The invention relates to a driver’s cabin of a vehicle, in particular a heavy goods vehicle, the driver’s cabin comprising a cabin frame, a steering column for a steering wheel and a steering wheel connection assembly connecting the steering wheel to the cabin frame, wherein the steering wheel connection assembly comprises a first guide plate rigidly connected to the cabin frame, the first guide plate having a curved vertical guide slot for vertical steering column adjustment.

From GB-B-2381853 an adjusting device for a steering wheel of an industrial truck is known comprising a first guide plate having a curved vertical guide slot for vertical steering column adjustment such that vertical adjustment of the steering wheel provide positive, i.e. automatic adjustment of the inclination of the steering column, such that the angle of the steering wheel is adjusted simultaneously with moving the steering wheel upwards. The adjusting device according to GB-B-2381853 further comprises an intermediate plate and a horizontal guide plate having a linear horizontal guide slot for horizontal steering wheel adjustment. Rollers are rotatably fixed to the intermediate plate and engage the linear horizontal guide slot. This known adjusting device has the effect that the inclination of the steering wheel is changed positively during a vertical adjustment, and free adjustment of the inclination of the steering wheel, independently of the vertical position, is not possible. However, since drivers of vehicles have a large variety of body sizes and driver preferences, there is a desire in the field for an adjusting device which meets the demands of drivers who e.g. use a forward steering wheel position and like to have a more horizontal steering wheel angle as well as drivers who use a rearward steering wheel position and like to have a more vertical steering wheel angle. Furthermore, for proper direct vision on the road, a driver’s position in such vehicles is most forward in the cabin, especially in vehicles, such as cab-over-engine vehicles or heavy goods vehicles. In such vehicles the design of the cabin has only a limited space for an adjustable steering column which meets all the demands of drivers. For example, the space in front of the cabin is used for e.g. the vehicle’s grille, the cabin firewall, heater air tubes, electric wiring, dashboard frame, space for safe crash performance, instrument panel, pedal box etc. such that knee space for the driver required for the driver to step in- and out of the cabin in a safe way, leaving very limited space for an adjustable steering column. In addition, the steering column must be able to provide direct vision lines of the driver through the steering wheel on the instrument panel.

There thus is a desire in the field for a compact steering wheel connection assembly which provides an adjustment of the steering column, over a sufficient vertical range as well as a sufficient angle of inclination of the steering wheel mounted thereon.

According to the invention this desire in the field is met by providing a driver’s cabin of a vehicle, in particular a heavy goods vehicle, the driver’s cabin comprising a cabin frame, a steering column for a steering wheel and a steering wheel connection assembly connecting the steering wheel to the cabin frame, wherein the steering wheel connection assembly comprises:

- a first guide plate rigidly connected to the cabin frame, the first guide plate having a curved vertical guide slot for vertical steering column adjustment; characterized in that the first guide plate further has a linear guide slot positioned beneath the curved vertical guide slot and in that the steering wheel connection assembly further comprises:

- a second guide plate, the steering column being rigidly connected to the second guide plate, the second guide plate comprising a cam that engages in the curved vertical guide slot, the second guide plate having a curved angular guide slot for angular steering column adjustment; - a second guide plate holding lever system, said second guide plate holding lever system having a first end rotationally connected to the cabin frame or the first guide plate, and a second free end having a pin, the pin engaging in both the linear guide slot and the curved angular guide slot. By providing the second guide plate with a curved angular guide slot for angular steering column adjustment not only free adjustment of the angular adjustment of the steering column, independently of the vertical position, is possible (meaning that inclination of the steering wheel is adjustable independently of its vertical position) but also a large range of the adjustment of the inclination of the steering wheel is possible by means of a relatively compact steering wheel connection assembly.

In an embodiment of a driver’s cabin of a vehicle according to the invention the curved vertical guide slot for vertical steering column adjustment has a radius of curvature of between 23 cm and 24 cm and a length of between 14.5 cm and 14.8 cm. It is in particular advantageous when with respect to the horizontal the curved vertical guide slot for vertical steering column adjustment extends between 17 degrees and 51 degrees. By such a radius of curvature and inclination, a vertical adjustment range and range of inclination of the steering wheel can be realized for a large number of situations, i.e. for a large range of driver body dimensions.

