Brief description of embodiments of a helical spring, a helical spring obtained by implementing this process, aisni as a steering assembly comprising such a spring.

摘要

Production of helicoidal springs, with flat spirals formed by inner and outer helicoidal strips connected by a transverse lattice, involves (a) forming a flat strip with separate shaped elements, projecting from the same longitudinal edge of and in the same plane as the strip, (b) helicoidally shaping by joining each projecting element to the adjacent elements to form the outer strip and (c) fixing the projecting elements to form the inner strip (parallel to the outer strip) and connecting lattice. Independent claims are included for: (1) the helicoidal springs obtained by the process; and (2) a vehicle steering unit comprising (i) a steering column rotating freely relative to a fixed support on the vehicle, where the end opposite to that connected to the vehicle wheels extends beyond the support and carries a steering wheel hub (mounted rotatably relative to the column), (ii) a steering wheel permanently fixed to the column and (iii) a helicoidal spring having its ends permanently fixed to the hub and fixed support respectively, the novel feature being that the spring is produced by the present process.