DESC:STEERING COLUMN BELLOW ASSEMBLY OF VEHICLE

Field of the invention:

The present invention relates to steering column bellow assembly, and more particularly, the present invention relates to steering column bellow assembly used to cover the opening from which fixed and tiltable type of steering column is mounted in a vehicle, for example, a tractor.

Background of the invention:

In tractors, especially the open station tractors, a steering wheel is mounted on the steering column. The steering column may be fixed type or tiltable type. A steering column bellow is required to accommodate the movement of the tiltable steering and also to package the steering column along with wiring harness of switches. Generally, the steering column passes through a bezel or a cover of the instrument panel. Specifically, cut out is provided in the bezel or the cover around the steering column considering assembly variation of the system. However, the cutout on the bezel/cover does have aesthetics as it falls under the CLASS A surface.

To cover the cut out region of the bezel/cover, a rubber bellow or boots are used. Specifically, the rubber is used as the rubber bellow gives flexibility for the movement of the steering column due to variation. The bellow is positively mounted on the instrument bezel so that the bellow does not come out easily while machine is in operation.

In steering column bellow assembly of the prior art, the bellow is either mounted by the screws, bolts or by interference fit method. However, in the screw and bolt type of mounting, the hardware’s are visible to operator while seating on the seat. Further interference fit method is not positive mounting. In some conventional design of the steering column bellow assembly, only clip is used for fastening the bellow with the mounting faces but this method is reported to be problematic as the clips did not fit properly and removal was difficult.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a steering column bellow assembly which overcomes drawbacks of the prior art.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present is to provide positive mounting of a bellow on the bezel/cover of an instrument panel of a tractor in order to avoid visibility of the hardware to the operator.

Another object of the present invention is to cover mounting with an extra flap over the base of the bellow in order to avoid visibility of the hardware to the operator.

Yet another object of the present invention is to optimize gap between base of the bellow and a flap considering the manufacturing constraints.

One more object of the present invention is to optimize thickness and width of the flap over the base of the bellow.

Summary of the invention:

The present invention provides a steering column bellow assembly of a vehicle. The assembly comprises of an instrument cluster, a scuttle assembly, a scuttle extension cover assembly, a combination cover assembly, a steering column assembly, a steering wheel assembly and a steering column bellow. The instrument cluster includes a bezel for covering thereof. The instrument cluster is mounted on the scuttle assembly by using bezel mounting screws. The scuttle extension cover assembly is configured with scuttle extension cover caps thereon. A forward reverse lever bellow is operably mounted on the scuttle extension cover assembly. The combination cover assembly is configured with combination cover caps. A hand accelerator bellow is operably mounted on the combination cover assembly. The steering column assembly is mounted inside the combination cover assembly. The steering wheel assembly is mounted on the steering column assembly. The steering wheel assembly is configured with a steering wheel cap.

The assembly is characterized by a steering column bellow. The steering column bellow includes a flap and a base. The base of the steering column bellow is mounted on the scuttle extension cover assembly with help of U- shaped clips and a weld nut. Specifically, bellow mounting screws are inserted through a plurality of holes provided on the base of the steering column bellow. Hence, the steering column bellow gets tightened to the weld nut welded on the U-shaped clips. The steering column bellow is designed to cover a cut out on the bezel in two different planes. The steering column bellow is made of rubber. Height of the steering column bellow is based on a gap available between the scuttle extension cover assembly and the combination cover assembly. Further, diameter of a neck of the steering column bellow is decided based on the maximum diagonal dimension of the steering column assembly. Width of the flap is more than the width of the base of steering column bellows. Further, the thickness of the flap is also critical as it determines how much of the flap slag and cover the hardware from side views. The gap between the base and flap of the steering column bellow is crucial for covering the hardware’s from side view.

Brief description of the drawings:

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a steering column bellow assembly and instrument panel components, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the steering column bellow assembly of the figure 1 without steering wheel and combination cover assembly, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the steering column bellow assembly without the steering wheel, the steering column and the combination cover assembly, when seen from operator’s angle, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the steering column bellow assembly of present invention configured on a scuttle cover and instrument bezel, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

The present invention provides a steering column bellow assembly for a vehicle such as a tractor. The bellow assembly of the present invention provides positive mounting of the bellow with a base plastic cover/bezel. Further, a flap provided on the bellow helps in hiding visibility of hardware to operator while sitting on a tractor.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.

Referring now to figure 1 to 4, there is shown a steering column bellow assembly (100) (hereinafter referred as, “the assembly (100)”) of a vehicle in accordance with the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment, the vehicle is a tractor. The assembly (100) comprises of an instrument cluster (1), a scuttle assembly (3), a scuttle extension cover assembly (4), a combination cover assembly (10), a steering column assembly (13), a steering wheel assembly (12) and a steering column bellow (7).

