Hydraulic power assisted steering system

• US 7,337,872 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2003
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Hoffmann, Oliver, Muth, Norman, Böhm, Jürgen, Schirling, Andreas, Nell, Joachim, Linkenbach, Steffen, Görlach, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scharich; Marc A.
• Application Number:
  US10/504,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20050160851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: 180/443, 180/444, 180/446, 180404-407, 180/417, 180/419, 180421-423, 180427-428, 701 41- 43
• US Class Current: 180/446
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0409 Electric motor acting on the steering column
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/06 fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle

Abstract

A hydraulic power steering system with a steering gear and a hydraulic actuator for supporting a steering wheel actuation by the driver of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, includes components for actively applying an additional steering torque, the components for actively applying an additional steering torque including at least one additional torque actuator and a steering torque detector being mounted as a module on a steering wheel shaft that connects the steering wheel to the steering gear.

Claims

1. A power steering system with a steering gear and a hydraulic actuator for supporting a steering wheel actuation by a driver of a vehicle, the power steering system comprising a modular torque actuator that applies additional steering torque, the modular torque actuator being mounted as a modular unit on a steering wheel shaft that connects a steering wheel to the steering gear, the modular unit comprising a housing, an electric motor mounted on the housing, an output shaft on the motor extending generally parallel to the steering wheel shaft, a gear in the housing connected to the output shaft, a torque sensor for sensing steering wheel torque, and a torque applying shaft connected with the gear, the torque applying shaft having an end engaging the steering wheel shaft.

2. The power steering system as claimed in claim 1,

further comprising a universal joint connected with the steering wheel shaft.

3. The power steering system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the modular torque actuator includes a redundant electronic controlling and regulating unit (ECU).

4. The power steering system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the gear comprises a belt drive.

5. The power steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear is a helical worm gear, or a spur gear.

6. The power steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electronic controlling and regulating unit (ECU) actuates the modular torque actuator to produce an additional steering wheel torque adapted to a current vehicle speed.

7. The power steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electronic controlling and regulating unit (ECU) actuates the modular torque actuator to produce an additional steering wheel torque that is adapted to a vehicle'"'"'s course and a shape of a road.

8. The power steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electronic controlling and regulating unit (ECU) actuates the modular torque actuator to produce an additional steering wheel torque adapted to current vehicle dynamics.

9. A modular torque actuator for applying additional steering torque in a power steering system, the modular torque actuator being mountable to an existing steering wheel shaft as a modular unit, the modular unit comprising a housing, an electric motor mounted on the housing, an output shaft on the motor extending generally parallel to the steering wheel shaft, a gear in the housing connected to the output shaft, a torque sensor for sensing steering wheel torque, and a torque applying shaft connected with the gear, the torque applying shaft configured for engagement with the steering wheel shaft.

10. The modular torque actuator as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a universal joint connected with the steering wheel shaft.

11. The modular torque actuator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the modular unit includes a redundant electronic controlling and regulating unit (ECU).

12. The modular torque actuator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the gear comprises a belt drive.

13. The modular torque actuator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the gear is a helical worm gear or a spur gear.

14. The modular torque actuator as claimed in claim 9 comprising an electronic controlling and regulating unit (ECU) that actuates the motor to produce an additional steering torque adapted to a current vehicle speed.

15. The modular torque actuator as claimed in claim 9 comprising an electronic controlling and regulating unit (ECU) that actuates the motor to produce an additional steering torque adapted to a vehicle'"'"'s course and a shape of a road.

16. The modular torque actuator as claimed in claim 9 comprising an electronic controlling and regulating unit (ECU) that actuates the motor to produce an additional steering torque adapted to current vehicle dynamics.

17. A power steering system, including a steering gear and a hydraulic actuator for supporting a steering wheel actuation by a driver of a vehicle, the power steering system comprising a modular torque actuator that applies additional steering torque, the modular torque actuator being mounted as a modular unit at a steering-wheel sided end portion of a steering valve of a hydraulic power steering system, the modular unit comprising a housing, an electric motor mounted on the housing, an output shaft on the motor extending generally parallel to a steering wheel shaft, a gear in the housing connected to the output shaft, a torque sensor for sensing steering wheel torque, and a torque applying shaft connected with the gear, the torque applying shaft having an end engaging the steering wheel shaft.