Steering actuator of independent steer-by-wire system

• US 6,991,573 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Yun, Jung-Rak
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, David D.
• Application Number:
  US10/749,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20040242356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 475/149, 744/246, 744/245, 744/247.1, 744/249.6, 74/892.3, 74/894.5, 180/402, 180/408, 180/411, 310/12, 310/15, 310/18, 310/309, 310/311, 310/323.08, 310/323.01, 310/323.18
• US Class Current: 475/149
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0427 the axes being coaxial
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0445 Screw drives
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0451 Roller spindle drives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18752 Manually driven
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19698 Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19702 Screw and nut
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19814 Integral deformable tangs engaging screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19819 Driven rack or shaft

Abstract

A steering actuator of an independent type steer-by-wire system comprises a housing fixed to a vehicle body and an ultrasonic motor. The ultrasonic motor has a stator internally fixed to the housing and a rotator rotating relative to the stator when an electric current is applied. A steering rod having a first end and a second end penetrates through a center portion of the ultrasonic motor. The first end of the steering rod extends out of the housing for connection to a tie rod. In one embodiment, a ring gear, planetary gears, sun gear and/or racks formed at the steering rod are operably associated with converting rotating movement of the ultrasonic motor into linear movement of the steering rod. In another embodiment, a rotator ring, a plurality of pinions, worm gears and a plurality of racks formed at the steering rod are operably associated with converting rotating movement of the ultrasonic motor into linear movement of the steering rod.

Claims

1. A steering actuator of an independent type steer-by-wire system comprising:

a housing fixed to a vehicle body;

an ultrasonic motor having a stator internally fixed to said housing and a rotator rotating relative to said stator when an electric current is applied;

a steering rod having a first end and a second end, the steering rod penetrating through a center portion of said ultrasonic motor, the first end of said steering rod extending out of said housing for connection to a tie rod; and

a movement conversion means operably associated with said steering rod for converting rotating movement of said ultrasonic motor into linear movement of said steering rod, wherein said movement conversion means includes;

a rotator ring gear integrally and internally formed at said rotator of said ultrasonic motor;

a plurality of pinions each having a rotating shaft, said plurality of pinions being rotatably engaged with said rotator ring gear, said rotating shafts being fixed to said housing;

a plurality of worm gears integrally connected to said pinions; and

a plurality of racks formed at said steering rod so as to be engaged with said plurality of worm gears.

2. The actuator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of pinions include at least three pinions and the plurality of worm gears include at least three worm gears, wherein further said at least three pinions and said at least three worm gears are circumferentially equidistantly spaced inside said rotator.

3. The actuator as set forth in claim 2, wherein said at least three pinions and said at least three worm gears are equally installed by spacing angles of 120°

along a circumferential direction inside said rotator, and said steering rod has a hexagonal sectional shape at a portion formed with said racks, whereby said racks are formed at three surfaces of the hexagonal sectional shape alternately arranged by spacing angles of 120°

.