Steering device for vehicle

• US 6,698,542 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advics Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumimoto Brake Systems Incorporated, Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kato, Kazuhiro, Takamatsu, Takanobu, Hayama, Ryouhei, Segawa, Masaya, Nakano, Shirou, Nishizaki, Katsutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUM VANNUCCI, LEE SIN YEE
• Application Number:
  US10/075,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20020117347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 180/421, 180/422, 180/402, 180/403, 701/41-44
• US Class Current: 180/403
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/02 Active Steering, Steer-by-Wire
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1755 Brake regulation specially adapted to control the stability of the vehicle, e.g. taking into account yaw rate or transverse acceleration in a curve road vehicle drive control systems for control of driving stability otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/328 Systems sharing components with other fluid systems onboard the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/06 fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/07 Supply of pressurised fluid for steering also supplying other consumers ; control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/00 Arrangements for automatically controlling steering depending on driving conditions sensed and responded to, e.g. control circuits means for initiating a change in direction B62D1/00; steering valves B62D5/06; combined with means for inclining the vehicle body or wheels on bends B62D9/00

Abstract

The steering device for vehicle changes the steering angle by transmitting the movements of the steering electrical actuator to the vehicle wheels. When the vehicle is steered in the stationary state, the hydraulic fluid can be supplied to the steering assistance force generating hydraulic actuator from the pump within the hydraulic pressure imparting unit. When the vehicle is not steered in the stationary state, the hydraulic fluid can be supplied to the brake device from the pump via the hydraulic pressure distribution unit.

Claims

1. A steering device for a vehicle having vehicle wheels, comprising:

a steering electrical actuator;

means for transmitting movement of the steering electrical actuator to the vehicle wheels such that steering angle changes according to the movement;

a pump to supply hydraulic fluid;

a brake device;

a steering assistance force generation hydraulic actuator;

means for judging whether the vehicle is steered in a stationary state and producing a judgment result; and

means for switching a supply route of the hydraulic fluid in response to the judgment result such that, the hydraulic fluid is supplied to the steering assistance force generation hydraulic actuator from the pump when the vehicle is steered in the stationary state, and the hydraulic fluid is supplied to the brake device from the pump when the vehicle is not steered in the stationary state.

2. The steering device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the steering electrical actuator is transmitted to the vehicle wheels without mechanical linkage of an operating member, for manual operation by a user to effect steering, with the vehicle wheels.

3. The steering device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting of the movement of the steering electrical actuator to the vehicle wheels is comprised of a steering gear, the means for switching the supply route of the hydraulic fluid is comprised of an electromagnetic switching valve, and the means for judging whether the vehicle is steered in the stationary state is comprised of a computer.