Apparatus for establishing steering feel
First Claim
1. A steering apparatus for use in a vehicle having steerable wheels, an actuatable steering motor connected to the steerable wheels, and an actuator for actuating the steering motor in response to a steering signal, said apparatus comprising:
- a support;
a steering input shaft rotatable relative to said support by a vehicle operator;
first sensing means for sensing the rotational position of said input shaft and for producing an electrical signal indicative thereof;
second sensing means for sensing the position of the steerable wheels and for producing an electrical signal indicative thereof;
electromagnetic friction brake means connected to said input shaft and said support for providing a controllable amount of mechanical resistance to relative rotation between said steering input shaft and said support responsive to an electrical control signal; and
control means for (i) generating said steering signal to actuate the steering motor and (ii) generating said electrical control signal responsive to the electrical signals from said first sensing means and said second sensing means.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering apparatus for artificially establishing steering feel in a steering system not having a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steerable wheels. The apparatus includes a hydraulic steering motor connected to the steerable wheels. A steering wheel position sensor and a steerable wheel position sensor each produce an electrical signal respectively indicative of the steering wheel position and the position of the steerable wheels. An electronic control unit monitors the sensor signals and controls a solenoid operated directional control valve to steer the vehicle in a direction and at a steering rate in response to the monitored signals. An electromagnetic friction brake is connected to a support and to the input shaft and is controlled by the electronic control unit to provide steering feel. The friction brake includes an armature fixed to the support and a brake member secured for rotation with the input shaft via a spline conneciton. The brake member is movable toward the armature under the influence of the magnetic field generated by the armature. The degree of mechanical coupling between the armature and the brake member is proportional to the magnetic field strength. Steering feel is controlled by the electronic control unit in response to the difference between the desired steering direction, as determined from the steering wheel position sensor, and the actual steering direction, as determined from the steerable wheel position sensor.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A steering apparatus for use in a vehicle having steerable wheels, an actuatable steering motor connected to the steerable wheels, and an actuator for actuating the steering motor in response to a steering signal, said apparatus comprising:
-
a support; a steering input shaft rotatable relative to said support by a vehicle operator; first sensing means for sensing the rotational position of said input shaft and for producing an electrical signal indicative thereof; second sensing means for sensing the position of the steerable wheels and for producing an electrical signal indicative thereof; electromagnetic friction brake means connected to said input shaft and said support for providing a controllable amount of mechanical resistance to relative rotation between said steering input shaft and said support responsive to an electrical control signal; and control means for (i) generating said steering signal to actuate the steering motor and (ii) generating said electrical control signal responsive to the electrical signals from said first sensing means and said second sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A steering apparatus for use in a vehicle having steerable wheels, an actuatable steering motor connected to the steerable wheels, and an actuator for actuating the steering motor in response to a steering signal, said apparatus comprising:
-
a support; a steering input shaft mounted for rotation relative to said support by a vehicle operator; electromagnetic friction brake means connected to said input shaft and said support for providing a controllable amount of mechanical resistance to relative rotation between said steering input shaft and said support responsive to an electrical control signal for controlling steering feel, said electromagnetic friction brake means comprising a first brake member made of a magnetically permeable material and secured to one of said input shaft or said support, said first brake member including a friction brake surface, a second brake member secured to the other of said input shaft or said support and including means for generating a magnetic field having an electrically controllable field strength responsive to said electrical control signal and a friction brake surface located adjacent the friction brake surface of said first brake member, said first brake member and said second brake member being axially movable relative to each other under the influence of said magnetic field, the degree of coupling between said first brake member and said second brake member being proportional to said field strength. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification