Patent US5272932A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5272932A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Torsional device for remote control steering system
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1992-05-28
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Granted: 1993-12-28
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Expires: 2012-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A steering simulation device provides torsional resistance and a "center urn" function to a remote control steering mechanism experiencing bidirectional (clockwise or counterclockwise) rotational movement. A compact design is provided by utilizing a series of rotationally elastic couplings that permit (1) an adjustable turning resistance, (torsional resistance), (2) an adjustable, bidirectional rotary range (clockwise or counterclockwise), and (3) a self-centering capability.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony H. Koyamatsu
- 👤 Owen T. Ono
- 👤 Warren L. Hahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:23
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B9/00; G09B9/02; G09B9/04; B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for simulating realistic steering feel in a rotatable grasp of a vehicle remote control comprising: a steering column attached to said grasp and having a column axis around which said steering column rotates; a coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said coupling elastically rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said coupling, said steering column being engaged with said interior surface of said coupling so that said column axis and said coupling axis are substantially aligned; and a mount rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said coupling and to a surface that is stationary relative to said grasp when said grasp is rotated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for simulating realistic steering feel in a rotatable grasp of a vehicle remote control comprising: a steering column attached to said grasp and having a column axis around which said steering column rotates; a coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said coupling elastically rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said coupling, said steering column being engaged with said interior surface of said coupling so that said column axis and said coupling axis are substantially aligned; and a mount rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said coupling and to a surface that is stationary relative to said grasp when said grasp is rotated.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for simulating realistic steering feel in a remote control steering system comprising: a grasp; a steering column coupled to said grasp having a column axis around which said steering column rotates, said column axis being substantially orthogonal to any rotary steering motion imparted to said grasp; a coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said coupling elastically rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said coupling, said steering column being engaged with said interior surface of said coupling so that said column axis and said coupling axis are substantially aligned; and a mount rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said coupling and to a surface that is stationary relative to said grasp when said grasp is rotated.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for simulating realistic steering feel in a remote control steering system comprising: a grasp; a steering column coupled to said grasp having a column axis around which said steering column rotates, said column axis being substantially orthogonal to any rotary steering motion imparted to said grasp; a coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said coupling elastically rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said coupling, said steering column being engaged with said interior surface of said coupling so that said column axis and said coupling axis are substantially aligned; and a mount rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said coupling and to a surface that is stationary relative to said grasp when said grasp is rotated.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
250 words
An apparatus for simulating realistic steering feel in a remote control steering system comprising: a grasp; a steering column coupled to said grasp having a column axis around which said steering column rotates, said column axis being substantially orthogonal to any rotary steering motion imparted to said grasp; a first rotatable elastic coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said first coupling elasticaly rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said first coupling, said steering column being engaged with said interior surface of said coupling so that said column axis and said coupling axis of said first rotatable elastic coupling are substantially aligned; a steering column extension including an extension shaft having an extension shaft axis, said column extension being rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said first elastic coupling so that said extension shaft axis is substantially aligned with said coupling axis of said first rotatable elastic coupling; a second rotatable elastic coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said second coupling elastically rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said second coupling, said extension shaft of said steering column extension being engaged with said interior surface of said second coupling so that said extension shaft axis and said coupling axis of said second coupling are substantially aligned; and a mount rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said second elastic coupling and to a surface that is stationary relative to said grasp when said grasp is rotated.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
250 words
An apparatus for simulating realistic steering feel in a remote control steering system comprising: a grasp; a steering column coupled to said grasp having a column axis around which said steering column rotates, said column axis being substantially orthogonal to any rotary steering motion imparted to said grasp; a first rotatable elastic coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said first coupling elasticaly rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said first coupling, said steering column being engaged with said interior surface of said coupling so that said column axis and said coupling axis of said first rotatable elastic coupling are substantially aligned; a steering column extension including an extension shaft having an extension shaft axis, said column extension being rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said first elastic coupling so that said extension shaft axis is substantially aligned with said coupling axis of said first rotatable elastic coupling; a second rotatable elastic coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said second coupling elastically rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said second coupling, said extension shaft of said steering column extension being engaged with said interior surface of said second coupling so that said extension shaft axis and said coupling axis of said second coupling are substantially aligned; and a mount rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said second elastic coupling and to a surface that is stationary relative to said grasp when said grasp is rotated.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for simulating realistic steering feel in a remote control steering system comprising: a grasp; a steering column coupled to said grasp having a column axis around which said steering column rotates, said column axis being substantially orthogonal to any rotary steering motion imparted to said grasp; and rotationally elastic means attached to said steering column and a surface that is stationary relative to grasp when said grasp is rotated, said rotationally elastic means for providing increasing torsional resistance to said rotary steering motion as said grasp is rotated from a centered position.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for simulating realistic steering feel in a remote control steering system comprising: a grasp; a steering column coupled to said grasp having a column axis around which said steering column rotates, said column axis being substantially orthogonal to any rotary steering motion imparted to said grasp; and rotationally elastic means attached to said steering column and a surface that is stationary relative to grasp when said grasp is rotated, said rotationally elastic means for providing increasing torsional resistance to said rotary steering motion as said grasp is rotated from a centered position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 in which said rotationally elastic means includes: a coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said coupling elastically rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said coupling, said steering column being engaged with said interior surface of said coupling so that said column axis and said coupling axis are substantially aligned; and a mount rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said coupling and to a surface that is stationary relative to said grasp when said grasp is rotated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
215 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 in which said rotationally elastic means includes: a first rotatable elastic coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said first coupling elasticaly rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said first coupling, said steering column being engaged with said interior surface of said coupling so that said column axis and said coupling axis of said first rotatable elastic coupling are substantially aligned; a steering column extension including an extension shaft having an extension shaft axis, said column extension being rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said first elastic coupling so that said extension shaft axis is substantially aligned with said coupling axis of said first rotatable elastic coupling; a second rotatable elastic coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said second coupling elastically rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said second coupling, said extension shaft of said steering column extension being engaged with said interior surface of said second coupling so that said extension shaft axis and said coupling axis of said second coupling are substantially aligned; and a mount rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said second elastic coupling and to a surface that is stationary relative to said grasp when said grasp is rotated.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
302 words
An apparatus for simulating realistic steering feel in a remote control steering system comprising: a steering column attached to a grasp and having a column axis around which said steering column rotates; n, a whole number, coupling pairs each having a rotatable elastic coupling with a steering column extension attached thereto, in which each of said rotatable elastic couplings has a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said coupling elastically rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said coupling, and in which each of said steering column extensions includes an extension shaft having an extension shaft axis, said column extension being rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said rotatable elastic coupling that is a part of a single coupling pair of said n pairs so that said extension shaft axis is substantially aligned with said coupling axis of said rotatable elastic coupling of said single pair; said steering column being engaged with said interior surface of a first rotatable elastic coupling of said n coupling pairs so that said column axis and said coupling axis of said first rotatable elastic coupling are substantially aligned; a last individual rotatable elastic coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said second coupling elastically rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said second coupling, said extension shaft of said steering column extension of said nth coupling pair being engaged with said interior surface of said last individual coupling so that said extension shaft axis of said steering column extension of said nth coupling pair and said coupling axis of said last individual coupling are substantially aligned; and a mount rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said last individual elastic coupling and to a surface that is stationary relative to said grasp when said grasp is rotated.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
302 words
An apparatus for simulating realistic steering feel in a remote control steering system comprising: a steering column attached to a grasp and having a column axis around which said steering column rotates; n, a whole number, coupling pairs each having a rotatable elastic coupling with a steering column extension attached thereto, in which each of said rotatable elastic couplings has a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said coupling elastically rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said coupling, and in which each of said steering column extensions includes an extension shaft having an extension shaft axis, said column extension being rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said rotatable elastic coupling that is a part of a single coupling pair of said n pairs so that said extension shaft axis is substantially aligned with said coupling axis of said rotatable elastic coupling of said single pair; said steering column being engaged with said interior surface of a first rotatable elastic coupling of said n coupling pairs so that said column axis and said coupling axis of said first rotatable elastic coupling are substantially aligned; a last individual rotatable elastic coupling having a coupling axis around which an interior surface of said second coupling elastically rotates with respect to an exterior surface of said second coupling, said extension shaft of said steering column extension of said nth coupling pair being engaged with said interior surface of said last individual coupling so that said extension shaft axis of said steering column extension of said nth coupling pair and said coupling axis of said last individual coupling are substantially aligned; and a mount rigidly coupled to said exterior surface of said last individual elastic coupling and to a surface that is stationary relative to said grasp when said grasp is rotated.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-12-27 | 1997-06-28 | 1997-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-27 | 2001-06-28 | 2001-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-27 | 2005-06-28 | 2005-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |