Power steering device

• US 5,844,386 A
• Filed: 07/08/1996
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Hirofumi, Fukuda, Ken, Noritou, Yasuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US08/676,727
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 318/287, 318/291, 318/293, 361/600, 361/679, 361/688, 361/690, 361/704, 361/707, 361/709, 361/717-720, 361/722, 361/748, 361/760, 361/777, 361/805, 361/807
• US Class Current: 318/293
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0406 including housing for electronic control unit
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/38 Control circuits or drive circuits associated with geared commutator motors of the worm-and-wheel type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/40 Structural association with grounding devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2211/03 Machines characterised by circuit boards, e.g. pcb
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/06 Means for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1166 comprising worm and worm-wheel structural association with bearings specially adapted for worm gear drives H02K7/081

Abstract

A switching element for controlling electric power to be supplied to a motor for generating steering assistance power, and a circuit which outputs a control signal to the switching element according to a driving condition are incorporated in an insulating casing. The insulating casing is attached to a housing of a power steering device. An elastic heat-conducting insulating sheet lies between the switching element and the housing. The switching element is pressed against the housing via the sheet.

Claims

1. A power steering device, comprising;

a housing;

a motor for generating steering assistance power;

a switching element for controlling electric power to be supplied to the motor;

a circuit which outputs a control signal to the switching element according to a driving condition;

an insulating casing incorporating both the switching element and the circuit; and

an elastic heat-conducting insulating sheet between the switching element and the housing, wherein

the casing is attached to the housing so that the switching element is pressed against the housing via the sheet.

2. The power steering device according to claim 1, wherein:

one side of the switching element incorporated into the casing protrudes from the face of the casing opposite to the housing, and the one side of the switching element is pressed against the housing via the sheet.

3. The power steering device according to claim 2, wherein:

the casing is integrated with a housing of a connector, which connects the switching element to the motor and a power source; and

wherein

an electrode constituting the connector and a wire, which connects the electrode to the switching element, are each formed from a platelike electroconductive element incorporated into the casing.

4. The power steering device according to claim 2, wherein:

the casing incorporates a condenser connected to a wire, which connects the switching element to the power source for supplying electric power to the motor, a relay connected with the wire, and a motor current detection resistor connected to the switching elements via a wire, and the wires are each formed from a platelike electroconductive element incorporated into the casing.

5. The power steering device according to claim 1, wherein:

the casing is integrated with a housing of a connector, which connects the switching element to the motor and a power source; and

wherein

an electrode constituting the connector and a wire, which connects the electrode to the switching element, are each formed from a platelike electroconductive element incorporated into the casing.

6. The power steering device according to claim 1, wherein:

the casing incorporates a condenser connected to a wire, which connects the switching element to the power source for supplying electric power to the motor, a relay connected with the wire, and a motor current detection resistor connected to the switching elements via a wire, and the wires are each formed from a platelike electroconductive element incorporated into the casing.