Petri Ag

Gregor Zeller

Helmut Bonn

Konrad Randelzhofer

A plug for gas generators of air bag impact protection systems has current paths formed by sheet metal strips and an inductance coil in one of both interrupted current paths that form two poles. One of the current paths is U-shaped; its branch opposite the counter-current path (4) is interrupted to form two inner poles (1, 2) and acts as a mechanical support for the inductance coil (5) that electrically bridges the interruption, and the other branch (3), located next to the counter-current path (4), forms together with the counter-current patch (4) plug pins (6, 7) that extend outwards. The plug pins (6, 7) are formed by bending the T-or forked-shaped ends of the current paths (3, 4). The inductance coil (5) is arranged in a housing and is provided with electric connections that can be directly connected to the inner poles (1, 2). In order to manufacture this plug, a preform is first cut out of a sheet metal web. The poles and current paths are repeated and held away from each other in the preform, then are embedded in a common substrate and the inductance coil (5) is mechanically and electrically connected to its support (1, 2).

Plug for gas generators of air bag impact protection systems and process

A current conductor apparatus for connecting the stator of a steering column to a rotor of a steering wheel. The stator and rotor are guided concentrically with respect to one another by rotation guides and are provided with contacts for establishing an electrical connection between them. The rotor and stator are stapled to one another without being aligned by the guides. The axial and radial play between them is limited, and they may be fastened to the steering wheel and column without rotating or contacting one another. In order to facilitate the center adjustment of the apparatus, stator is provided with an attachment with a tapped hole for a screw. The screw and spring are used to hold clamp, which projects into a corresponding bore on rotor with its one elbow end and extends up to an area lying on shoulder of stator with its other end. Rotor and stator are provided with stops to limit the axial play.

Current transfer element for steering wheels of motor vehicles

An air bag housing for automotive vehicles is disclosed. The housing includes a pot-like generator carrier to hold the air bag, a cover cap surrounding the generator carrier and having a predetermined breaking line, and a safety plate to secure the cover cap against unauthorized removal. The cover cap includes a reinforcing insert having an interrupted portion in the area of the predetermined breaking line. The reinforcing insert includes an essentially rectangular reinforcing frame made of a dimensionally stable material with a high elastic modulus, such as a metal or plastic. The reinforcing insert may be provided with free cuts or cut-out portions simultaneously forming the predetermined breaking lines, so that two flap-like cover surfaces only connected along an essentially linear connecting line with the circumferential wall are formed. The reinforcing insert may be provided with openings along the connecting lines between the flap-like cover surfaces and the reinforcing frame. Openings may also be provided on the circumferential and cover surfaces. Free cuts or cut-out portions to block edge tearing, may extend from the ends of lateral free cuts in the direction of the connecting line, between the cover flaps and the reinforcing frame.

Housing for protective air bar retaining systems of automotive vehicles

A connecting element establishes an electrical connection between two mutually rotating parts, such as the steering column and the steering wheel of an automotive vehicle. The connecting element includes a stator fastened to the steering column and a rotor fastened to a hub of the steering wheel. A current conductor in the form of a flat ribbon cable is carried on the rotor and passes through the walls of the rotor and the stator for the establishement of electrical contact between the power source and a power consuming device. The rotor and stator of the connecting element are combined in a cassette and each may be equipped with a multiple pole socket to receive a locking pin connector. Each locking pin connector has a predetermined number of poles corresponding at maximum to the number of poles of the multiple pole socket. A short circuit bridge is fastened to the housing of the stator. The multiple pole socket of the rotor is equipped with a receptacle for the connection of a short circuit bridge located on the generator cable. The connector pins may include the ends of the insulated conductor wires or may be reinforced by fitted contact pins. The ends of the conductor wires may be ground off and the flat ribbon cable fitted to a contact part containing connector pins.

Electrical connecting element for rotating parts

Steering wheel with an electric lead to a protective gas bag impact device located in the steering wheel bowl of an automotive vehicle including a current conductor formed by a conducting strip arranged with several windings within a fixedly mounted housing surrounded a steering wheel hub. One end of the cable terminates in a core fastened to the steering wheel hub while the other terminates in the housing. A disk toothed over at least part of its circumference is mounted on the housing and an actuating element engaging the toothed disk is mounted on the hub or spindle. The toothed disk is located radially in relation to the axis of the hub and the spindle and the actuating element is formed by a flange-like transport disk surrounding the spindle or the hub and equipped with a radial slot which is provided with bevelling in the area of the slot. The edges of the slot are spread to form an opening corresponding to the tooth division of the toothed disk. Alternatively, the toothed disk is arranged axially parallel to the spindle and the actuating element is formed by a pinion mounted of the axle of the spindle or hub. The axle of the toothed disk is coupled by a potentiometer to a display for visibly displaying the deflection of the steering assembly from the center position.

