Control Device for a Vehicle Having a Steering Device, Steering Device and Method for Heating a Working Medium in a Preheating Phase for a Steering Device

A control apparatus for a vehicle with a steering device that includes:

• a pump device with a pump for pumping a working medium to a first output port or a second output port of the pump device, and an electric motor for driving the pump,
• a transmission with an input shaft that is couplable to a steering wheel and an output shaft that is couplable to a steering column lever, a movable transmission element for transmitting a torque from the input shaft to the output shaft in a first direction and a second direction, and a first working medium port and a second working medium port, wherein the first working medium port is connected to the first output port for moving the transmission element in the first direction using the working medium and the second working medium port is connected to the second output port for moving the transmission element in the second direction using the working medium, and
• a valve that is connected between the first output port and the second output port,
• wherein the apparatus comprises:
• a control unit configured to:
• provide a motor signal to the electric motor of the steering device to operate the electric motor in a preheating phase for heating the working medium;
• and
• provide a valve opening signal to the valve for opening the valve of the steering device.

A steering device for a vehicle, comprising:

• a pump device with a pump for pumping a working medium to a first output port or a second output port of the pump device and an electric motor for driving the pump;
• a transmission with an input shaft that is couplable to a steering wheel and an output shaft that is couplable to a steering column lever, a transmission element movable for transmitting a torque from the input shaft to the output shaft in a first direction and a second direction, and a first working medium port and a second working medium port, wherein the first working medium port for moving the transmission element in the first direction using the working medium is connected to the first output port and the second working medium port for moving the transmission element in the second direction using the working medium is connected to the second output port;
• a valve connected between the first output port and the second output port;
• and
• a control unit configured to:
• provide a motor signal to the electric motor of the steering device to operate the electric motor in a preheating phase for heating the working medium, and
• provide a valve opening signal to the valve for opening the valve of the steering device.

A method of operating a steering device having:

• a pump device with a pump for pumping a working medium to a first output port or a second output port of the pump device and an electric motor for driving the pump;
• a transmission with an input shaft that is couplable to a steering wheel and an output shaft that is couplable to a steering column lever, a transmission element movable for transmitting a torque from the input shaft to the output shaft in a first direction and a second direction, and a first working medium port and a second working medium port, wherein the first working medium port for moving the transmission element in the first direction using the working medium is connected to the first output port and the second working medium port for moving the transmission element in the second direction using the working medium is connected to the second output port;
• a valve connected between the first output port and the second output port;
• and
• a control unit,
• the method comprising:
• providing, via the control unit, a motor signal to the electric motor of the steering device for operating the electric motor;
• and
• providing, via the control unit, a valve opening signal to the valve of the steering device for opening the valve.