Steering wheel centering device
US4893413A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 24, 1988 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 24, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62D17/00
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention discloses apparatus and method for centering the steering wheel of a vehicle prior to alignment of the vehicle wheels using a wheel aligner. A portion of the apparatus is mounted to the vehicle steering wheel for sensing deviation in the position of the steering wheel from a centered position. This portion of the apparatus can be mounted on vehicle steering wheels having different configurations and can wirelessly transmit signals corresponding to the deviations. The apparatus can be used with differently configured steering wheels by virtue of a linked cam assembly in which rotation of either of a pair of cams causes rotation of the other cam in an opposite direction of equal magnitude. In operation, the deviation in the position of the steering wheel from a centered position with a pre-selected tolerance is determined. When the deviation is greater than the pre-selected tolerance, alignment of the vehicle wheels by the wheel aligner is prevented.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.