Motor-driven power steering unit

• US 4,918,744 A
• Filed: 06/09/1988
• Issued: 04/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1987
• 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: Shimizu, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTIN, DAVID S
• Application Number:
  US07/204,326
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 361/23-24, 361/31-33, 180/141-142, 180/79.1, 318/332-333, 318/326-328, 318/646, 318/648, 388/209, 388/815, 388/823, 388/833, 364/424.01, 364/424.03, 364/424.1
• US Class Current: 388/833
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0463 calculating assisting torque from the motor based on driver input
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0481 monitoring the steering system, e.g. failures

Abstract

The motor-driven power steering unit according to the first aspect of the present invention is able to decrease the amount of current being applied to the motor if the steering force exceeds a predetermined level. The motor-driven power steering unit according to the second aspect of the present invention is able to decrease the amount of current being applied to the motor when the steering speed is less than a predetermined level.

Claims

1. A motor-driven power steering unit furnished with an electric motor for generating an auxiliary steering force in a steering system that couples a steering wheel to wheels of a vehicle, said steering unit assisting in the turning of the steering wheel by controlling an electric current to be applied to said electric motor based upon steering information, the motor-driven power steering unit comprising:

a steering force detecting means for detecting a steering force generated in said steering system; and

an overload preventing means for decreasing an electric current being applied to said electric motor when the steering force detected with said steering force detecting means exceeds a predetermined value.

2. A motor-driven power steering unit furnished with an electric motor for generating an auxiliary steering force in a steering system that couples a steering wheel to wheels of a vehicle, said steering unit assisting in the turning of the steering wheel by controlling an electric current to be applied to said electric motor based upon steering information, the motor-driven power steering unit comprising:

a steering force detecting means for detecting a steering force generated in said steering system;

a steering speed detecting means for detecting a steering speed produced by said steering system; and

an overload preventing means for decreasing an electric current being applied to said electric motor when the steering force detected with said steering force detecting means exceeds a predetermined value and when the steering speed detected with said steering speed detecting means is not higher than a predetermined value.