# US 7,406,890 B2 · Steering controller of vehicle

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- Number: US 7,406,890 B2
- Document ID: US7406890B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/516,082
- Filed: 2003-05-30
- Published: 2005-08-18
- Granted: 2008-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2002-05-31
- Assignees: Thk Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Katsuhiro Suda; Takao Nojiri; Naoki Hikosaka; Hidekazu Michioka; Masashi Konomoto; Hiroshi Kaneshige; Masayuki Imamura; Katsuya Iida; Takeomi Kawakami
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7406890B2

## CPC

- B62D 5/008: {Changing the transfer ratio between the steering wheel and the steering gear by variable supply of energy, e.g. by using a superposition gear}
- F16H 25/06: with intermediate members guided along tracks on both rotary members
- Y10T 74/18576: including screw and nut
- Y10T 74/18624: Plural inputs, single output
- Y10T 74/18752: Manually driven
- 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)
- F16H: GEARING
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

There is provided a steering control device for a vehicle of a new structure utilizing a ball screw mechanism for compacting the structure. The steering control device for a vehicle includes a first input shaft 1 connected to a handle, a second input shaft 2 connected to a motor 8, an output shaft 3 connected to a steering wheel, a first transmission 6 for rotating a nut 5 in accordance with the rotational motion of the first input shaft 1 so as to transmit the rotational motion of the first input shaft 1 to the rotational motion of the output shaft 3, and a second transmission 7 for moving the nut 5 linearly in the axial direction with respect to the output shaft 3 in accordance with the rotational motion of the second input shaft 2 so as to transmit the rotational motion of the second input shaft 2 to the rotational motion of the output shaft 3. The center line of the second input shaft and the center line of the output shaft are aligned on substantially the same straight line.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A steering control device for a vehicle comprising:
a housing;
a first input shaft;
a second input shaft;
an output shaft supported by the housing in a state to allow the output shaft to rotate around an axis thereof and limit a linear motion in the axial direction and having a center line aligned on substantially the same straight line on which a center line of second input shaft is aligned, said output shaft being formed with a screw at an outer peripheral surface thereof;
a nut mounted to the output shaft;
a first transmission unit for rotating the nut in accordance with the rotational motion of the first input shalt so as to transmit the rotational motion of the first input shaft to the rotational motion of the output shaft; and
a second transmission unit for linearly moving the nut in the axial direction of the output shaft in accordance with the rotational motion of the second input shaft so as to transmit the rotational motion of the second input shaft to the rotational motion of the output shaft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A steering control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first transmission unit permits the nut to rotate in accordance with the rotational motion of the first input shaft and to linearly move in the axial direction with respect to the first input shaft, and said second transmission unit permits the nut to linearly move in the axial direction with respect to the output shaft and to rotate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

A steering control device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second input shaft has a hollow structure, said second input shaft has an inner peripheral surface to which a thread is formed, said second transmission unit is provided with a hollow thrust transmission member to be fitted to the second input shaft and formed, at an outer peripheral portion thereof, with a thread and a spline mechanism for the trust transmission member secured to the housing and adapted to guide the thrust transmission member so as to linearly move in the axial direction thereof, and said nut disposed inside the hollow thrust transmission member is linearly movable in the axial direction thereof together with the thrust transmission member and is rotatable around the axis with respect to the thrust transmission member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2)

A steering control device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said first transmission unit is provided with a spine shaft for the first input shaft to be connected either one of the first input shaft and the nut and a spine outer cylinder to be connected another one of the first input shaft and the nut so as to be fitted to the spine shaft for the first input shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A steering control device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a number of balls are interposed between the nut and the output shaft, and the thrust transmission member slides with respect to the second input shaft without interposing a number of rolling balls between the thrust transmission member and the second input shaft.

### Claim 6

A steering control device for a vehicle comprising:
a housing;
a first input shaft;
a hollow second input shaft;
an output shaft supported by the housing in a state to allow the output shaft to rotate around an axis thereof and limit a linear motion in the axial direction and having a center line aligned on substantially the same straight line on which a center line of the second input shaft is aligned, said output shaft being formed with a screw at an outer peripheral surface thereof;
a nut mounted to the output shaft;
a spline mechanism for the first input shaft for rotating the nut in accordance with the rotational motion of the first input shaft and linearly moving the nut in the axial direction with respect to the first input shaft;
a hollow thrust transmission member fitted into the second input shaft and formed, at an outer peripheral surface thereof, with a thread; and
another spine mechanism for the thrust transmission member fixed to the housing and adapted to guide the linear motion of the thrust transmission member in the axial direction thereof,
wherein the nut disposed inside the thrust transmission member is moved linearly in the axial direction of the thrust transmission member together therewith and rotated around the axis of the thrust transmission member.