In a still further embodiment of a driver’s cabin of a vehicle according to the invention the curved angular guide slot for angular steering column adjustment has a radius of curvature of between 13.6 cm and 13.8 cm and a length of between 9.2 cm and 9.4 cm. In particular, when with respect to the axis S of the steering column the curved angular guide slot for angular steering column adjustment extends between 29 degrees and 11 degrees a relatively large range of inclination of the steering wheel can be realized for a large number of situations, in dependence of the driver preferences, independent on the vertical adjustment of the steering column. In an embodiment of a driver’s cabin of a vehicle according to the invention in which all the above features are present the steering wheel connection assembly can provide an angular adjustment angle of the steering column between 8 degrees and 55.5 degrees, which in practice appears to be sufficient in practical all situations.

In a further embodiment of a driver’s cabin of a vehicle according to the invention the first end of the second guide plate holding lever system is mounted in a displaceable manner in a curved slot. Such a curved slot allows for movement of the second guide plate holding lever system which can be formed as a rod.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the Figures, in which a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of according to the invention is shown:

Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment in side view of a driver’s cabin of a vehicle according to the invention;

Fig. 2 schematically shows a steering column for a steering wheel and a steering wheel connection assembly connecting the steering wheel to a cabin frame of the driver’s cabin as shown in Figure 1 in side view;

Fig. 3 schematically shows a first guide plate rigidly connected to the cabin frame of the steering wheel connection assembly as shown in Figure 2; and

Fig. 4 schematically shows a second guide plate to which the steering column is rigidly connected of the steering wheel connection assembly as shown in Figure 2 shown in an opposite side view with regard to Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In Fig. 1 an example of an embodiment of a driver’s cabin 1 of a heavy goods vehicle according to the invention is shown in side view. The driver’s cabin 1 comprises a cabin frame 2, a steering column 3 for a steering wheel 4 having a steering column axis S. A steering wheel connection assembly 5 connects the steering wheel 4 to the cabin frame 2.

With reference to Figure 2 the steering wheel connection assembly 5 comprises a first guide plate 6 which is rigidly connected to the cabin frame 2. The first guide plate 6 has having a curved vertical guide slot 7 for vertical steering column adjustment and a linear guide slot 17 positioned beneath the curved vertical guide slot 7 when viewed from the steering wheel 4. The first guide plate 6 with its curved vertical guide slot 7 as such is shown in Figure 3.

The steering wheel connection assembly 5 further comprises a second guide plate 8 to which the steering column 3 is rigidly connected to. The second guide plate 8 comprising a cam 9 that engages in the curved vertical guide slot 7 of the first guide plate 6. The second guide plate 8 has a curved angular guide slot 10 for angular steering column adjustment. The second guide plate 8 with the cam 9 and the curved angular guide slot 10 is also shown in side view in Figure 4, although from the other side as shown in Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 2 the steering wheel connection assembly 5 further comprises a second guide plate holding lever system 11. The second guide plate holding lever system 11 as shown in the embodiment of Figure 2 is formed as a rod and has a first end 12 mounted in a displaceable manner in a curved slot 18 for guided movement of the second guide plate holding lever system 11. The second guide plate holding lever system 11 can alternatively be formed in any other known manner and can have a first end 12 which is rotationally connected to the cabin frame 2 or the first guide plate 6. The second guide plate holding rod 11 has a second free end 13 with a pin 14, which pin 14 engages in both the linear guide slot 17 and the curved angular guide slot 10.

In the shown embodiment the curved vertical guide slot 7 for vertical steering column adjustment has a radius of curvature of between 23 cm and 24 cm and a length of between 14.5 cm and 14.8 cm. With respect to the horizontal H the curved vertical guide slot 7 extends between 17 degrees (a) and 51 degrees (b).

In the shown embodiment the curved angular guide slot 10 for angular steering column adjustment has a radius of curvature of between 13.6 cm and 13.8 cm and a length of between 9.2 cm and 9.4 cm. With respect to the axis S of the steering column the curved angular guide slot 10 extends between 29 degrees (c) and 11 degrees (d).

With the steering wheel connection assembly 5 as shown in Figure 2 an angular adjustment angle A of the steering column measured from the steering column axis S between 8 degrees and 55.5 degrees is obtainable with a compact and relatively simple mechanical construction.