# US 9,519,748 B2 · Assistance device for steering device and method of assisting steering device design

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- Number: US 9,519,748 B2
- Document ID: US9519748B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/812,084
- Filed: 2012-06-20
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-29
- Assignees: Nsk Ltd.
- Applicants: Masaki Tomaru; Naoki Sawada; Akira Ichikawa; Ryou Oosawa
- Inventors: Masaki Tomaru; Naoki Sawada; Akira Ichikawa; Ryou Oosawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519748B2

## CPC

- G06F 30/17: Mechanical parametric or variational design
- B62D 1/16: Steering columns
- B62D 1/20: Connecting steering column to steering gear
- G06F 30/15: Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
- B62D 1/192: {Yieldable or collapsible columns}
- G06F 2111/20: Configuration CAD, e.g. designing by assembling or positioning modules selected from libraries of predesigned modules
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- 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 design assistance device for a steering device and a method of assisting a steering device design which assists a design of a steering device including an intermediate shaft by using existing components of a tube yoke and a shaft yoke. A design assistance device 1 for a steering device displays a select button on a display device when a fitting length of the combination of a candidate component of the tube yoke and a candidate component of the shaft yoke satisfies a condition of a fitting length. When the select button is selected, a control device 4 may receive information in which a drawing selected by a designer is determined.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A design assistance device for a steering device, the design assistance device assisting a design of an intermediate shaft module including a tube yoke and a shaft yoke connected to the tube yoke, the design assistance device for the steering device comprising:
a storage unit which stores at least
joint length information having a joint length as a distance between a first connection reference point where the intermediate shaft module is connected to a column yoke and a second connection reference point where the intermediate shaft module is connected to a pinion side yoke and
a fitting length specification as a condition of a fitting length where the tube yoke and the shaft yoke are connected to each other,
tube yoke information of the tube yokes, and
shaft yoke information of the shaft yokes;
a candidate component extraction unit which extracts a candidate tube yoke having a length less than the joint length and extracts a candidate shaft yoke having a length less than the joint length, based on the joint length information, the shaft yoke information, and the tube yoke information;
a calculation unit which calculates, according to a calculation instruction, the fitting length of a candidate combination of the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke that are disposed between the first connection reference point and the second connection reference point; and
a display unit,
wherein, when the fitting length of the candidate combination including the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke that fits inside of the candidate tube yoke satisfies the fitting length specification, the candidate combination is stored in the storage unit, and the display unit displays an index,
the candidate tube yoke includes:
a tube yoke fitting leading end that is a leading point of a tube yoke fitting portion; and
a tube yoke fitting tail end that is a tail point of the tube yoke fitting portion at an inner peripheral side of a cylinder of the tube yoke, the candidate shaft yoke includes:
a shaft yoke fitting leading end that is a leading point of a shaft yoke fitting portion; and
a shaft yoke fitting tail end that is a tail point of the shaft yoke fitting portion, and
the display unit displays the index when the fining length of the candidate combination satisfies the fitting length specification whether positions of the tube yoke fitting leading end and the shaft yoke fitting leading end match each other or not.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The design assistance device for the steering device according to claim 1,
wherein the storage unit stores a collision-contraction length specification as a condition of a collision-contraction length that is a distance in which the fitting between the tube yoke and the shaft yoke is released and the shaft yoke is movable inside the tube yoke, and
wherein the display unit displays an index when the collision-contraction length of the candidate combination of the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke satisfies the collision-contraction length specification.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The design assistance device for the steering device according to claim 2,
wherein the calculation unit gives a selection rank to each of the candidate combinations in accordance with priority rank information stored in the storage unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The design assistance device for the steering device according to claim 1,
wherein the display unit displays a drawing of the candidate tube yoke or the candidate shaft yoke between the first connection reference point and the second connection reference point based on selection information of an input unit that selects the candidate tube yoke or the candidate shaft yoke extracted by the candidate component extraction unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The design assistance device for the steering device according to claim 4,
wherein the display unit displays information of the candidate combination, which includes the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke stored in the storage unit in a three-dimensional space in which the longitudinal direction, the vertical direction, and the transverse direction of a vehicle equipped with the steering device are defined.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The design assistance device for the steering device according to claim 4,
wherein the calculation unit gives a selection rank to each of the candidate combinations in accordance with priority rank information stored in the storage unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The design assistance device for the steering device according to claim 1,
wherein the display unit displays information of the candidate combination, which includes the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke stored in the storage unit, in a three-dimensional space in which the longitudinal direction, the vertical direction, and the transverse direction of a vehicle equipped with the steering device are defined.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The design assistance device for the steering device according to claim 7,
wherein the calculation unit gives a selection rank to each of the candidate combinations in accordance with priority rank information stored in the storage unit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The design assistance device for the steering device according to claim 1,
wherein the calculation unit gives a selection rank to each of the candidate combinations in accordance with priority rank information stored in the storage unit.

### Claim 10

A design assistance device for a steering device, the design assistance device assisting a design of an intermediate shaft module including a tube yoke and a shaft yoke connected to the tube yoke, the design assistance device for the steering device comprising;
a storage unit which stores at least
joint length information having a joint length as a distance between a first connection reference point where the intermediate shaft module is connected to a column yoke and a second connection reference point where the intermediate shaft module is connected to a pinion side yoke and
a fitting length specification as a condition of a fitting length where the tube yoke and the shaft yoke are connected to each other,
tube yoke information of the tube yokes, and
shaft yoke information of the shaft yokes;
a candidate component extraction unit which extracts a candidate tube yoke having a length less than the joint length and extracts a candidate shaft yoke having a length less than the joint length, based on the joint length information, the shaft yoke information, and the tube yoke information;
a calculation unit which calculates, according to a calculation instruction, the fitting length of a candidate combination of the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke that are disposed between the first connection reference point and the second connection reference point; and
a display unit,
wherein, when the fitting length of the candidate combination including the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke that fits inside of the candidate tube yoke satisfies the fitting length specification, the candidate combination is stored in the storage unit, and the display unit displays an index,
the storage unit stores a collision-contraction length specification as a condition of a collision-contraction length that is a distance in which the fitting between the tube yoke and the shaft yoke is released and the shaft yoke is movable inside the tube yoke,
the candidate tube yoke includes:
a tube yoke fitting leading end that is a leading point of a tube yoke fitting portion; and
a tube yoke fitting tail end that is a tail point of the tube yoke fitting portion at an inner peripheral side of a cylinder of the tube yoke, the candidate component of the shaft yoke includes:
a shaft yoke fitting leading end that is a leading point of a shaft yoke fitting portion; and
a shaft yoke fitting tail end that is a tail point of the shaft yoke fitting portion, and
the display unit displays the index when the fitting length satisfies the fitting length specification whether positions of the tube yoke fitting leading end and the shaft yoke fitting leading end match each other or not.

### Claim 11

A method of assisting a steering device design, which causes a computer to assist a design of an intermediate shaft module including a tube yoke and a shaft yoke connected to the tube yoke, the method of assisting the steering device design comprising:
acquiring joint length information having a joint length as a distance between a first connection reference point where the intermediate shaft module is connected to a column yoke and a second connection reference point where the intermediate shaft module is connected to a pinion side yoke;
acquiring a fitting length specification as a condition of a fitting length where the tube yoke and the shaft yoke are connected to each other;
acquiring tube yoke information of the tube yoke and shaft yoke information of the shaft yoke;
extracting a candidate tube yoke having a length less than the joint length and a candidate shaft yoke having a length less than the joint length, based on the joint length information, the shaft yoke information, and the tube yoke information; and
calculating, according to a calculation instruction, the fitting length of a candidate combination of the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke that are disposed between the first connection reference point and the second connection reference point,
wherein, when the fitting length of the candidate combination including the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke that fits inside of the candidate tube yoke satisfies the fitting length specification, the candidate combination is stored in a storage unit, and a display unit displays an index,
the candidate tube yoke includes:
a tube yoke fitting leading end that is a leading point of a tube yoke fitting portion, and
a tube yoke fitting tail end that is a tail point of the tube yoke fitting portion at an inner peripheral side of a cylinder of the tube yoke,
the candidate shaft yoke includes:
a shaft yoke fitting leading end that is a leading point of a shaft yoke fitting portion; and
a shaft yoke fitting tail end that is a tail point of the shaft yoke fitting portion, and
the display unit displays the index when the fitting length of the candidate combination satisfies the fitting length specification whether positions of the tube yoke fitting leading end and the shaft yoke fitting leading end match each other or not.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of assisting the steering device design according to claim 11, further comprising storing a collision-contraction length specification as a condition of a collision-contraction length that is a distance in which the fitting between the tube yoke and the shaft yoke is released and the shaft yoke is movable inside the tube yoke,
wherein the display unit displays an index when the collision-contraction length of the candidate combination of the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke satisfies the collision-contraction length specification.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of assisting the steering device design according to claim 12, further comprising:
determining a prioritized candidate combination with respect to the candidate combinations including the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke stored in the storage unit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of assisting the steering device design according to claim 12, further comprising:
displaying information of the candidate combination, which includes the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke stored in the storage unit, in a three-dimensional space in which the longitudinal direction, the vertical direction, and the transverse direction of a vehicle equipped with the steering device are defined.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of assisting the steering device design according to claim 11, further comprising:
determining a prioritized candidate combination with respect to the candidate combinations including the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke stored in the storage unit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of assisting the steering device design according to claim 15, further comprising:
displaying information of the candidate combination, which includes the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke stored in the storage unit, in a three-dimensional space in which the longitudinal direction, the vertical direction, and the transverse direction of a vehicle equipped with the steering device are defined.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of assisting the steering device design according to claim 11, further comprising:
displaying information of the candidate combination, which includes the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke stored in the storage unit in a three-dimensional space in which the longitudinal direction, the vertical direction, and the transverse direction of a vehicle equipped with the steering device are defined.

### Claim 18

A method of assisting a steering device design, which causes a computer to assist a design of an intermediate shaft module including a tube yoke and a shaft yoke connected to the tube yoke, the method of assisting the steering device design comprising:
acquiring joint length information having a joint length as a distance between a first connection reference point where the intermediate shaft module is connected to a column yoke and a second connection reference point where the intermediate shaft module is connected to a pinion side yoke;
acquiring a fitting length specification as a condition of a fitting length where the tube yoke and the shaft yoke are connected to each other;
acquiring tube yoke information of the tube yoke and shaft yoke information of the shaft yoke;
extracting a candidate tube yoke having a length less than the joint length and a candidate shaft yoke having a length less than the joint length, based on the joint length information, the shaft yoke information, and the tube yoke information; and
calculating, according to a calculation instruction, the fitting length of a candidate combination of the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke that are disposed between the first connection reference point and the second connection reference point,
wherein, when the fitting length of the candidate combination including the candidate tube yoke and the candidate shaft yoke that fits inside of the candidate tube yoke satisfies the fitting length specification, the candidate combination is stored in a storage unit, and a display unit displays an index,
the storage unit stores a collision-contraction length specification as a condition of a collision-contraction length that is a distance in which the fitting between the tube yoke and the shaft yoke is released and the shaft yoke is movable inside the tube yoke,
the candidate tube yoke includes:
a tube yoke fitting leading end that is a leading point of a tube yoke fitting portion; and
a tube yoke fitting tail end that is a tail point of the tube yoke fitting portion at an inner peripheral side of a cylinder of the tube yoke,
the candidate component of the shaft yoke includes:
a shaft yoke fitting leading end that is a leading point of a shaft yoke fitting portion; and
a shaft yoke fitting tail end that is a tail point of the shaft yoke fitting portion, and
the display unit displays the index when the fitting length satisfies the fitting length specification whether positions of the tube yoke fitting leading end and the shaft yoke fitting leading end match each other or not.