Steering apparatus for vehicle

• US 7,147,080 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Segawa, Masaya, Kada, Tomoyasu, Kimura, Shuuji, Higashi, Masayasu, Maeda, Shingo, Hayama, Ryouhei
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/403,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20030183438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 180/315, 180/333, 180/402, 180/19.1, 180/19.2, 180/19.3, 280/771, 744/91, 744/92, 745/52
• US Class Current: 180/315
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/00 Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/02 vehicle-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/12 Hand levers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20396 Hand operated

Abstract

The steering device is constructed by supporting a center portion of a rectangle-plate-shaped operation plate at one end of a supporting shaft projected from the front face of a dashboard so as to freely swing in right and left directions. A steering apparatus for a vehicle having the steering device detects the swing direction and the swing angle of the operation plate with a steering angle sensor provided at a support portion and moves a steering mechanism in the detected direction in accordance with the detected angle so as to steer the vehicle. With this structure, a load in steering can be decreased and tiredness in driving can be reduced. Furthermore, such a steering apparatus can realize a steering device which physically handicapped drivers can operate easily.

Claims

1. A steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising a steering unit and a steering mechanism which is provided mechanically separately from the steering unit and operates on the basis of detection results of an operation direction and an operation amount of the steering unit,

the steering unit including:

a plate-shaped operation member supported so as to freely rock about a fulcrum; and

a detector for detecting a rocking direction and a rocking angle of the operation member respectively as the operation direction and the operation amount.

2. The steering apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the steering unit further includes:

a first shaft projected from a part of a body of the vehicle;

a second shaft, which is coupled with the first shaft so as to be shifted with regard to the first shaft, for supporting the operation member; and

a displacement detector for detecting a displacement direction and a displacement amount of the second shaft, and

the steering mechanism operates on the basis of the rocking direction and the rocking angle of the operation member detected by the detector and the displacement direction and the displacement amount of the second shaft detected by the displacement detector.

3. The steering apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the steering unit further includes:

a supporting shaft, which is projected from a part of a body of the vehicle, for supporting the operation member so as to be rotated on a center axis thereof; and

a rotation detector for detecting a rotation direction and a rotation amount of the operation member, and

the steering mechanism operates on the basis of the rocking direction and the rocking angle of the operation member detected by the detector and the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the operation member detected by the rotation detector.

4. A steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising a steering unit and a steering mechanism provided mechanically separately from the steering unit,

the steering unit including:

a support connected to the vehicle and having a longitudinal support axis;

an operation member mounted on the support for pivotal movement about a pivot axis different from and not parallel to the support axis; and

a detection unit operatively connected to the operation member and the steering mechanism for sending a signal indicative of the position of the operation member to the steering mechanism.

5. The steering apparatus of claim 4 wherein said operation member is rotationally fixed with respect to the support.

6. The steering apparatus of claim 5 wherein said operation member pivots about a pivot axis fixed with respect to said support.

7. The steering apparatus of claim 4 wherein said support comprises a first portion fixed with respect to the vehicle and a second portion slidingly supported by said first portion, said operational member being mounted on said second portion.

8. The steering apparatus of claim 4 wherein said operational member is rotatable about a rotational axis.

9. The steering apparatus of claim 8 wherein said support comprises a first portion fixed with respect to the vehicle and a second portion slidingly supported by said first portion, said operational member being mounted on said second portion.

10. The steering apparatus of claim 8 further including a reaction force applying means operationally connected to said operation member.

11. A steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a steering unit comprising an operation member and a detector;

a steering mechanism controlled by and mechanically separate from the steering unit,

the operation member being mounted for pivotal movement about a fulcrum and having first and second gripping portions on opposite sides of the fulcrum; and

the detector communicating a detected pivot direction of the operation member to the steering mechanism as an operation direction and a detected pivot angle of the operation member to the steering mechanism as an operation amount.

12. The steering apparatus of claim 11, further including:

a first shaft projecting from the vehicle;

a second shaft slidably coupled to the first shaft and shiftable with respect to the first shaft, the operation member being supported by the second shaft; and

a displacement detector for detecting a displacement direction and a displacement amount of the second shaft and communicating the displacement direction and displacement amount to the steering mechanism.

13. The steering apparatus of claim 12 wherein said second shaft is telescopically mounted on said first shaft.

14. The steering apparatus of claim 12 wherein said operation member has first and second spaced ends, said first end pivoting toward said first shaft when said second end pivots away from said first shaft.

15. A steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a support;

a steering unit supported by said support;

a steering mechanism controlled by and mechanically separate from the steering unit;

said steering unit comprising an operation member having first and second spaced ends pivotably mounted on said support such that said first and second ends move toward and away from said support as said operation member pivots with respect to said support, a point on said first end moving along an arc that intersects said support as said first end moves toward said support; and

a detector for detecting a pivot direction of the operation member as an operation direction and a pivot angle of the operation member as an operation amount.