# US 11,027,774 B2 · Actuator for steering system

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- Number: US 11,027,774 B2
- Document ID: US11027774B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/314,988
- Filed: 2017-03-16
- Published: 2019-10-10
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-04
- Assignees: Knorr-Bremse Steering System Japan Ltd.
- Applicants: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
- Inventors: Toshiro Yoda; Takuya Ishihara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027774B2

## CPC

- B62D 5/062: {Details, component parts}
- B62D 5/04: electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear
- B62D 5/0409: {Electric motor acting on the steering column}
- B62D 5/0481: {monitoring the steering system, e.g. failures}
- B62D 5/06: fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle
- B62D 5/12: Piston and cylinder
- B62D 6/10: characterised by means for sensing {or determining} torque
- B62D 15/0245: {Means or methods for determination of the central position of the steering system, e.g. straight ahead position}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

Provided is an actuator for a steering system, which can be increased in degree of freedom for design change, regardless of a configuration change of a hydraulic power steering side. The actuator for a steering system comprises a transmission mechanism configured to transmit the rotation of a steering shaft to a steered wheel, a piston disposed in the transmission mechanism, and a pair of pressure chambers configured to generate a force acting to move the piston. The actuator for a steering system is disposed between a hydraulic power steering system, which imparts a steering force to the steered wheel along with the movement of the piston, and a steering wheel. The actuator for a steering system includes an input shaft which is rotatably and axially supported by the housing and disposed in the steering wheel side; an output shaft which is rotatably and axially supported by the housing and disposed in the hydraulic power steering system; a torsion bar connecting the input shaft and the output shaft; a motor rotor disposed around the outer periphery of the output shaft within the housing and configured to rotate integrally with the output shaft; a motor stator disposed around the outer periphery of the motor rotor within the housing; and a rotation angle detecting section disposed within the housing and configured to detect the rotation angles of the input and output shafts or a relative angle of the input and output shafts.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An actuator for a steering system, comprising:
a steering shaft configured to rotate with rotation of a steering wheel;
a transmission mechanism configured to transmit rotation of the steering shaft to a steered wheel;
a piston disposed in the transmission mechanism; and
a pair of pressure chambers configured to generate a force acting to move the piston, the actuator for a steering system being disposed between a hydraulic power steering system which imparts a steering force to the steered wheel along with the movement of the piston, and the steering wheel,
the actuator for a steering system, further including:
a housing;
an input shaft which is rotatably and axially supported by the housing and disposed in a steering wheel side of the housing;
an output shaft which is rotatably and axially supported by the housing and disposed in the hydraulic power steering system side of the housing;
a torsion bar that connects the input shaft and the output shaft;
a motor rotor disposed around an outer periphery of the output shaft within the housing and configured to rotate integrally with the output shaft;
a motor stator disposed around an outer periphery of the motor rotor within the housing;
a rotation angle detecting section disposed within the housing and configured to detect rotation angles of the input and output shafts or a relative angle of the input and output shafts; and
an input shaft bearing, the input shaft bearing being disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft so as to be in direct contact with the input and output shafts, the input shaft bearing being configured to axially support the input shaft with respect to the output shaft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The actuator for a steering system according to claim 1, further comprising an output shaft bearing,
the output shaft bearing being disposed between the housing and the output shaft, the output shaft bearing being configured to axially support the output shaft with respect to the housing, wherein
the input shaft bearing and the output shaft bearing are disposed so as to overlap with each other in a direction of a rotational axis of the input shaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The actuator for a steering system according to claim 1, wherein
the output shaft is disposed within the motor rotor so as to be in direct contact with the motor rotor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The actuator for a steering system according to claim 1, wherein
the rotation angle detecting section includes:
a first resolver sensor disposed in the housing so as to be located further on the steering wheel side than the motor rotor, the first resolver sensor being configured to detect a rotation angle of the input shaft, and
a second resolver sensor disposed in the housing so as to be located further on the hydraulic actuator side than the motor rotor, the second resolver sensor being configured to detect a rotation angle of the output shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The actuator for a steering system according to claim 4, wherein
the first resolver sensor includes a first resolver stator disposed in direct contact with the housing, and a first resolver rotor disposed in the input shaft; and
the second resolver sensor includes a second resolver stator disposed in direct contact with the housing, and a second resolver rotor disposed in the output shaft.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The actuator for a steering system according to claim 4, wherein
the first resolver sensor includes a first resolver stator disposed in the housing, and a first resolver rotor disposed in the input shaft; and
the second resolver sensor includes a second resolver stator disposed in the housing, and a second resolver rotor disposed in the output shaft and having a similar shape to the first resolver rotor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The actuator for a steering system according to claim 1, further comprising a signal output section,
the signal output section being disposed in the housing and configured to output a signal detected by the rotation angle detecting section to the outside of the housing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The actuator for a steering system according to claim 1, the actuator for a steering system being disposed within a vehicle interior of a vehicle, wherein
the hydraulic power steering system is disposed outside the vehicle interior.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The actuator for a steering system according to claim 8, the actuator for a steering system being disposed in a steering column connected to a steering wheel.