Steering wheel with an electrical lead to a protective gas bag impact

Aligning device for a current carrying connector of protective gas bag impact installations having a helical conductor arranged with several concentric windings within a fixedly mounted housing surrounding a core. The core is fastened to a steering spindle and rotates with the steering wheel. A first end of the helical strip terminates in terminals associated with the housing. The second end terminals are associated with the core. The core is equipped with a bore and the housing with a locking recess. The housing and the core may be immobilized in relation to each other using locking means having a clip pin insertable into the bore of the core and a locking projection fitting into the locking recess. The locking means may exhibit a ring surrounding the steering spindle and resting on the core or a pot surrounding a steering spindle. The locking recess and locking projection have respective widths which allow a slight rotational clearance between the core and the housing.

Aligning device for a current connector of protective gas bag impact

Electric contact device for protective gas bag impact installations in automotive vehicles having a contact located on the hub or the steering spindle, respectively, which rotates with the steering wheel hub. A counter contact path is fixedly mounted concentrically surrounding the steering wheel. The contact is held by the force of springs in constant sliding contact against the counter contact path. The counter contact path is located in the bottom trough of an annular housing and the contact guide is in the form of a contact ring in the annular groove of a cover which overlaps the bottom trough. The contact ring is held against the counter contact path by a plurality of springs placed between the contact ring and the bottom of the groove. The bottom trough and the cover are guided in each other by annular lands which engage the annular groove with a certain clearance. The cover is clamped to the bottom trough by several clip noses arranged on the edge of the cover and overlapping the bottom trough. The dimensions of the assembly are such that the cover and the bottom trough are slightly compressed during the mounting of the steering wheel hub screwed onto the steering spindle against the force of the springs loading the contact ring, while releasing the clip noses.

Electric contact device for protective gas bag impact installations in

A steering wheel for automotive vehicles is produced by a process of die casting light weight component parts to eliminate the need for extensive welding and self-supporting parts of heavy mass. The component parts comprise a steering wheel hub member and a steering wheel rim member joined together by a plurality of spokes connected to the rim through a sleeve connector member. The rim and spoke members may be of tubular light weight metal.

Steering wheel for automotive vehicles and process for its manufacture

Steering wheel with an electric cable to a protective gas bag impact device located in the bowl of the steering wheel of an automotive vehicle, having a conductor formed of several concentric windings of a conducting strip arranged in a housing surrounding the steering wheel spindle and hub. One end thereof terminates in a core fastened to the steering wheel hub and rotates therewith, while the other end terminates in a fixedly mounted housing. A spring-loaded two arm rocker with arms at an angle to each other, is mounted on the hub or spindle. One arm of which projects into the path of a nut securing the steering wheel on the spindle. A recess located in the hub within the pivoting range of said arm and a recess located in the housing within the pivoting range of the other arm. The spring is loading the rocker in a rotating direction against the housing.

Steering wheel installation alignment device

Current conducting connector for the electric connection of a gas bag collision protection device located in the bowl of a steering wheel of an automotive vehicle. A current conductor having a conducting strip, arranged in several concentric windings in a fixedly mounted housing surrounding a steering shaft or steering wheel hub. The ends of the conductor are connected by an inner and an outer connecting element. The inner connecting element is arranged on a core surrounding the steering shaft or the steering wheel hub and rotates with the steering wheel. The outer connecting element has a pivoting nipple held in a pivot bearing formed in the housing and surrounding an opening in the wall of the housing. The current conductor is introduced outside the housing axially into the pivoting nipple and lead out inside the housing radially from the pivoting nipple. The pivot bearing is formed by a sleeve arranged in the area of the wall of the housing and projecting through the bottom of the housing, the sleeve being provided with a slot forming a lateral opening toward the inside of the housing and of a width sufficient to permit the rotation of the pivoting nipple over a predetermined angle.

Current conduction connector for the electrical connection of gas bag

Disclosed is a contact means for the transmission of signal or ignition current between the stationarily mounted steering column and the steering wheel rotatable with respect to the steering column. A contact track is fastened to the steering column and a counter contact track is fastened to the steering wheel. The contact track and coinciding counter contact track hold a contact body comprising at least one, preferably three roller bodies by means of a ball cage ring at a uniform angular distance of 120.degree. in the ball races. One of the contact tracks is elastically supported.

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Aschaffenburg, Germany

Gregor Zeller