Steering wheel position compensating apparatus in steering apparatus

• US 20030028306A1
• Filed: 08/02/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Inventors: Fujimori, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,807,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/002 computing target steering angles for front or rear wheels B62D7/159 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07568 Steering arrangements

Abstract

A steering apparatus of a vehicle having a steered tire wheel steered in correspondence to an operation of a steering wheel is disclosed. A first sensor detects an actual position indicating a present rotational position of the steering wheel. A second sensor detects a wheel angle of the steered tire wheel. The steered tire wheel is driven by an electric type drive apparatus. The drive apparatus outputs a power output for operating the steered tire wheel in correspondence to a steering wheel operation. When a deviation exists between the actual position of the steering wheel detected by the first sensor and the wheel angle of the steered tire wheel detected by the second sensor, a first compensation for compensating the actual position of the steering wheel so as to make the deviation small is executed by controlling the power output of the drive apparatus.

Claims

1. A steering apparatus of a vehicle provided with a steered tire wheel which is steered in correspondence to an operation of a steering wheel, comprising:

first detecting means for detecting an actual position indicating a present rotational position of the steering wheel;

second detecting means for detecting a wheel angle of the steered tire wheel;

electric type drive means for driving the steered tire wheel, said drive means outputting a power output for operating the steered tire wheel in correspondence to a steering wheel operation; and

compensating means for executing a first compensation for compensating an actual position of said steering wheel, said compensating means controlling the power output of said drive means at a time when a deviation is detected between the actual position of said steering wheel detected by said first detecting means and a wheel angle of said steered tire wheel detected by said second detecting means, thereby reducing said deviation.

2. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said compensating means executes a second compensation for reducing a difference in the power output of the drive means between before and after the deviation is cancelled, at a time when the deviation between the actual position of said steering wheel and the wheel angle of the steered tire wheel is cancelled by executing the first compensation.

3. The steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second compensation changes the power output of the drive means to a power output which is smaller than the power output of the drive means before said deviation is cancelled and the power output of the drive means after the deviation is cancelled.

4. The steering apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second compensation stops the power output of said drive means.

5. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said steering wheel can be rotated at a plurality of turns, and said first detecting means detects the actual position of the steering wheel on the basis of a relative angle per one rotation of the steering wheel.

6. The steering apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said steering apparatus converts the wheel angle of said steered tire wheel into a relative angle of every one rotation of said steering wheel in order to compute a steering wheel target position which is necessary for canceling said deviation.

7. The steering apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said steering apparatus computes a deviation angle between the actual position of said steering wheel and the target position, and changes the power output of said drive means in correspondence to the result of computation.

8. The steering apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said compensating means executes the compensation at a time when said deviation angle is equal to or less than 180°

.

9. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive means is an electric motor.

10. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a forklift.

11. A steering apparatus of a vehicle provided with a steered tire wheel which is steered in correspondence to an operation of a steering wheel, comprising:

first detecting means for detecting an actual position indicating a present rotational position of the steering wheel;

second detecting means for detecting a wheel angle of the steered tire wheel;

third detecting means for detecting an operating speed of said steering wheel;

compensation executing means for executing a compensation of a steering wheel position so as to cancel a deviation in a positional relation between an actual position of said steering wheel and a wheel angle of said steered tire wheel at a time of operating the steering wheel, on the basis of a detection value output from said first detecting means and said second detecting means, in the case where the deviation is generated; and

compensation inhibiting means for inhibiting the compensation of the steering wheel position executed by said compensation executing means at a time when the steering wheel is operated at a high speed, in such a manner that the operating speed of said steering wheel detected by said third detecting means becomes over a first threshold value.

12. The steering apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed,

wherein said compensation inhibiting means inhibits the compensation of the steering wheel position executed by said compensation executing means at a time when the vehicle travels at a speed, in such a manner that the vehicle speed detected by said vehicle speed detecting means becomes over a threshold value.

13. The steering apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said compensation inhibiting means inhibits the compensation of the steering wheel position at a time when the operating speed of said steering wheel detected by said third detecting means is operated at a speed equal to or less than a second threshold value.

14. The steering apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said compensation executing means is provided with drive means for applying a power output to said steered tire wheel in such a manner that said steered tire wheel becomes a wheel angle in correspondence to the operating amount of said steering wheel, and executes the compensation of the steering wheel position by restricting the power output of said drive means, at a time when a deviation is generated in the positional relation between the actual position of said steering wheel and the wheel angle of said steered tire wheel.

15. The steering apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said drive means is electric type drive means, and said electric type drive means is electrically controlled on the basis of a detection value output from said first detecting means and said second detecting means.

16. The steering apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said compensation executing means computes a target position of said steering wheel on the basis of the wheel angle of the steered tire wheel detected by said second detecting means, and executes the compensation of the steering wheel position in such a manner as to cancel the deviation between the actual position of said steering wheel and the target position.

17. The steering apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said compensation executing means reduces the power output of said drive means and executes a first execution for generating a racing state of said steering wheel, at a time when a deviation is generated in the positional relation between the actual position of said steering wheel and the wheel angle of said steered tire wheel.

