Power steering apparatus
First Claim
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1. A power steering apparatus comprising:
- a hydraulic power cylinder including first and second fluid pressure chambers configured to assist a steering mechanism;
a reversible pump including first and second outlets configured to supply a hydraulic pressure to the power cylinder;
a first fluid passage connecting the first outlet of the reversible pump with the first pressure chamber of the power cylinder;
a second fluid passage connecting the second outlet of the reversible pump with the second pressure chamber of the power cylinder;
a motor configured to drive the reversible pump in one of forward and reverse directions;
a steering load sensing section configured to ascertain a steering load of the steering mechanism; and
a motor controlling section configured to control the motor in accordance with the steering load;
wherein the first and second fluid passages are asymmetric such that the first and second fluid passages are unequal in pressure loss; and
wherein the power steering apparatus further comprises a correcting section configured to make pressure losses of the first and second fluid passages substantially equal to each other;
wherein each of the first and second fluid passages comprises a flexible tube.
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Abstract
A power steering apparatus includes a hydraulic power cylinder, and a reversible pump driven by a motor and connected by left and right fluid passages with left and right pressure chambers of the power cylinder. The first and second fluid passages are so arranged that pressure losses in the first and second passages are substantially equal to each other.
11 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A power steering apparatus comprising:
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a hydraulic power cylinder including first and second fluid pressure chambers configured to assist a steering mechanism; a reversible pump including first and second outlets configured to supply a hydraulic pressure to the power cylinder; a first fluid passage connecting the first outlet of the reversible pump with the first pressure chamber of the power cylinder; a second fluid passage connecting the second outlet of the reversible pump with the second pressure chamber of the power cylinder; a motor configured to drive the reversible pump in one of forward and reverse directions; a steering load sensing section configured to ascertain a steering load of the steering mechanism; and a motor controlling section configured to control the motor in accordance with the steering load; wherein the first and second fluid passages are asymmetric such that the first and second fluid passages are unequal in pressure loss; and wherein the power steering apparatus further comprises a correcting section configured to make pressure losses of the first and second fluid passages substantially equal to each other; wherein each of the first and second fluid passages comprises a flexible tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification