Power assisted steering system with an auxiliary electric pump
First Claim
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1. A method for implementing a downsized mechanical engine-driven power steering assistance device for a truck, comprising:
- providing a mechanical engine-driven power steering assistance device which is sized so as to provide less than a required power to a power steering unit at idle speeds;
providing an electric power steering assistance device that is adapted to concurrently provide a supplementary assistance to assistance from said mechanical engine-driven power steering assistance device at idle speeds, such that together said mechanical engine-driven power steering assistance device and said electric power steering assistance device provide a necessary power steering assistance to the power steering unit at idle; and
providing a controller to control the electric power steering assistance device such that at higher engine speeds, the electric power steering assistance device provides a reduced supplementary assistance to the assistance from said mechanical engine-driven power steering assistance device, wherein said reduced supplementary assistance is a reduced hydraulic fluid flow.
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Abstract
A power assist steering system for a vehicle, especially for a truck or commercial vehicle, is disclosed that includes a mechanical engine-driven power steering pump that pumps hydraulic fluid to a power steering unit, and an electrical pump adapted to pump hydraulic fluid so as to optimize a power steering flow to the power steering unit and to minimize internal pump flow.
20 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for implementing a downsized mechanical engine-driven power steering assistance device for a truck, comprising:
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providing a mechanical engine-driven power steering assistance device which is sized so as to provide less than a required power to a power steering unit at idle speeds; providing an electric power steering assistance device that is adapted to concurrently provide a supplementary assistance to assistance from said mechanical engine-driven power steering assistance device at idle speeds, such that together said mechanical engine-driven power steering assistance device and said electric power steering assistance device provide a necessary power steering assistance to the power steering unit at idle; and providing a controller to control the electric power steering assistance device such that at higher engine speeds, the electric power steering assistance device provides a reduced supplementary assistance to the assistance from said mechanical engine-driven power steering assistance device, wherein said reduced supplementary assistance is a reduced hydraulic fluid flow.
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2. A power assistance steering system for a truck or commercial vehicle comprising:
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a mechanical engine-driven power steering pump that pumps hydraulic fluid to a power steering unit; an electric pump adapted to pump hydraulic fluid to the power steering unit concurrently with the mechanical engine-driven power steering pump so as to optimize a flow of hydraulic fluid within said system; and
,a controller for controlling flow from said electric pump, wherein said controller is configured to vary flow of said electric pump based on engine speed. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A power assistance steering system for a truck or commercial vehicle, comprising:
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a mechanical engine-driven power steering pump that pumps hydraulic fluid to a power steering unit; an electric pump adapted to pump hydraulic fluid to the power steering unit concurrently with the mechanical engine-driven power steering pump so as to optimize a flow of hydraulic fluid within said system; and
,a controller for controlling flow from said electric pump, wherein said controller is configured to vary flow of said electric pump based on vehicle speed. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method for providing power assisted steering for a truck or commercial vehicle, comprising:
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pumping hydraulic fluid to a power steering unit via a mechanical engine-driven pump; and controlling an electric pump via a controller to concurrently pump hydraulic fluid toward the power steering unit in a manner so as to optimize a flow of hydraulic fluid within said system, said controller varying flow of said electric pump based on engine speed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for providing power assisted steering for a truck or commercial vehicle, comprising:
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pumping hydraulic fluid to a power steering unit via a mechanical engine-driven pump; and controlling an electric pump via a controller to concurrently pump hydraulic fluid toward the power steering unit in a manner so as to optimize a flow of hydraulic fluid within said system, said controller varying flow of said electric pump based on vehicle speed. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for providing power assisted steering for a truck or commercial vehicle, comprising:
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pumping hydraulic fluid to a power steering unit via a mechanical engine-driven pump; controlling an electric pump to concurrently pump hydraulic fluid toward the power steering unit in a manner so as to optimize a flow of hydraulic fluid within said system, and, further controlling said electric pump to provide a maximum auxiliary power steering assistance at low engine speed and decreasing auxiliary power steering assistance with increasing engine speed. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification