# US 12,179,855 B2 · Self-power-assisted-steering steering gearbox

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- Number: US 12,179,855 B2
- Document ID: US12179855B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/644,767
- Filed: 2024-04-24
- Published: 2024-10-31
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2023-04-26
- Assignees: Dongguan Excar Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd
- Applicants: Dongguan Excar Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd
- Inventors: Jianhui Zhou; Runguang Zhou; Bo Wu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179855B2

## CPC

- B62D 5/0463: {calculating assisting torque from the motor based on driver input}
- B62D 5/0421: {Electric motor acting on or near steering gear}
- B62D 5/0469: {End-of-stroke control}
- B62D 3/12: of rack-and-pinion type
- B62D 5/0454: {Worm gears}
- B62D 6/10: characterised by means for sensing {or determining} torque
- 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 a self-power-assisted-steering steering gearbox, including a steering gearbox body. The steering gearbox body is connected to a steering wheel and includes a pair of steering track rods arranged coaxially. The pair of steering track rods is connected on end portions close to each other through a steering rack. A shaft sleeve is sleeved outside the steering rack. The steering gearbox further includes a gear box, where a gear train is arranged in the gear box, and an axial direction of the gear train and an axial direction of the steering rack are obliquely arranged in a cross manner; a torque sensor; and a power-assisted motor, where a motor shaft of the power-assisted motor is partially arranged in the gear box in a penetrating manner, and an axis of the motor shaft and the axial direction of the gear train are obliquely arranged in a cross manner.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A self-power-assisted-steering steering gearbox, comprising a steering gearbox body, the steering gearbox body being connected to a steering wheel, wherein
the steering gearbox body comprises a pair of steering track rods arranged coaxially, the pair of steering track rods is connected on end portions close to each other through a steering rack, and a shaft sleeve is sleeved outside the steering rack;
the steering gearbox further comprises:
a gear box, wherein the gear box penetrates through the shaft sleeve, a gear train is arranged in the gear box, and an axial direction of the gear train and an axial direction of the steering rack are obliquely arranged in a cross manner;
a torque sensor, wherein the torque sensor has an input end and an output end, the input end thereof is arranged in the gear box and is configured to acquire torque data in the gear box, and the output end thereof is configured to output torque information collected at the input end; and
a power-assisted motor, wherein a motor shaft of the power-assisted motor is partially arranged in the gear box in a penetrating manner, and an axis of the motor shaft and the axial direction of the gear train are obliquely arranged in a cross manner;
the gear train comprises:
an input shaft arranged on an outer side of the gear box, wherein in response to a steering wheel, the input shaft receives a torque from the steering wheel and transfers the torque to the gear train;
a first output shaft arranged in the gear box and connected to the input shaft, wherein the first output shaft is coaxially connected to the input shaft, and the torque sensor is configured to acquire a torque of the first output shaft and to output the torque to the power-assisted motor;
a second input shaft coaxially connected to the first output shaft, wherein a first drive gear is sleeved outside the second input shaft, and the first drive gear is in meshing connection to the motor shaft;
the second input shaft is rotationally connected to the first output shaft and rotates coaxially with the first input shaft through a movable limiting mechanism;
wherein the movable limiting mechanism is configured to limit a rotating angle of the second input shaft and has a dead point; when a rotating angle of the steering wheel is larger than a preset maximum torque, the second input shaft rotates with the first output shaft; the movable limiting mechanism and the torque sensor are arranged in a same cavity, and the movable limiting mechanism comprises a movable plate and a limiting plate; the movable plate is connected to the first output shaft; a rotating plate is connected to the second input shaft; when the movable plate is located between the limiting plate and a housing of a drive cavity, the movable plate rotates with the first output shaft and is not in direct drive connection to the second input shaft; the movable plate is slidably arranged on a shaft body of the first output shaft and moves in a shaft length direction of the first output shaft; a plurality of grooves are formed in the rotating plate; the size of each of the grooves corresponds to the size of the movable plate; and when the movable plate moves to the groove and is as high as the limiting plate, a direct rotary connecting relationship is formed between the first output shaft and the second input shaft; and
a second drive gear coaxially connected to the second input shaft, wherein the second drive gear is in meshing connection to the steering rack.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The self-power-assisted-steering steering gearbox according to claim 1, wherein the pair of steering track rods is connected to the end portions connected by the steering rack through spherical universal joints.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The self-power-assisted-steering steering gearbox according to claim 1, wherein a flexible folding sleeve is partially sleeved on a periphery of each of the steering track rods.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The self-power-assisted-steering steering gearbox according to claim 3, wherein both sides of the flexible folding sleeve are provided with openings and the flexible folding sleeve is fixedly connected to the steering track rod through a ribbon.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The self-power-assisted-steering steering gearbox according to claim 1, wherein at least one fixing seat is arranged on a side of the shaft sleeve away from a drive motor, and the fixing seat is configured to fix the steering gearbox body to a carrier.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The self-power-assisted-steering steering gearbox according to claim 5, wherein there are two fixed shafts symmetrically distributed about a center line of the shaft sleeve.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A vehicle chassis, comprising the steering gearbox according to claim 1.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A vehicle, comprising the steering gearbox according to claim 1.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The vehicle according to claim 8, comprising an electric cart and an electric sightseeing vehicle.