### Claim 10

An actuator for a steering system, comprising:
a steering shaft configured to rotate with rotation of a steering wheel;
a transmission mechanism configured to transmit rotation of the steering shaft to a steered wheel;
a piston disposed in the transmission mechanism; and
a pair of pressure chambers configured to generate a force acting to move the piston, the actuator for a steering system being disposed between a hydraulic power steering system which imparts a steering force to the steered wheel along with the movement of the piston, and the steering wheel,
the actuator for a steering system, further including:
a housing;
an input shaft which is rotatably and axially supported by the housing and disposed in a steering wheel side of the housing;
an output shaft which is rotatably and axially supported by the housing and disposed in the hydraulic power steering system side of the housing;
a torsion bar that connects the input shaft and the output shaft;
a motor rotor disposed around an outer periphery of the output shaft within the housing and configured to rotate integrally with the output shaft;
a motor stator disposed around an outer periphery of the motor rotor within the housing;
a rotation angle detecting section disposed within the housing and configured to detect rotation angles of the input and output shafts or a relative angle of the input and output shafts;
a signal output section, the signal output section being disposed in the housing and configured to output a signal detected by the rotation angle detecting section to the outside of the housing; and
a memory section disposed within the housing and configured to store a correction value for correcting the signal detected by the rotation angle detecting section, wherein
the signal output section is configured to output the detected signal which is corrected according to the correction value stored in the memory section.

### Claim 11

An actuator for a steering system, comprising:
a steering shaft configured to rotate with rotation of a steering wheel;
a transmission mechanism configured to transmit rotation of the steering shaft to a steered wheel;
a piston disposed in the transmission mechanism; and
a pair of pressure chambers configured to generate a force acting to move the piston, the actuator for a steering system being disposed between a hydraulic power steering system which imparts a steering force to the steered wheel along with the movement of the piston, and the steering wheel,
the actuator for a steering system, further including:
a housing;
an input shaft which is rotatably and axially supported by the housing and disposed in a steering wheel side of the housing;
an output shaft which is rotatably and axially supported by the housing and disposed in the hydraulic power steering system side of the housing;
a torsion bar that connects the input shaft and the output shaft;
a motor rotor disposed around an outer periphery of the output shaft within the housing and configured to rotate integrally with the output shaft;
a motor stator disposed around an outer periphery of the motor rotor within the housing;
a rotation angle detecting section disposed within the housing and configured to detect rotation angles of the input and output shafts or a relative angle of the input and output shafts,
wherein
the output shaft includes a serrated portion connected to a rotary shaft member of the hydraulic power steering system.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The actuator for a steering system according to claim 11, wherein
the rotary shaft member of the hydraulic power steering system comprises a male serration portion; and
the output shaft includes a female serration portion engaged with the male serration portion.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The actuator for a steering system according to claim 12, wherein
the output shaft comprises a slit portion extending around a rotational axis of the output shaft; and
the slit portion is fixed to the rotary shaft member using a band member disposed around an outer periphery side of the output shaft, with the rotary shaft member of the hydraulic power steering system inserted in the output shaft.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The actuator for a steering system according to claim 13, further comprising a seal member disposed between the housing and the output shaft, the seal member being configured to seal a gap between the housing and the output shaft, wherein
the output shaft includes a thin-walled portion disposed between the seal member and the female serration portion in a direction of the rotational axis of the output shaft, the thin-walled portion being formed thinner than the female serration portion in wall thickness of the output shaft in a radial direction of the rotational axis of the output shaft.

### Claim 15

An actuator for a steering system, comprising:
a steering shaft configured to rotate with rotation of a steering wheel;
a transmission mechanism configured to transmit rotation of the steering shaft to a steered wheel;
a piston disposed in the transmission mechanism; and
a pair of pressure chambers configured to generate a force acting to move the piston, the actuator for a steering system being disposed between a hydraulic power steering system which imparts a steering force to the steered wheel along with the movement of the piston, and the steering wheel,
the actuator for a steering system, further including:
a housing;
an input shaft which is rotatably and axially supported by the housing and disposed in a steering wheel side of the housing;
an output shaft which is rotatably and axially supported by the housing and disposed in the hydraulic power steering system side of the housing;
a torsion bar that connects the input shaft and the output shaft;
a motor rotor disposed around an outer periphery of the output shaft within the housing and configured to rotate integrally with the output shaft;
a motor stator disposed around an outer periphery of the motor rotor within the housing;
a rotation angle detecting section disposed within the housing and configured to detect rotation angles of the input and output shafts or a relative angle of the input and output shafts; and
an elastic support member disposed between the housing and the hydraulic power steering system, the elastic support member being configured to elastically support the housing with respect to the hydraulic power steering system.

### Claim 16

An actuator for a steering system, comprising:
a steering shaft configured to rotate with rotation of a steering wheel;
a transmission mechanism configured to transmit rotation of the steering shaft to a steered wheel;
a piston disposed in the transmission mechanism; and
a pair of pressure chambers configured to generate a force acting to move the piston, the actuator for a steering system being disposed between a hydraulic power steering system which imparts a steering force to the steered wheel along with the movement of the piston, and the steering wheel,
the actuator for a steering system, further including:
a housing;
an input shaft which is rotatably and axially supported by the housing and disposed in a steering wheel side of the housing;
an output shaft which is rotatably and axially supported by the housing and disposed in the hydraulic power steering system side of the housing;
a torsion bar that connects the input shaft and the output shaft;
a motor rotor disposed around an outer periphery of the output shaft within the housing and configured to rotate integrally with the output shaft;
a motor stator disposed around an outer periphery of the motor rotor within the housing;
a rotation angle detecting section disposed within the housing and configured to detect rotation angles of the input and output shafts or a relative angle of the input and output shafts; and
a universal joint portion disposed between the output shaft and the rotary shaft member of the hydraulic power steering system.