Motor-driven servo steering system
First Claim
1. Motor-driven servo steering system for a motor vehicle, said steering system comprising:
- an actuator for superimposed steering intervention, said actuator including first means for transmitting first power by means of a first input shaft, with said first power having first torque and first angular velocity;
second means for transmitting second power by a second input shaft, with said second power having second torque and second angular velocity; and
third means for additively combining said first power and said second power to provide third power to an output shaft, said third power having third torque and third angular velocity, and said third power substantially equalling the sum of said first power and said second power disregarding frictional losses;
a steering system for the vehicle, said steering system being operably connected to said output shaft of said actuator;
a steering wheel for transmitting steering wheel power to said first input shaft of said actuator, said steering wheel power including steering wheel torque and steering wheel angular velocity;
an electric motor for providing output power to said second input shaft of said actuator, said electric motor controlled by a controller, said output power having output torque and output angular velocity;
means for monitoring said steering wheel angular velocity and providing angular velocity signals when said steering wheel is actuated by the driver; and
means for transmitting said angular velocity signals to said controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a motor-driven servo steering system for a motor vehicle having an actuator for superimposing steering intervention on the steering wheel power applied by the driver. Power provided by a power supply, for example an electric motor, is superimposed on the steering wheel power applied by the driver and thereby aids and boosts the steering wheel power. In addition to or instead of the boosting effect, the steering systems of the vehicle can be acted upon through steering signals that increase the road safety and/or the travel comfort. Because the system is responsive to steering wheel velocity, the system has a high inherent safety, where in case of power supply failure the driver has a direct mechanical access to the steering systems, without increasing the steering wheel torque required to be applied by the driver.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. Motor-driven servo steering system for a motor vehicle, said steering system comprising:
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an actuator for superimposed steering intervention, said actuator including first means for transmitting first power by means of a first input shaft, with said first power having first torque and first angular velocity;
second means for transmitting second power by a second input shaft, with said second power having second torque and second angular velocity; and
third means for additively combining said first power and said second power to provide third power to an output shaft, said third power having third torque and third angular velocity, and said third power substantially equalling the sum of said first power and said second power disregarding frictional losses;a steering system for the vehicle, said steering system being operably connected to said output shaft of said actuator; a steering wheel for transmitting steering wheel power to said first input shaft of said actuator, said steering wheel power including steering wheel torque and steering wheel angular velocity; an electric motor for providing output power to said second input shaft of said actuator, said electric motor controlled by a controller, said output power having output torque and output angular velocity; means for monitoring said steering wheel angular velocity and providing angular velocity signals when said steering wheel is actuated by the driver; and means for transmitting said angular velocity signals to said controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A motor-driven servo steering system for a motor vehicle, said steering system comprising:
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an actuator including a first input shaft, a second input shaft, and an output shaft; a steering system operably connected with said output shaft; a steering wheel operably connected with said first input shaft; an electric motor having a controller, said electric motor operably connected with said second input shaft; means for monitoring the angular velocity of said steering wheel and providing steering wheel angular velocity signals when said steering wheel is actuated by the vehicle driver; and means for transmitting said angular velocity signals to said controller; said controller responsive to said angular velocity signals and operating said electric motor to provide power to said second input shaft, the amount of the power provided to said second input shaft depending on said angular velocity signals whereby said electric motor may aid said steering wheel independently of said first input shaft so that if said electric motor is inoperative, said steering wheel is still operatively connected to said steering system.
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Specification