Steering angle detector

• US 4,853,672 A
• Filed: 08/24/1987
• Issued: 08/01/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kawamoto, Yoshimichi, Abe, Masaru, Kohata, Takashi, Yasuda, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Jr., Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chau, Annie H.
• Application Number:
  US07/088,909
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 R, 340/686, 33/1 PT, 33/264, 33/600, 116/31, 280/91, 180/140, 180/141, 180/142, 180/79
• US Class Current: 340/465
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0225 by measuring on a steering gear element, e.g. on a rack bar
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/023 by measuring on the king pin

Abstract

A steering angle detector comprises a differential transformer. The steering angle detector includes a rod member extending substantially transversely of the vehicle body and axially movable in response to steering action of the vehicle body, a metallic core mounted on the rod member, and primary and secondary coils disposed around the core in slightly spaced relation thereto.

Claims

1. A steering angle detector in a vehicle body including knuckle arms for rotatably supporting steerable wheels, comprising:

a rod member extending substantially transversely of the vehicle body and axially movable in response to steering action of the vehicle body, opposite ends of said rod member being connected to said knuckle arms;

a metallic core mounted around or mounted directly on said rod member; and

primary and secondary coils disposed around said core in slightly spaced relation thereto.

2. A steering angle detector according to claim 1, wherein said rod member comprises a rack shaft in a steering gearbox.

3. A steering angle detector according to claim 1, wherein said rod member comprises a screw shaft in a steering gearbox.

4. A steering angle detector according to claim 1, wherein said core comprises a larger-diameter, intermediate portion of said rod member.

5. A steering angle detector according to claim 4, further including magnetically shielding coating layers coated on said rod member adjacent to said larger-diameter portion.

6. A steering angle detector according to claim 1, wherein said core comprises a larger-diameter portion of said rod member and a pair of nonmagnetic metallic rings mounted on said larger-diameter portion on opposite ends thereof.

7. A steering angle detector according to claim 1, wherein said core comprises a larger-diameter nonmagnetic metallic ring mounted on said rod member.

8. A steering angle detector according to claim 1, wherein said rod member has a groove defined therearound, said core comprising a metallic ring fitted in said groove and having an outside diameter which is substantially the same as the diameter of said rod member.

9. A steering angle detector according to claim 1, further including magnetically shielding coating layers coated on said rod member except for a portion thereof which serves as said core.

10. A steering angle detector according to claim 1, further including a steering gear box elastically mounted on said vehicle body, said rod member being operatively connected to a steering wheel through said steering gear box, said primary and secondary coils being mounted on said vehicle body immovably in a transverse direction of said vehicle body, independent of said steering gear box.

12. A steering angle detector according to claim 10, further including a casing housing said primary and secondary coils, and a support member coupling said casing to said vehicle body, said casing being relatively movably accommodated in said steering gearbox, said support member being disposed substantially parallel to said rod member for supporting said casing immovably in the transverse direction of said vehicle body.

11. A steering angle detector in a vehicle body, comprising:

a rod member extending substantially transversely of the vehicle body and axially movable in response to steering action of the vehicle body;

a metallic core mounted on said rod member;

primary and secondary coils disposed around said core in slightly spaced relation thereto; and

a steering gear box elastically mounted on said vehicle body;

said rod member being operatively connected to a steering wheel through said steering gear box;

said primary and secondary coils being mounted on said vehicle body immovably in a transverse direction of said vehicle body independent of said steering gear box; and

said rod member comprising a detecting rod joined to and extending substantially parallel to a rack shaft movably disposed in said steering gear box, said detecting rod being axially movable with said rack shaft.