Steering system having an interlocking mechanism
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsFrank Geyer, Maged Radamis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering system capable of mechanically coupling together a first steering motor and a second steering motor to form a mechanically coupled steering motor unit so that one steering motor is operable to move both a first rack and a second rack together with minimal lost motion between the mechanically coupled steering motor unit, the first rack and the second rack.
Claims24
A steering system comprising:
- a housing having a first end and a second end;
- a first steering motor and a second steering motor operatively connected to the housing;
- a first gear set operatively connected to the first steering motor and having a first screw device operatively connected thereto;
- a second gear set operatively connected to the second steering motor and having a second screw device operatively connected thereto;
- a first rack operatively connected to the first gear set and slidably connected to the first end of the housing;
- a second rack operatively connected to the second gear set and slidably connected to the second end of the housing;
- a differential operatively connected to the housing and capable of selectively mechanically coupling the first steering motor and the second steering motor together to form a mechanically coupled steering motor unit;
- and
- the mechanically coupled steering motor unit operable to allow the mechanically coupled steering motor unit to move both the first rack and the second rack together with minimal lost motion between the mechanically coupled steering motor unit, the first rack and the second rack.
A method for steering a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a housing with a first end and a second end, a first steering motor operatively connected to the housing, a first rack operatively connected to the first steering motor, the first rack slidably connected to the first end of the housing, a second steering motor operatively connected to the housing, a second rack operatively connected to the second steering motor, the second rack slidably connected to the second end of the housing, a differential operatively connected to the housing and capable of mechanically coupling the first steering motor and the second steering motor together;
- detecting a failure of one of the first steering motor and the second steering motor;
- coupling the operable steering motor and the inoperable steering motor together through the differential to form a mechanically coupled steering motor unit;
- and
- utilizing the mechanically coupled steering motor unit to move the first rack and the second rack together with minimal lost motion between the mechanically coupled steering motor unit, the first rack and the second rack.
A method of torque sharing for a steering system having a housing with an outer cornering end and an inner cornering end, a outer cornering steering motor operatively connected to the housing, an outer cornering rack operatively connected to the outer cornering steering motor, the outer cornering rack slidably connected to the outer cornering end of the housing, an inner cornering steering motor operatively connected to the housing, an inner cornering rack operatively connected to the inner cornering steering motor, the inner cornering rack slidably connected to the inner cornering end of the housing, a differential operatively connected to the housing and capable of selectively mechanically coupling the first steering motor and the second steering motor together, said method comprising:
- detecting a outer cornering steering load;
- detecting a inner cornering steering load;
- determining whether the outer cornering steering load is greater than the inner cornering steering load;
- determining whether the difference between the outer cornering steering load and the inner cornering steering load is above a given threshold value;
- and
- mechanically coupling the outer cornering steering motor and the inner cornering steering motor through the differential to provide added torque to the outer cornering rack.
A method of operating a steering system having a housing with a first end and a second end, a first steering motor operatively connected to the housing, a first rack operatively connected to the first steering motor, a second steering motor operatively connected to the housing, a second rack operatively connected to the second steering motor, and a differential operatively connected to the housing and capable of selectively mechanically coupling the first steering motor and the second steering motor together, said method comprising:
- detecting an operator desired rapid deceleration condition;
- mechanically coupling the first steering motor and the second steering motor through the differential to form a mechanically coupled steering motor unit;
- and
- utilizing the mechanically coupled steering motor unit to move the first rack and the second rack in such a fashion to create an increased toe-in condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.