The instrument cluster (1) includes a bezel (2) for covering thereof. The instrument cluster (1) is mounted on the scuttle assembly (3) by using bezel mounting screws (15).

The scuttle extension cover assembly (4) is configured with scuttle extension cover caps (5) thereon. A forward reverse lever bellow (14) is operably mounted on the scuttle extension cover assembly (4).

The combination cover assembly (10) is configured with combination cover caps (9). A hand accelerator bellow (8) is operably mounted on the combination cover assembly (10).

The steering column assembly (13) is mounted inside the combination cover assembly (10. The steering wheel assembly (12) is mounted on the steering column assembly (13). The steering wheel assembly (12) is configured with a steering wheel cap (11).

The assembly (100) is characterized by a steering column bellow (7). The steering column bellow (7) includes a flap (16) and a base (17). As shown in figure 4, the base (17) of the steering column bellow (7) is mounted on the scuttle extension cover assembly (4) with help of U- shaped clips (18) and a weld nut (19). Specifically, bellow mounting screws (6) are inserted through a plurality of holes (not shown) provided on the base (17) of the steering column bellow (7). Hence, the steering column bellow (7) gets tightened to the weld nut (19) welded on the U-shaped clips (18).

The steering column bellow (7) is designed to cover a cut out on the bezel (2) in two different planes. In an embodiment, the steering column bellow (7) is made of rubber. However, it may be evident to those skilled in the art use any other flexible material known in the art. The height of the steering column bellow (7) is based on a gap available between the scuttle extension cover assembly (4) and the combination cover assembly (10). Further, diameter of a neck of the steering column bellow (7) is decided based on the maximum diagonal dimension of the steering column assembly (13). The steering column bellow (7) further comprises the flap (16) extending from the base thereof which covers the hardware’s from the operators view as shown in the figure 3.

With the configuration of the steering column bellow (7) on the bezel (2), there is no hardware visible on from an operator’s view. In preferred embodiment, width of the flap (16) is more than the width of the base of steering column bellows (17). Further, the thickness of the flap (16) is also critical as it determines how much of the flap (16) slag and cover the hardware from side views. The gap between the base (17) and flap (16) of the steering column bellow (70) is crucial for covering the hardware’s from side view.

Advantages of the invention:

1. The assembly (100) of bellow on the bezel of the instrument panel of a tractor provides positive mounting and as well as hardware is not visible from the operator’s seat.

2. The unique flapper of the bellow not only helps in mounting the bellow with the faces positively but also hides them.

3. The assembly (100) is very cost effective as there is no addition of cap or other external fitment for covering the hardware.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention. ,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. A steering column bellow assembly (100) of a vehicle comprises of:
an instrument cluster (1) having a bezel (2) for covering thereof, wherein the instrument cluster (1) mounted on a scuttle assembly (3) of the vehicle by using bezel mounting screws (15);
a scuttle extension cover assembly (4) configured with scuttle extension cover caps (5), wherein a forward reverse lever bellow (14) is operably mounted on the scuttle extension cover assembly (4);
a combination cover assembly (10) configured with combination cover caps (9), wherein a hand accelerator bellow (8) is operably mounted on the combination cover assembly (10); and
a steering column assembly (13) mounted inside the combination cover assembly (10); and
a steering wheel assembly (12) with a steering wheel cap (11) mounted on the steering column assembly (13); and
characterized in that,
a steering column bellow (7) mounted on the scuttle extension cover assembly (4) with help of U-shaped clips (18) and a weld nut (19), the steering column bellow (7) having a flap (16) and a base (17);
wherein, bellow mounting screws (6) are inserted through a plurality of holes provided on the base (7) and the steering column bellow (7) gets tightened to the weld nut (19) welded on the U-shaped clips (18) and the flap (16) extends from the base (17) to cover hardware from an operator’s view.

2. The steering column bellow assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steering column bellow (7) is designed to cover a cut out on the bezel (2) in two different planes.

3. The steering column bellow assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein height of the steering column bellow (7) is based on a gap available between the scuttle extension cover assembly (4) and the combination cover assembly (10).

4. The steering column bellow assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein diameter of a neck of the steering column bellow (7) is decided based on maximum diagonal dimension of the steering column assembly (13).

5. The steering column bellow assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steering column bellow (7) is made of rubber.

6. The steering column bellow assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein width of the flap (16) is more than width of the base (17).

7. The steering column bellow assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, thickness of the flap (16) determines flap’s slag and a gap between the base (17) and flap (16) determines covering hardware from side view.

Dated this 31st day of January 2018

Madhavi Vajirakar
(Agent for Applicant)
IN/PA-2337