# US 12,759,627 B2 · Steering system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,627 B2 - Document ID: US12759627B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/279,740 - Filed: 2021-03-01 - Published: 2024-04-25 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-01 - Assignees: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Applicants: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Inventors: Juergen Bohn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759627B2 ## CPC - B62D 7/15: characterised by means varying the ratio between the steering angles of the steered wheels {(B62D7/148 takes precedence)} - B62D 15/021: {Determination of steering angle} - B62D 5/001: {Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup} - 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 A steering system for a vehicle including at least one pair of wheel units which can be actuated and deflected independently of each other. Each wheel unit is paired with at least one sensor device for detecting a deviation from a specified deflection of the wheel units relative to each other, and each wheel unit is paired with at least one actuation device in order to actuate the wheel units. At least one control unit is designed to actuate the actuation devices of the wheel units when the sensor devices detect a specified deviation of the specified deflection of the wheel units relative to each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steering system for a vehicle, comprising: at least one pair of wheel units configured to be actuated and deflected independently of each other; each wheel unit being paired with a respective at least one sensor device for detecting a deviation from a specified deflection of the wheel units relative to each other; at least one wheel unit being paired with at least one actuation device for actuating the wheel unit; and at least one control unit configured to actuate the at least one actuation device when the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit detect a specified deviation of the specified deflection of the wheel units relative to each other; wherein at least one flexible connecting means is provided between the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit to deliver a measured variable that can be detected by the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit when the deflection of the wheel units relative to each other exceeds a specified deviation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steering system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one connecting means provides a tensile or compressive load to the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit when the deflection of the wheel units relative to each other exceeds a specified deviation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The steering system according to claim 1, wherein at least two connecting means are provided between the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit, wherein each connecting means is anchored on one side and is configured on a second side to provide a tensile or compressive load to a respective at least one sensor device when the deflection of the wheel units relative to each other exceeds a specified deviation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The steering system according to claim 1, wherein the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit comprise sensor means configured to detect a respective deflection of a wheel unit and to transmit same by means of at least one of a wireless or wired signal connection to the control unit or to further sensor devices. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The steering system according to claim 1, wherein the steering system is a steer-by-wire steering system and does not include a central control unit for the wheel units. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The steering system according to claim 1, wherein the wheel units are not connected via a mechanical steering means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The steering system according to claim 1, wherein the steering system comprises at least a first pair of wheel units and at least a second pair of wheel units, and wherein one of the pairs of wheel units is actuated depending on the deflection of the wheel units of the other pair of wheel units. ### Claim 8 A vehicle, comprising at least one steering system, the steering system including: at least one pair of wheel units configured to be actuated and deflected independently of each other; each wheel unit being paired with a respective at least one sensor device for detecting a deviation from a specified deflection of the wheel units relative to each other; and at least one wheel unit being paired with at least one actuation device for actuating the wheel unit; at least one control unit configured to actuate the at least one actuation device when the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit detect a specified deviation of the specified deflection of the wheel units relative to each other; wherein at least one flexible connecting means is provided between the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit to deliver a measured variable that can be detected by the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit when the deflection of the wheel units relative to each other exceeds a specified deviation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the at least one connecting means provides a tensile or compressive load to the respect at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit when the deflection of the wheel units relative to each other exceeds a specified deviation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein at least two connecting means are provided between the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit, wherein each connecting means is anchored on a first side and configured on a second side to provide a tensile or compressive load to a respective sensor device when the deflection of the wheel units relative to each other exceeds a specified deviation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit comprise sensor means which are configured to detect a respective deflection of a wheel unit and to transmit same by means of at least one of a wireless or wired signal connection to the control unit or to further sensor devices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the steering system is a steer-by-wire steering system and does not include a central control unit for the wheel units. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the wheel units are not connected via a mechanical steering means. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the steering system comprises at least a first pair of wheel units and at least a second pair of wheel units, and wherein one of the pairs of wheel units is actuated depending on the deflection of the wheel units of the other pair of wheel units. ### Claim 15 A method of use of a steering system for a vehicle comprising: providing a steering system having: at least one pair of wheel units that can be actuated and deflected independently of each other; each wheel unit being paired with a respective at least one sensor device for detecting a deviation from a specified deflection of the wheel units relative to each other; and at least one of the wheel units being paired with at least one actuation device for actuating the at least one wheel unit; at least one control unit configured to actuate the at least one actuation device when the sensor devices detect a specified deviation of the specified deflection of the at least one wheel unit relative to the other; at least one flexible connecting means between the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit to deliver a measured variable that can be detected by the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit when the deflection of the wheel units relative to each other exceeds a specified deviation; detecting a deviation from a specified deflection of the wheel units relative to each other with the respective at least one sensor device paired with each wheel unit based on the measured variable delivered by the at least one connecting means; and actuating the at least one actuation device in response to detecting the deviation to deflect at least one of the wheel units.