Vibration control system for electric tilt steering

• US 7,226,082 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Muramatsu, Atsushi, Itikawa, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US10/972,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 280/774, 280/777, 280/779, 280/771, 744/93, 744/92
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/224 acting between the steering wheel and the steering gear, e.g. on the steering column
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/02 Suppression of vibrations of non-rotating, e.g. reciprocating systems; Suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of members not moving with the rotating systems F16F15/005 takes precedence ; layered products B32B; suppression of vibration in ships B63; relieving load on bearings, using magnetic means F16C39/06
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 19/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

A vibration control system for electric tilt steering including a lower stationary and upper moveable column through which is rotatably passed a steering shaft having a steering wheel attached to an distal end projecting into a cabin of a vehicle, the moveable column being linked in vertically tiltable fashion to the end of the stationary column and the stationary column being fixed to a vehicle body, with tilting movement of the moveable column being driven by an electric motor to adjust a movable column vertical position. The system includes a control signal generating device for detecting control signal having control frequency and phase for attenuating vibration input to the steering based on a signal synchronized with operation of a vehicle engine, and a drive controlling device for controlling the electric motor drive based on the control signal, to give oscillation to the steering for attenuating vibration input to the steering.

Claims

1. A vibration control system for electric tilt steering including a lower stationary column and an upper moveable column through which is rotatably passed a steering shaft having a steering wheel attached to a distal end which projects into a cabin of an automotive vehicle, the moveable column being linked in vertically tiltable fashion to the distal end of the stationary column and the stationary column being fixed to a vehicle body, with tilting movement of the moveable column being driven by an electric motor to adjust a vertical position of the moveable column, said control system comprising:

a control signal generating device for generating control signal having control frequency and control phase for attenuating vibration input to the steering on the basis of a signal synchronized with operation of a vehicle engine, and

a drive controlling device for controlling drive of the electric motor on the basis of the control signal so that the electric motor is driven to give oscillation to the steering in order to attenuate vibration input to the steering.

2. A vibration control system according to claim 1, further comprising a vibration sensor attached to the steering, wherein the drive controlling device executes drive control of the electric motor on the basis of the control signal updated on the basis of an adaptive control method with reference to vibration sensing results by the vibration sensor.

3. A vibration control system according to claim 1, further comprising a vibration damping device for controlling drive of an electric oscillation member installed on the vehicle on the basis of the control signal so that vibration transmitted from an engine to a body of the vehicle is damped.

4. A vibration control system according to claim 3, wherein the electric oscillation member is installed in an engine mount that supports the engine on the body of the vehicle in a vibration damping fashion.

5. A vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein the system is integrally provided with the steering.

6. A vibration control system according to claim 2, wherein the system is integrally provided with the steering and the vibration sensor.

7. A vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein the control signal generating device comprises an engine operation detecting sensor for detecting a signal synchronized with operation of a vehicle engine.