US 11,999,425 B2
Steering wheel actuation device and method for vehicle testing
Matthew James Hubbard, Bradford-on-Avon (GB); Tin Wah Chiu, Bath (GB); Andrew Pick, Bradford-on-Avon (GB); and Colin Martin, Bath (GB)
Assigned to Anthony Best Dynamics Ltd., Wiltshire (GB)
Filed by Anthony Best Dynamics Ltd., Wiltshire (GB)
Filed on Jun. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/358,424.
Claims priority of application No. 2009715 (GB), filed on Jun. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0403084 A1, Dec. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. B62D 6/00 (2006.01); B62D 1/183 (2006.01); B62D 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 6/008 (2013.01) [B62D 1/183 (2013.01); B62D 15/025 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A steering wheel actuation device, for steering a vehicle in ADAS testing, the actuation device comprising:
a steering wheel actuator, the steering wheel actuator comprising a belt extending over a plurality of spaced apart rollers,
wherein the steering wheel actuator is mounted on an arm that is movably mounted such that, during testing, the arm is movable to move the steering wheel actuator between an engaged configuration for imparting an actuation force to a vehicle steering wheel and a disengaged configuration,
wherein the steering wheel actuator is moveable about a joint and the steering wheel actuation device comprises a biasing member, the biasing member being arranged to bias the steering wheel actuator about the joint, to bias the steering wheel actuator against the vehicle steering wheel,
wherein the steering wheel actuator is conformable to the shape of the vehicle steering wheel that it is in contact with so that the steering wheel actuation device can be used with steering wheels of different shapes, the belt of the steering wheel actuator contacting a rim of the vehicle steering wheel, in the engaged configuration, and the belt being conformable to the shape of the rim, and
wherein the belt is not in contact with the rim of the vehicle steering wheel when the steering wheel actuator is in the disengaged configuration.