Assisted steering apparatus and associated systems and methods
AssigneeAg Leader Technology
InventorBrett Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure is related to an assisted steering unit. In various implementations the assisted steering unit includes a motor drive unit and a ring assembly constructed and arranged to couple to and rotate a steering wheel. The assisted steering unit may include a ring assembly where the ring assembly includes a housing, a ring gear disposed within the housing, an anti-rotation pin operatively engaged with the housing. The assisted steering unit may also include a motor drive unit (MDU) including a motor and a drive gear rotatably engaged with the motor. The ring assembly and motor drive unit are constructed and arranged to be releasably engaged to each other.
Claims20
An assisted steering unit, comprising:
- (a) a ring assembly comprising:
- (i) a housing;
- (ii) a stationary ring;
- (iii) a rotatable ring fitted to the stationary ring;
- (iv) a ring gear attached to the rotatable ring disposed within the housing;
- (v) an anti-rotation pin operatively engaged with the housing;
- and
- (vi) a cartridge comprising at least one spring and a roller configured to maintain operational contact between the ring gear and the roller;
- and
- (b) a motor drive unit (MDU) comprising:
- (i) a motor;
- and
- (ii) a drive gear rotatably engaged with the motor,
- wherein the ring assembly and motor drive unit are constructed and arranged to be releasably engaged to each other.
An assisted steering system comprising:
- (a) a first ring unit configured to be operatively engaged with a first steering column of a first vehicle;
- (b) a second ring unit configured to be operatively engaged with a second steering column of a second vehicle;
- (c) a motor drive unit (MDU) configured to be releasably engaged with the first ring unit and the second ring unit when not engaged with the first ring unit;
- (d) a power supply in communication with the MDU;
- and
- (e) a cartridge comprising at least one spring and a roller, wherein the cartridge is configured to maintain operational contact between first ring unit and the MDU,
- wherein the MDU controls motion of the first ring unit, and wherein the first ring unit is configured to turn a steering wheel of the first vehicle.
An assisted steering system comprising:
- (a) a first ring unit configured to be operatively engaged with a first steering column of a first vehicle, the first ring unit comprising:
- (i) a stationary ring;
- (ii) a rotatable ring fitted to the stationary ring;
- (iii) a ring gear attached to the rotatable ring, wherein the stationary ring and the rotatable ring form a housing for the ring gear;
- and
- (iv) a cartridge comprising at least one spring and a roller configured to maintain operational contact between the ring gear and the roller;
- (b) a motor drive unit (MDU) configured to be releasably engaged with the first ring unit;
- and
- (c) a power supply in communication with the MDU,
- wherein the MDU controls motion of the first ring unit, and wherein the first ring unit is configured to turn a steering wheel of the first vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.