Electric-assisted power steering apparatus
AssigneeMando Corporation
InventorTae Sik Kim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is an electric assisted power steering apparatus having a structure able to disconnect a worm shaft from any malfunctioning motor of motors connected to opposite end portions of the worm shaft, thereby preventing the worm shaft from rotating heavily or failing to rotate. Even in the case in which the worm shaft is disconnected from the malfunctioning motor, a target rotation speed of the properly-operating motor is increased to prevent sudden changes in auxiliary torque occurring on a steering shaft, thereby promoting the safety of a driver. Torque required for the worm shaft is distributed to the two motors, thereby increasing the rotation speeds of the motors and reducing the size and fabrication costs of the motors.
Claims16
An electric assisted power steering apparatus comprising:
- a worm shaft engaging with a worm wheel;
- connecting members respectively including a connecting shaft and an actuator actuating the connecting shaft, wherein the connecting shafts of the connecting members are provided on opposite end portions of the worm shaft, one of the connecting shafts connects one end portion of the worm shaft and a motor shaft of a first motor, and another connecting shaft connects another end portion of the worm shaft and a motor shaft of a second motor;
- and
- a controller receiving information regarding motor rotation speeds from sensors detecting a rotation speed of the first motor and a rotation speed of the second motor, if a rotation speed of one motor of the first and second motors is different from a predetermined target rotation speed, determines the corresponding motor as malfunctioning, and controls the corresponding actuator to move the corresponding connecting shaft, thereby disconnecting the worm shaft from the malfunctioning motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.