18. The steering apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising second compensation executing means for executing a second compensation for reducing a difference in an power output of said drive means between before and after the actual position of said steering wheel coincides with the wheel angle of said steered tire wheel in the positional relation.

19. The steering apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said second compensation executing means executes the second compensation by lowering the power output of said drive means.

20. The steering apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first threshold value is set to a value within a range of between 1.5 and 2.5 rps.

21. The steering apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said vehicle is an industrial vehicle.

22. The steering apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said industrial vehicle is an order picking type forklift which is provided with a vehicle body, a mast apparatus provided in the vehicle body, and a driver'"'"'s stand moving upward and downward by the mast apparatus.

23. A steering apparatus of an industrial vehicle which is provided with a steered tire wheel steered in correspondence to an operation of a steering wheel and transfers a load, comprising:

first detecting means for detecting an actual position indicating a present rotational position of a steering wheel;

second detecting means for detecting a wheel angle of the steered tire wheel;

height detecting means for detecting a vertical position of the load;

lateral acceleration detecting means for detecting a lateral acceleration of the vehicle;

compensation executing means for executing a compensation of a steering wheel position so as to cancel a deviation in a positional relation between an actual position of said steering wheel and a wheel angle of said steered tire wheel at a time of operating said steering wheel, on the basis of a detection value output from said first and second detecting means;

threshold value changing means for changing a threshold value of the lateral acceleration in correspondence to the height detected by said height detecting means; and

compensation inhibiting means for inhibiting the compensation of the steering wheel position executed by said compensation executing means at a time when the lateral acceleration detected by said lateral acceleration detecting means becomes over said threshold value.

24. The steering apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed,

wherein said compensation inhibiting means inhibits the compensation of the steering wheel position executed by said compensation executing means at a time when the vehicle travels around a curve with a predetermined turning radius which is determined on the basis of the vehicle speed detected by said vehicle speed detecting means and the wheel angle detected by the second detecting means even when the lateral acceleration is equal to or less than the threshold value.

25. The steering apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said compensation inhibiting means inhibits the compensation of the steering wheel position executed by said compensation executing means, on the basis of the detection value output from said second detecting means, in the case where the wheel angle of said steered tire wheel is over a preset threshold value.

26. The steering apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed,

wherein said compensation inhibiting means inhibits the compensation of the steering wheel position executed by said compensation executing means in the case of traveling at a high speed in which the vehicle speed detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is over a predetermined threshold value.

30. The steering apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising third detecting means for detecting an operating speed of said steering wheel,

wherein said compensation inhibiting means inhibits the compensation of the steering wheel position in the case of operating at a high speed in which the steering wheel operating speed detected by said third detecting means is over a predetermined threshold value.

31. The steering apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising third detecting means for detecting an operating speed of said steering wheel,

wherein said compensation inhibiting means inhibits the compensation of the steering wheel position in the case of traveling at a low speed in which the steering wheel operating speed detected by said third detecting means is under a predetermined threshold value.

32. The steering apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said compensation executing means is provided with drive means for applying a power output to said steered tire wheel in such a manner that said steered tire wheel has a wheel angle in correspondence to the operating amount of said steering wheel, and executes the compensation of the steering wheel position by restricting the power output of said drive means, at a time when a deviation is generated in the positional relation between the actual position of said steering wheel and the wheel angle of said steered tire wheel.

33. The steering apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said compensation executing means computes a target position of said steering wheel on the basis of the wheel angle of the steered tire wheel detected by said second detecting means, and executes the compensation of the steering wheel position in such a manner as to cancel the deviation between the actual position of said steering wheel and the target position.

34. The steering apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said compensation inhibiting means inhibits the compensation of the steering wheel position executed by said compensation executing means at a time when the actual position is operated in a direction of moving apart from the target position, in the case of operating said steering wheel.

35. The steering apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said compensation executing means executes a first compensation for restricting the power output of said drive means and making the actual position catch up with the target position at a time when the actual position of said steering wheel is deviated with respect to the target position, and executes a second compensation for restricting the power output of said drive means at a time when the actual position of the steering wheel coincides with the target position.

39. The steering apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said threshold value changing means changes the threshold value step by step.

40. The steering apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the wheel angle of the steered tire wheel is substantially equal to or more than 40°

at said curve traveling time.

41. The steering apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said industrial vehicle is an order picking type forklift which is provided with a vehicle body, a mast apparatus provided in the vehicle body, and a driver'"'"'s stand moving upward and downward by the mast apparatus.

27. A steering apparatus of a vehicle which is provided with a steered tire wheel steered in correspondence to an operation of a steering wheel, comprising:

first detecting means for detecting an actual position indicating a present rotational position of a steering wheel;

second detecting means for detecting a wheel angle of the steered tire wheel;

vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed;

compensation executing means for executing a compensation of a steering wheel position so as to cancel a deviation in a positional relation between an actual position detected by said first detecting means and a wheel angle detected by said second detecting means at a time of operating said steering wheel, in the case where the deviation is generated; and

compensation inhibiting means for inhibiting the compensation of the steering wheel position executed by said compensation executing means at a time when the vehicle travels around a curve with a predetermined turning radius which is determined on the basis of the vehicle speed detected by said vehicle speed detecting means and the wheel angle detected by the second detecting means.

