 is restrained by a hub airbag 10, a knee airbag 40, and a seat belt 42, and thus protected from a hard impact. The head and upper body of the driver 32 are primarily supported by the hub airbag 10.

[0027] Due to the high acceleration values ​​during the vehicle impact, the driver's hands 32 frequently leave a grip section 3 of the steering device 1' and are then essentially freely movable between an instrument panel 36 of the vehicle 34 and the steering device 1' or the deployed hub airbag 10. As in Fig. As indicated in 1, the upper extremities 30 of the driver 32, especially forearms and hands, may therefore strike, for example, the instrument panel 36, which is unpleasant for the driver 32.

[0028] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a side view of a steering device 1, designed as a steering wheel and installed in the vehicle 34, according to the invention. Analogous to Fig. Figure 1 depicts a situation following a vehicle impact and the resulting activation of the vehicle occupant restraint system, where, apart from the hub airbag 10, knee airbag 40 and seat belt 42, the vehicle occupant restraint system also includes a spoke airbag 20 to protect the upper extremities 30 of the driver 32.

[0029] The inflated spoke gas bag 20 extends according to Fig. 2 from the driver's point of view 32 behind the steering device 1, that is, between the handle section 3 of the steering device 1 and the instrument panel 36 of the vehicle 34.

[0030] Based on the Fig. 2 It can be clearly seen that the hands and forearms of the driver 32 are now securely held between the hub gas bag 10 and the spoke gas bag 20 and consequently can no longer strike the instrument panel 36.

[0031] The Fig. Figure 3 shows a rear view of the steering device 1, which is designed as a steering wheel, with a steering axis A about which the steering device 1 can rotate, a grip section 3 designed as a circumferential steering wheel rim for a driver 32, a hub 4 for connecting the steering device 1 to a steering column of the vehicle 34, and two spokes 5 that connect the grip section 3 to the hub 4. On the back of each spoke 5 is a Fig. 3. A schematically indicated receiving space 21 is formed in which a spoke gasbag 20, folded into a gasbag package, is arranged to protect the upper extremities 30 of the driver 32. The folded spoke gasbags 20 are, in particular, heat-fixed to obtain the most compact gasbag packages possible and to minimize the installation space required in the spokes 5.

[0032] The recording rooms 21 extend according to Fig. 3 in a radial direction along at least a portion of the spokes 5, between the hub 4 and the grip section 3, and perpendicular to this over at least a portion of the spoke width. In general, the receiving spaces 21 can have any shape, but are in particular adapted to an outer contour of the corresponding spoke 5. Thus, the receiving spaces 21 are according to Fig. 3 essentially frustoconical in shape.

[0033] In its inflated state, the spoke gas bag 20 is arranged between the back of the spoke 5 and the instrument panel 36 of the vehicle 34 in such a way that the upper extremities 30 of the driver 32 are guided and / or protected (see also Fig. 2).

[0034] Specifically, when the vehicle occupant restraint system is activated, the spoke gas bag 20 unfolds radially outwards from the receiving space 21 on the rear of the steering device 1 until at least behind the handle section 3 of the steering device 1.

[0035] Preferably, the inflated spoke gas bag 20 extends beyond the handle section 3 and then radially outside the handle section 3, particularly in the direction of the rider 32.

[0036] The spoke airbag 20 provides additional support over the upper extremities 30 of the driver 32, which, for example, in the event of an oblique impact, counteracts the lateral slippage of the head or upper body from the hub airbag 10 and thus has a positive effect on occupant protection.

[0037] In the present embodiment, the two spoke gas bags 20 are each partially ring-shaped in the circumferential direction and together form an essentially ring-shaped structure which almost completely covers the steering wheel rim on the rear side.

[0038] Furthermore, the steering device 1 exhibits according to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 a gas generator (not shown) which is in flow communication with both the hub gas bag 10 and the two spoke gas bags 20. This allows for a particularly compact design of the steering device 1. Reference symbol list 1 Steering device 3 Handle section 4 hub 5 spoke 10 Hub gasbag 20 spoke gasbag 21 Recording Room 30 upper extremities 32 drivers 34 vehicles 36 Instrument panel 38 vehicle seats 40 Knee gasbag 42 Seatbelt

Claims

[1] Steering device for a vehicle (34), with a steering axis (A) about which the steering device (1) is rotatable, a handle section (3) for a rider (32), a hub (4) for connecting the steering device (1) to a steering column of the vehicle (34), a spoke (5) connecting the handle section (3) and the hub (4), as well as a spoke gasbag (20) to protect the upper extremities (30) of the driver (32), wherein a receiving space (21) for the spoke gas bag (20) is formed on the rear side of the spoke (5) facing an instrument panel (36) of the vehicle (34) when the steering device (1) is installed, and wherein the spoke gas bag (20) extends from the receiving chamber (21) behind the handle section (3) of the steering device (1) when inflated. [2] Steering device according to claim 1, characterized by, that the spoke gasbag (20) in the inflated state extends between the back of the spoke (5) and an instrument panel (36) of the vehicle (34) in such a way that the upper extremities (30) of the driver (32) are guided and / or protected. [3] Steering device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the spoke gas bag (20) extends radially outwards from the receiving chamber (21) when inflated. [4] Steering device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the spoke gas bag (20) in the inflated state extends laterally past the handle section (3) towards the rider (32). [5] Steering device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the spoke gasbag (20) is partially ring-shaped in the circumferential direction when inflated. [6] Steering device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that several spokes (5) and several spoke gas bags (20) are provided, wherein the spoke gas bags (20) together form a substantially ring-shaped structure in the circumferential direction when inflated. [7] Steering device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the spoke gas bag (20) received in the receiving space (21) of the spoke (5) is thermofixed. [8] Steering device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that on a front side of the hub (4) facing a vehicle seat (38) of the vehicle (34) in the installed state of the steering device (1) a hub gas bag (10) which can be unfolded towards the driver (32) is arranged, wherein a gas generator is provided which is in flow communication with both the hub gas bag (10) and the spoke gas bag (20).

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