Steering wheel skeleton
US6454883B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 9, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 9, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/20834
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A one-piece steering wheel skeleton is produced by die casting an aluminum alloy of the Al—Mg—Mn type. Such a steering wheel skeleton has a high strength in combination with a high ductility. An object is to further increase the ductility of such a steering wheel skeleton, so that severe deformation of the steering wheel skeleton without breakage of the steering wheel spokes occurs under the influence of a very high acting force. To achieve this, the steering wheel skeleton undergoes a heat treatment in age hardening at elevated temperatures and then is cooled in stationary air. A steering wheel skeleton heat treated in this way can endure at least 30% greater deformation without breakage of the spokes in comparison with an untreated workpiece.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.