28. The steering apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said compensation inhibiting means inhibits the compensation of the steering wheel position executed by said compensation executing means, in the case where the wheel angle of said steered tire wheel detected by said second detecting means is over a predetermined threshold value.

29. The steering apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said compensation inhibiting means inhibits the compensation of the steering wheel position executed by said compensation executing means, in the case of traveling at a high speed in which the vehicle speed detected by said vehicle speed detecting means is over a predetermined threshold value.

36. A steering apparatus of an industrial vehicle which is provided with a steered tire wheel steered in correspondence to an operation of a steering wheel and transfers a load, comprising:

first detecting means for detecting an actual position indicating a present rotational position of a steering wheel;

second detecting means for detecting a wheel angle of the steered tire wheel;

vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed;

height detecting means for detecting a height of the load;

compensation executing means for executing a compensation of a steering wheel position at a time of operating said steering wheel so as to cancel a deviation in a positional relation between an actual position of said steering wheel and a wheel angle of said steered tire wheel, on the basis of the detection values output from said first and second detecting means; and

compensation inhibiting means for previously determining a compensation inhibiting area on the basis of the detection values output from said vehicle speed detecting means, the second detecting means and the height detecting means and inhibiting the compensation of the steering wheel position in the compensation inhibiting area.

37. The steering apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said vehicle is a forklift.

38. The steering apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said forklift is an order picking type forklift which is provided with a vehicle body, a mast apparatus provided in the vehicle body, and a driver'"'"'s stand moving upward and downward by the mast apparatus.

42. A steering apparatus of a vehicle which is provided with a steered tire wheel steered in correspondence to an operation of a steering wheel, comprising:

first detecting means for detecting an operation angle of the steering wheel;

second detecting means for detecting a wheel angle of the steered tire wheel;

drive means for driving the steered tire wheel, said drive means having a predetermined link ratio set between said steering wheel and said steered tire wheel;

control means for controlling said drive means in such a manner that the wheel angle of said steered tire wheel catches up with the operation angle of the steering wheel, with reference to said link ratio and on the basis of the operation angle of the steering wheel and the wheel angle detected by said first and second detecting means;

steering wheel operation detecting means for detecting a stop of the steering wheel operation and a turning back; and

stopping means for stopping the drive of said drive means, at a time when said steering wheel operation detecting means detects the stop of said steering wheel operation or the turning back.

48. The steering apparatus according to claim 42, further comprising compensating means for stopping or reducing the power output of said drive means in such a manner as to make a deviation in a positional relation detected between said operation angle and said wheel angle small.

49. The steering apparatus according to claim 48, wherein a second compensation for reducing a difference in the power output of said drive means between before and after said operation angle coincides with said wheel angle in the position relation is executed at a time of the coincidence.

50. The steering apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said control means computes the target position of said steering wheel on the basis of the wheel angle of the steered tire wheel, and executes the compensation of the steering wheel position in such a manner as to make the deviation between the actual position of said steering wheel and the target position small.

51. The steering apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said drive means is of an electric type.

52. The steering apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said vehicle is an order picking type forklift which is provided with a vehicle body, a mast apparatus provided in the vehicle body, and a driver'"'"'s stand moving upward and downward by the mast apparatus.

43. A steering apparatus of a vehicle which is provided with a steered tire wheel steered in correspondence to an operation of a steering wheel, comprising:

first detecting means for detecting an operation angle of the steering wheel;

second detecting means for detecting a wheel angle of the steered tire wheel;

drive means for driving the steered tire wheel, said drive means having a predetermined link ratio set between said steering wheel and said steered tire wheel;

computing means for computing an angle difference between the operation angle of said steering wheel and the wheel angle of the steered tire wheel, with reference to said link ratio;

control means for controlling said drive means in such a manner that a drive force in correspondence to said angle difference can be obtained;

steering wheel operation detecting means for detecting a stop of the steering wheel operation and a turning back; and

stopping means for stopping the drive of said drive means, at a time when said steering wheel operation detecting means detects the stop of said steering wheel operation or the turning back.

44. The steering apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said stopping means resets said angle difference determined by said computing means to 0 at a time when said steering wheel operation detecting means detects the stop of said steering wheel operation or the turning back.

45. The steering apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said computing means is provided with storing means for storing at least one detection value of the operation angle of the steering wheel and the wheel angle of the steered tire wheel.

46. The steering apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said first detecting means is provided with a sensor which outputs a corresponding number of pulses to a deviation amount of the operation angle of the steering wheel, and a counter which counts the pulses output from the pulse type sensor.

47. The steering apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said second detecting means includes a potentiometer which outputs a detection signal in correspondence to the wheel angle of the steered tire wheel.