Steering torque detecting device

• US 4,838,074 A
• Filed: 04/04/1988
• Issued: 06/13/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Hata, Yasuaki, Umemaru, Hisato, Kohge, Shinichi, Morishita, Mitsuharu, Hara, Tadayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Myracle, Jerry W.
• Application Number:
  US07/177,085
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 73/118.1, 73/862.33, 180/79.1, 74/388 PS, 361/397
• US Class Current: 73/117.02
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/10 characterised by means for sensing or determining torque

Abstract

A steering torque detecting device includes a steering shaft consisting of an input shaft and an output shaft, a torsion bar provided between the input shaft and the output shaft, a torque detecting unit for converting a quantity of torsion produced in the torsion bar into an electric output, an electricity collecting unit including slip rings and brushes which takes the electric output and supplies an electric power from an outer power source, bearings for supporting the input and output shaft on the same axial line, and a housing supporting the bearings, a printed wiring board in a circular plate form which is provided at its one surface with a resistance layer and an output electrode radially spaced apart from the resistance layer, the resistance layer and the output electrode constituting a potentiometer, and a slider having a portion extending in the radial direction of the circular printed wiring board so as to have contacting areas with a small width to the resistance layer and the output electrode.

Claims

1. A steering torque detecting device which comprises:

a steering shaft consisting of an input shaft and an output shaft,

a torsion bar connecting said input shaft with said output shaft,

a printed wiring board of a circular plate form which is provided at one surface thereof with a resistance layer and an output electrode radially spaced apart from said resistance layer, said resistance layer and said output electrode constituting a potentiometer, and which is attached to one of said input shaft and said output shaft,

a plurality of slip rings which are fixed to one of said shafts and connected to electrodes formed at ends of said resistance layer and said output electrode,

a plurality of brushes in contact with said slip rings to receive detection signals, and

a slider mounted on a second of said input shaft and said output shaft and having a portion extending in the radial direction of said circular printed wiring board so as to have contacting areas for contacting said resistance layer and said output electrode wherein a zero point electrode having a portion extending in the circumferential direction to have a zero point contact part with a small width at its one end and a paired electrode formed radially apart from said zero point electrode are provided in the same surface as said resistance layer and said output electrode on said printed wiring board.

2. A steering torque detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said slip rings are connected to said zero point electrode and said paired electrode.

3. A steering torque detecting device which comprises:

a steering shaft consisting of an input shaft and an output shaft,

a torsion bar connecting said input shaft with said output shaft,

a printed wiring board of a circular plate form which is provided at one surface thereof with a resistance layer and an output electrode radially spaced apart from said resistance layer, said resistance layer and said output electrode constituting a potentiometer, and which is attached to one of said input shaft and said output shaft,

a plurality of slip rings which are fixed to one of said shafts and connected to electrodes formed at ends of said resistance layer and said output electrode,

a plurality of brushes in contact with said slip rings to receive detection signals, and

a slider mounted on a second of said input shaft and said output shaft and having a portion extending in the radial direction of said circular printed wiring board so as to have contacting areas for contacting said resistance layer and said output electrode wherein a zero point electrode having a portion extending in the circumferential direction to have a zero point contact part with a small width at its one end and a paired electrode formed radially apart from said zero point electrode are provided in the same surface as said resistance layer and said output electrode on said printed wiring board;

said slip rings are connected to said zero point electrode and said paired electrode; and

a zero point slider is mounted on the same shaft on which said slider is mounted, said zero point slider being such that when the difference in the torque between said input and output shafts is zero, said zero point slider is brought into contact with said zero point contact part and said paired electrode.

4. A steering torque detecting device which comprises:

a steering shaft consisting of an input shaft and an output shaft,

a torsion bar connecting said input shaft with said output shaft,

a printed wiring board of a circular plate form which is provided at one surface thereof with a resistance layer and an output electrode radially spaced apart from said resistance layer, said resistance layer and said output electrode constituting a potentiometer, and which is attached to one of said input shaft and said output shaft,

a plurality of slip rings which are fixed to one of said shafts and connected to electrodes formed at ends of said resistance layer and said output electrode,

a plurality of brushes in contact with said slip rings to receive detection signals, and

a slider mounted on a second of said input shaft and said output shaft and having a portion extending in the radial direction of said circular printed wiring board so as to have contacting areas for contacting said resistance layer and said output electrode wherein an amplifier circuit and a regulating circuit are provided on said printed wiring board at the side of said output electrode.