JP2001151129A - Vehicle steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize a connecting means which mechanically connects a steering shaft to the steering mechanism of a link-less steering device when a steering control part for driving the steering mechanism fails. SOLUTION: This steering device includes: a rotor 6 having a vane 60 and a holding hole 61 therein for holding the vane 60, between the control shaft not mechanically connected to the steering mechanism and the steering mechanism; a casing 7 with the vane 60 therein and having a liquid chamber 70 into which liquid is introduced and a circulating liquid passage 8 communicating with the liquid chamber 70 via a pair of suction and discharge openings 70a and 70b, the casing 7 being fitted around the rotor 6 in such a way as to be capable of rotation relative thereto; and a pair of solenoid valves connected to the steering control part and adapted to stop the flow of the liquid in the circulating liquid passage in the event of the failure of the steering control part, the steering control part controlling, according to the operation of the steering wheel, the drive of a steering motor linked to the steering mechanism. The rotor 6 and the casing 7 are integrated together via both the liquid in the liquid chamber 70 whose flow is stopped and the vane 60.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle steering system in which a steering shaft connected to steering means such as steered wheels is not mechanically connected to a steering mechanism for changing the direction of wheels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle steering system includes a link type in which a steering shaft connected to steering means such as steered wheels is mechanically connected to a steering mechanism, and a steering system in which the steering shaft is mechanically connected to the steering mechanism. And linkless type that is not connected to

The latter linkless type is disclosed in, for example,
As described in JP-A-153379, the steering shaft is separated from the steering mechanism, a steering motor as a steering actuator is provided in the middle of the steering mechanism, and the actual steering angle of the steering wheel and the target A steering control unit using a microprocessor controls the driving of the steering motor in accordance with the deviation from the steering angle, so that the steering wheel is adjusted to the target steering angle.

[0004] In addition, when the steering mechanism cannot be driven due to failure of driving means such as the steering control unit for driving the steering mechanism in accordance with steering of a steered wheel, the steering mechanism cannot be driven. 2. Description of the Related Art There has been known a vehicle steering system including a connecting means for mechanically connecting a steering shaft to the steering mechanism.

[0005] As a connecting means for connecting the vehicle steering system, an electromagnetic clutch or a frictional disk-shaped friction clutch is used. The electromagnetic clutch is configured such that the electromagnet is not excited when the driving means is normal, and the transmission of torque is interrupted, and the electromagnetic clutch is energized when the driving means fails and transmits torque from the steering shaft to the steering mechanism. It has a configuration.

Further, the friction clutch has a structure in which when the drive means breaks down, the friction surface is brought into contact with the force of a spring, and when the drive means is normal, the electromagnet is excited to disengage the friction surface. .

[0007]

However, when the steering mechanism cannot be driven due to a failure of the power supply system of the steering control unit constituting the driving means, steering assist by the steering motor cannot be performed. Since a considerably large steering torque is applied to the steered wheels, a relatively large torque transmission capacity is required for the electromagnetic clutch and the friction clutch.
Therefore, the size of the electromagnetic clutch and the friction clutch that rotate in conjunction with the steering shaft becomes large, and the whole of the vehicle steering system becomes large, and the steering characteristics of the steering means deteriorate.

In addition, when the vehicle power supply system breaks down due to a rupture of the engine starting battery or the like, the electromagnetic clutch does not perform the function of transmitting torque. Further, in the case of the disk-shaped friction clutch, when the driving means is normal, it is necessary to overcome the force of the spring and maintain the detached state of the friction surface,
Constant current is always required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular steering system that can solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0010]

A steering apparatus for a vehicle according to a first aspect of the present invention provides a steering shaft supported on a stationary member without being mechanically connected to a steering mechanism for changing the direction of wheels. Connecting means for connecting the steering shaft to the steering mechanism when the steering mechanism cannot be driven due to failure of the drive means for driving the steering mechanism in accordance with steering of the steering means connected to the steering mechanism In the vehicle steering system provided with the above, the connecting means has a rotor having one of a liquid chamber into which a liquid is introduced and a connecting body arranged to be able to move into the liquid chamber, and the other has the rotor Are provided with a casing fitted so as to enable relative rotation, and a blocking member for blocking the flow of the liquid in the liquid chamber when the failure occurs.

A vehicle steering system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a steering wheel connected to a steering shaft rotatably supported by a stationary member without being mechanically connected to a steering mechanism for changing the direction of wheels. A steering device for a vehicle, comprising a connecting means for connecting the steering shaft to the steering mechanism when the steering mechanism cannot be driven due to a failure of the driving means for driving the steering mechanism in accordance with the steering of the vehicle. In the above, the driving means includes a steering motor connected to the steering mechanism and a steering control unit for driving and controlling the steering motor in accordance with the steering of the steered wheels, and the connecting means includes a steering shaft. A vane movable in the radial direction with respect to the center of rotation, a rotor having a holding hole for holding the vane, the vane being disposed, a liquid chamber into which liquid is introduced, and a pair of suction and discharge ports in the liquid chamber. Circulating through A casing having a fluid passage, which is fitted to the rotor so as to be capable of relative rotation, and a pair of electromagnetic members connected to the steering control unit and for preventing the flow of liquid in the circulating fluid passage when the failure occurs And a valve.

According to the first and sixth aspects of the present invention, the casing is provided on one of the steering shaft and the steering mechanism, and the rotor is provided on the other. Thereby, the liquid in the liquid chamber flows, and the relative rotation of the rotor and the casing is possible. Further, when the steering mechanism cannot be driven due to the failure of the driving means, the flow of the liquid in the liquid chamber is prevented by the blocking body (or the solenoid valve), and the liquid is connected to the linking body (or the vane). ) Is prevented, the rotor and the casing can be integrated with each other through the liquid and the link (or vane), and the left / right rotation of the steering shaft is transmitted to the steering mechanism via the rotor and the casing. be able to. In this transmission, the rotation of the steering shaft is transmitted to the left / right without causing a slip because the liquid is prevented from flowing in the liquid chamber and the link (or vane) disposed in the liquid chamber is mediated. be able to. Therefore, the entirety of the connecting means and the vehicle steering apparatus can be reduced in size as compared with a conventional apparatus using an electromagnetic clutch and a friction clutch.

A vehicle steering apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a circulating fluid passage communicating with the fluid chamber is provided, and the blocking body is provided in the circulating fluid passage.

In the second invention, when the driving means is normal, the liquid in the liquid chamber flows through the circulating liquid passage and the liquid chamber. Further, when the steering mechanism cannot be driven due to the failure of the driving means, the blocking body closes the circulating liquid path and prevents the flow of the liquid, so that the flow of the liquid can be easily prevented. .

In the steering apparatus for a vehicle according to a third aspect of the present invention, the connecting member uses a vane movable in a radial direction with respect to the center of the relative rotation, and the vane contacts an inner surface of the liquid chamber. It is characterized by doing.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the connecting means can be constituted by using the vane pump, the liquid can be easily sealed in the liquid chamber, and the electromagnetic clutch and the friction clutch are conventionally used. As compared with the first embodiment, the connecting means and the vehicle steering device can be provided at a lower cost.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle steering system, the blocking member is an electromagnetic valve.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the solenoid valve can be shut off / energized in conjunction with the failure of the drive means and the correction of the failure, torque transmission is reliably performed even when the vehicle power supply system fails. When the failure of the driving means is corrected, the liquid can be caused to flow by the solenoid valve.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the rotor or the casing having the connecting member includes a holding hole for movably holding the connecting member, and the circulating fluid passage includes the liquid chamber and the holding hole. Characterized by having a liquid passage communicating with

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the flow of the liquid is stopped, the liquid pressure applied to the liquid chamber side edge and the holding hole side edge of the connector can be made equal, so that Movement can be reliably prevented, and the torque can be reliably transmitted through the liquid and the link.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall configuration of a vehicle steering system according to the present invention.

The vehicle steering system includes a steering mechanism 1 for causing a pair of steering wheels A, A disposed on the left and right sides of a vehicle body (not shown) to perform a steering operation, and a mechanically controlled steering mechanism 1. A steering shaft 3 rotatably supported by a stationary member such as the shaft housing 2 and the like, a steering wheel 4 connected to an upper end of the steering shaft 3 as steering means, and a steering wheel 4 according to the steering of the steering wheel 4. Driving means 5 for driving the steering mechanism 1, and connecting means B for connecting the lower end of the steering shaft 3 to the steering mechanism 1 when the steering mechanism 1 cannot be driven due to a failure of the driving means 5. And a configuration including

The shaft housing 2 that supports the steering shaft 3 includes:
A reaction force actuator 20 that applies a reaction force to the steered wheels 4 in a direction opposite to the steering direction is provided. The reaction force actuator 20 includes a driving circuit 1 corresponding to an operation command signal given from a steering control unit 52 of the driving unit 5 described later.
It is driven in both the forward and reverse directions by applying current from 0, and performs an operation of applying a force (reaction force) in a direction opposite to the steering direction to the steered wheels 4 attached to the upper end of the steering shaft 3.

Therefore, it is necessary to apply a steering torque against the reaction force generated by the reaction force actuator 20 to the steering of the steered wheels 4, and the torque sensor 2 for detecting the steering torque is required.
1 and, for example, a rotary encoder 22 for detecting a steering amount and a steering direction of the steered wheels 4 are attached to the shaft housing 2, and the results detected by the torque sensor 21 and the rotary encoder 22 are used for steering via an interface circuit 23. It is provided to the take control unit 52.

As is well known, the steering mechanism 1 includes both ends of a steering shaft 11 that extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle body and moves in the axial direction, and knuckle arms 12, 12 that support the wheels A, A.
And the knuckle arms 12, 12 are pushed and pulled by the movement of the steering shaft 11 in both directions to steer the wheels A, A left and right. This steering is performed in the middle of the steering shaft 11. The rotation of the brushless steering motor 51 connected to the steering shaft 11 via an appropriate motion conversion mechanism is converted into the movement of the steering shaft 11 by the motion conversion mechanism.

The steering shaft 11 has a spiral groove at one end in the axial direction and rack teeth at the other end, and is supported in the shaft housing 13 so as to be non-rotatable and movable in the axial direction. Have been. The shaft housing 13 has a pinion at the lower end for meshing with the rack teeth, and a joint 14 at the upper end.
A pinion shaft 16 to which a transmission shaft 15 is connected via a shaft is rotatably supported, and when the drive unit 5 fails, the steering shaft 11 is moved by rotating the pinion shaft 16. . The shaft housing 13 is provided with a rotary encoder 24 for detecting a rotation amount and a rotation direction of the pinion shaft 16, and a result detected by the rotary encoder 24 is provided to the steering control unit 52 via the interface circuit 23. I have.

The steering motor 51 can rotate between a cylindrical stator fixed in the shaft housing 13 supporting the steering shaft 11 and an inner peripheral surface of the stator and an outer peripheral surface of the steering shaft 11. And a cylindrical rotor having a plurality of permanent magnets provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof at a distance from each other in a circumferential direction. A transmission ring that engages with a spiral groove provided on the steering shaft 11 is connected to the rotor, and the rotation of the steering motor 51 is transmitted to the steering shaft 11 via the transmission ring, The shaft 11 moves in the axial direction.

The driving means 5 includes the steering motor 51 and a steering control section 52 using a microprocessor. The steering motor 51 is rotated by energization from a drive circuit 50 provided from a steering control unit 52. The rotation of the steering motor 51 is converted into sliding in the axial direction of the steering shaft 11, and steering is performed. Steering (steering of the steering wheels A, A) is performed according to the rotation of the motor 51. The steering control unit 52 starts operating in response to an ON operation of a key switch for starting the engine, and controls driving of the steering motor 51 in accordance with steering of the steered wheels 4.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the connecting means, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a connecting means. The connecting means B includes a rotor 6 having a plurality of vanes 60 movable in a radial direction with respect to the rotation center of the steering shaft 3 and a holding hole 61 for holding the vanes 60, and the vanes 60,
A casing 7 having a liquid chamber 70 into which the liquid C is introduced, and a circulating liquid passage 8 communicating with the liquid chamber 70 through a pair of suction / discharge ports 70a and 70b, and being fitted to the rotor 6 so as to be relatively rotatable. And first and second solenoid valves 91 and 92 that are connected to the steering control unit 52 and block the flow of the liquid in the circulating fluid passage 8 when a failure of the steering control unit 52 occurs. The rotor 6 is attached to a lower end of the steering shaft 3 via a rotor shaft 62, and the casing 7 is attached to an upper end of the transmission shaft 15.

The rotor shaft 62 has a through hole 62 passing through the shaft center.
a, and a spool 62b movably fitted in the through hole 62a. The casing 7 is rotatably supported on the outer peripheral surface of the casing 7 via a pair of bearings 63, 63. The rotor 6 is attached by a spline connection therebetween, and a flange 64 is provided at one end of the rotor shaft 62, and the flange 64 is connected to a lower end of the steering shaft 3.

The rotor 6 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of the holding holes 61 are arranged at circumferential positions on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The rectangular flat-plate-shaped vanes 60 and the vanes 60 are provided in the holding holes 61. Spring body 65 biasing toward the liquid chamber 70 side
And one end of the vane 60 is in contact with the liquid chamber 70 or the inner surface of the fitting hole 71 by the spring body 65. The bottoms of the holding holes 61 communicate with each other through annular communication paths 66.

The casing 7 is provided with a cam ring 7a in which a plurality of concave liquid chambers 70 are equally arranged at circumferential positions of the fitting holes 71.
And both ends of the cam ring 7a are closed to form a cam ring 7a
And a pair of lids 7b and 7c for enclosing the liquid C therein.
The cam ring 7a and the lids 7b and 7c are integrally connected by a plurality of tightening screws 72. The rotor 6 is coaxially disposed in the fitting hole 71 of the cam ring 7a, and the lids 7b and 7c are coaxially supported on the rotor shaft 62 via the bearings 63 and 63.

A cylindrical body 73 having both ends sealed is provided around the casing 7, and the inside of the cylindrical body 73 is formed as a reservoir 74 in which the liquid C is sealed.

The reservoir 74 has a first liquid passage 81 communicating with one side of the one liquid chamber 70 via a first suction / discharge port 70a, and a second suction / discharge port 70b on the other side of the liquid chamber 70. The first and second liquid passages 81 and 82 are provided with the solenoid valves 91 and 92, respectively. In addition, the suction / discharge port 70a,
70b, the circulating fluid passage 8, and the solenoid valves 91 and 92 are provided on one of the lids 7c.

The other lid 7b is connected to the first and second liquid passages 81, 82 closer to the liquid chamber 70 than the solenoid valves 91, 92 and to the bottom of the holding hole 61. Fluid path 8
The first and second check valves 90a and 90b are provided in the fourth and fifth liquid paths 84 and 85, respectively, to allow only the flow from the liquid chamber 70 to the holding hole 61. ing.

A small gap is provided between the lids 7b and 7c and the rotor 6 and the vane 60, and the gap allows the liquid chamber 70 and the holding hole 61 and the center holes of the lids 7b and 7c to be formed. A sixth liquid path 86 which communicates with the lids 7b and 7c so that the central holes thereof penetrate the lid 7b in the radial direction.
Communicates with the reservoir 74, and the circulating fluid passage 8 is formed by the first to sixth fluid passages 81 to 86 and the reservoir 74. The circulating fluid passage 8, the fluid chamber 70, and the holding hole 61 communicate with each other. Liquid is enclosed.

The first and second solenoid valves 91 and 92 are attracted by energizing the electromagnetic coil in response to an operation command signal from the steering control unit 52, and are attracted and moved backward, and the vehicle A spring for moving the valve forward when the power supply to the electromagnetic coil is cut off due to a failure of a power supply system or an operation of turning off a key switch.

The vehicle steering system configured as described above has the following features.
When the steering control unit 52 and the driving means 5 such as the steering motor 51 are normal, the steering control unit 52 is controlled according to the steering of the steered wheels 4.
Controls the driving of the steering motor 51, and the steering motor 51 drives the steering mechanism 1 to cause the steering wheels A, A to perform a steering operation.

At this time, a steering torque against the reaction force generated by the reaction force actuator 20 is applied to the steering of the steered wheels 4. This steering torque is detected by a torque sensor 21, and the amount of steering of the steered wheels 4 is
2, including the steering direction, and the detection results are provided to the steering control unit 52.

Further, the first and second solenoid valves 91 and 92 of the connecting means B are energized by the steering coil by the steering control unit 52, and stop at the open position where the valve body is sucked. Accordingly, when the steering shaft 3, the rotor shaft 62, and the rotor 6 rotate with the steering of the steered wheels 4, the vanes 60 held in the holding holes 61 of the rotor 6 so as to be able to move in the radial direction are provided in the liquid chamber. It is pushed out when it comes into contact with the inner surface of the fitting hole 70, and is pushed in when it comes into contact with the inner surface of the fitting hole 71. When the vane 60 moves in the liquid chamber 70 in the rotation direction of the rotor 6, the liquid C in the liquid chamber 70 is pressed and flows in the rotation direction of the rotor 6, and the liquid C flows in the first liquid path 81.
Or, it is sent to the second liquid path 82.

In this case, when the rotation of the rotor 6 is clockwise in FIG. 3, the liquid C in the liquid chamber 70 is supplied to the second liquid path 82,
The liquid is sent out to the reservoir 74 via the fifth liquid path 85 and the sixth liquid path 86, and is supplied from the reservoir 74 to the third liquid path 83 and the first liquid path 83.
The liquid is sucked into the liquid chamber 70 through the liquid path 81. When the rotation of the rotor 6 is in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3, the liquid C in the liquid chamber 70 passes through the first liquid path 81, the fourth liquid path 84, and the sixth liquid path 86 to the reservoir 74. The liquid is sent out from the reservoir 74 and is sucked into the liquid chamber 70 through the third liquid path 83 and the second liquid path 82.

As described above, when the liquid C in the liquid chamber 70 circulates in the first to sixth liquid paths 81 to 86, the electromagnetic valves 91, 86
The valve element 92 is stopped at the sucked open position, but the solenoid valves 91 and 92 may be provided with spring elements having a small spring force enough to move the valve elements. Solenoid valves can be used. Therefore, the size can be reduced as compared with the conventional case using an electromagnetic clutch and a disk-shaped friction clutch.

If, for example, the steering control unit 52 of the driving means 5 fails and the steering mechanism 1 cannot be driven, the first and second solenoid valves 91 and 92 are connected to the electromagnetic coils. Power supply is cut off.

Accordingly, the first and second solenoid valves 91, 9
The second valve element moves forward by the force of the spring element, the valve element is switched to the closed position, the first and second liquid paths 81 and 82 are shut off, and the circulating liquid path 8, the liquid chamber 70 and the inside of the holding hole 61 are opened. Of the liquid C in the liquid chamber 70 is completely blocked.
Thus, the movement of the vane 60 is prevented, and the rotor 6 and the casing 7 can be integrated with each other via the liquid C and the vane 60. The left / right rotation of the steering shaft 3 is controlled by the pinion shaft via the rotor 6 and the casing 7. 16 to drive the steering mechanism 1. In this case, since the fluid C in the liquid chamber 70 is prevented from flowing and the vane 60 disposed in the liquid chamber 70 is interposed, a considerably large steering torque applied to the steered wheels 4 without causing a slip is steered. Taking mechanism 1
Can be transmitted to Therefore, the entirety of the connecting means and the vehicle steering apparatus can be reduced in size as compared with a conventional apparatus using an electromagnetic clutch and a friction clutch.

When the steering controller 52 is repaired by the repair and the driving mechanism 5 can drive the steering mechanism 1, the first and second solenoid valves 91,
Power is supplied to the 92 electromagnetic coils.

Accordingly, the first and second solenoid valves 91, 9
The second valve body is sucked and switched to the open position, the liquid C in the liquid chamber 70 can circulate in the first to sixth liquid paths 81 to 86, and the movement inhibition of the vane 60 is released. The transmission of the steering torque via the liquid C and the vane 60 becomes impossible, and the rotor 6 rotates with respect to the casing 7.

When the liquid C is hydraulic oil, the temperature of the hydraulic oil may rise, and the volume expansion of the hydraulic oil accompanying the temperature rise is absorbed by the movement of the spool 62b.

Second Embodiment FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of a connecting means B according to a second embodiment. The vehicle steering system according to the second embodiment includes a reservoir 74, first and second solenoid valves 91,
92, third and sixth liquid paths 83 and 86, a seventh liquid path 87 corresponding to the first liquid path 81 and the fourth liquid path 84, and a second liquid path 82 An eighth liquid passage 88 corresponding to the third and fifth liquid passages 85, and third and fourth solenoid valves 93, 9 provided in the seventh and eighth liquid passages 87, 88.
4 is provided.

The seventh liquid passage 87 communicates with the first suction / discharge port 70a provided on one side of the liquid chamber 70 and the bottom of the holding hole 61, and the eighth liquid passage 88 communicates with the liquid chamber 70. The seventh and eighth fluid passages 87 and 88 communicate with a second suction / discharge port 70 b provided on the other side of the air passage 70 and the bottom of the holding hole 61, and are connected to the circulation fluid passage 8.
And the circulating liquid passage 8, the liquid chamber 70, and the holding hole 61.
And the liquid is enclosed.

The third and fourth solenoid valves 93 and 94 are attracted by energizing the electromagnetic coil in response to an operation command signal from the steering control unit 52, and are attracted and moved backward. A spring body for moving the valve body forward when the power supply to the electromagnetic coil is cut off due to a failure of a vehicle power supply system or an operation of turning off a key switch.

Since other structures and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.
The detailed description and the description of the operation will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the steering control unit 52
And when the driving means 5 such as the steering motor 51 is normal,
The third and fourth solenoid valves 93 and 94 of the connecting means B are energized by the steering control unit 52 to the solenoid coils, and stop at the open position where the valve body is sucked. Therefore, the steering shaft 3, the rotor shaft 62, and the rotor 6 rotate with the steering of the steered wheels 4. When the vane 60 moves in the liquid chamber 70 in the rotation direction of the rotor 6, the liquid C in the liquid chamber 70 is pressed and flows in the rotation direction of the rotor 6, and the liquid C flows in the seventh liquid path 87. Or, it is sent to the eighth liquid path 88.

In this case, when the rotation of the rotor 6 is clockwise in FIG. 4, the liquid C in the liquid chamber 70 is sent out to the bottom of the holding hole 61 through the eighth liquid passage 88, and from the holding hole 61. The liquid is sucked into the liquid chamber 70 via the seventh liquid path 87. When the rotation of the rotor 6 is in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 4, the liquid C in the liquid chamber 70 is sent to the bottom of the holding hole 61 through the seventh liquid path 87, and the liquid C is discharged from the holding hole 61 to the eighth position. The liquid chamber 7 via the liquid path 88
Inhaled to 0.

As described above, when the liquid C in the liquid chamber 70 circulates in the seventh and eighth liquid paths 87 and 88, the electromagnetic valves 93 and 88
Although the valve element 94 stops at the sucked open position, the solenoid valves 93 and 94 may be provided with spring elements having a small spring force enough to move the valve elements. Solenoid valves can be used. Therefore, the size can be reduced as compared with the conventional case using an electromagnetic clutch and a disk-shaped friction clutch.

When, for example, the steering control unit 52 of the driving means 5 fails and the steering mechanism 1 cannot be driven, the third and fourth solenoid valves 93 and 94 are connected to the electromagnetic coils. Power supply is cut off.

Accordingly, the third and fourth solenoid valves 93, 9
The valve body 4 moves forward by the force of the spring body, the valve body is switched to the closed position, the seventh and eighth fluid passages 87 and 88 are shut off, and the circulating fluid passage 8, the fluid chamber 70 and the inside of the holding hole 61 are opened. Of the liquid C in the liquid chamber 70 is completely blocked.
Thus, the movement of the vane 60 is prevented, and the rotor 6 and the casing 7 can be integrated with each other via the liquid C and the vane 60. The left / right rotation of the steering shaft 3 is controlled by the pinion shaft via the rotor 6 and the casing 7. 16 to drive the steering mechanism 1. In this case, since the fluid C in the liquid chamber 70 is prevented from flowing and the vane 60 disposed in the liquid chamber 70 is interposed, a considerably large steering torque applied to the steered wheels 4 without causing a slip is steered. Taking mechanism 1
Can be transmitted to Therefore, the entirety of the connecting means and the vehicle steering apparatus can be reduced in size as compared with a conventional apparatus using an electromagnetic clutch and a friction clutch.

When the steering controller 52 is repaired by the repair and the driving mechanism 5 can drive the steering mechanism 1, the third and fourth solenoid valves 93,
Power is supplied to the electromagnetic coil 94.

Accordingly, the third and fourth solenoid valves 93, 9
The valve body of No. 4 is sucked and switched to the open position, the liquid C in the liquid chamber 70 can circulate in the seventh and eighth liquid passages 87 and 88, and the movement inhibition of the vane 60 is released. The transmission of the steering torque via the liquid C and the vane 60 becomes impossible, and the rotor 6 rotates with respect to the casing 7.

In the first and second embodiments described above, if the steering mechanism 1 cannot be driven due to the failure of the steering control unit 52, the steering assist by the steering motor 51 cannot be performed, and Since a considerably large steering torque is applied to the wheel 4, when the steering control unit 52 fails, the torque sensor 21 provided on the shaft housing 2 supporting the steering shaft 3 is used. Is supplied to a steering control unit provided separately from the steering control unit 52, and an operation command signal is supplied from the separate steering control unit to the drive circuit 50 of the steering motor 51. A configuration in which the steering motor 51 is driven so that the steering operation can be performed with a feeling similar to that of a general steering device capable of assisting steering in which the steered wheels 4 and the steering mechanism 1 are mechanically connected. May be.

In the first and second embodiments described above, instead of providing the rotor 6 on the steering shaft 3 side and providing the casing 7 on the steering mechanism 1, the casing 7 is provided on the steering shaft 3 side. The rotor 6 may be provided on the steering mechanism 1 side. Instead of providing the liquid chamber 70 in the casing 7 and providing the vane 60 in the rotor 6, a configuration in which the vane 60 is provided in the casing 7 and the liquid chamber 70 is provided in the rotor 6 may be adopted.

The number of the liquid chambers 70 and the number of the vanes 60 may be one, or two or more. Alternatively, the number of the liquid chambers 70 and the number of the vanes 60 may be plural.

The circulating fluid passage 8 has a plurality of fluid passages as in the first and second embodiments. For example, one circulating fluid passage 70 communicates with the first and second suction / discharge ports 70a and 70b of the fluid chamber 70. The circulation fluid passage 8 may be provided with one solenoid valve. In this case, the structure is such that the liquid chamber 70 can be sealed well, and the liquid in the liquid chamber 70
Avoid leaking to 1.

A vane 60 is used as a link between the rotor 6 and the casing 7 via the liquid in the liquid chamber 70 as a medium.
However, the connecting body may be a structure other than the vane 60 as long as the structure allows the liquid in the liquid chamber 70 to flow by the relative rotation of the rotor 6 and the casing 7.

In addition to the structure in which the spring body 65 urges the linking body, when the driving means 5 is normal, the linking body is energized by energizing an electromagnetic coil provided at the bottom of the holding hole 61. It is also possible to stop at the retreat position where it has retreated to the outside of the liquid chamber 70, and when the drive means 5 breaks down, cut off the power supply to the electromagnetic coil and move the link into the liquid chamber 70.
In this case, the circulating liquid passage 8 is closed by the electromagnetic valve together with the movement of the link into the liquid chamber 70, and the flow of the liquid is prevented.

Although the solenoid valves 91 to 94 are used as the blocking members for blocking the flow of the liquid in the liquid chamber 70, the structure is not particularly limited.

Although hydraulic oil is mainly introduced into the liquid chamber 70 and the circulating liquid passage 8, a liquid such as water may be introduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall configuration of a vehicle steering system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a connecting means of the vehicle steering system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a connecting means of the vehicle steering device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a connecting means in a second embodiment of the vehicle steering system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering mechanism 2 Stationary side member (shaft housing) 3 Steering shaft 4 Steering means (steering wheel) 5 Driving means 6 Rotor 60 Vane (connecting body) 61 Holding hole 7 Casing 70 Liquid chamber 70a, 70b Inlet / outlet 71 Fitting hole Reference Signs List 8 circulating fluid passages 81-88 First to eighth fluid passages 91-94 Solenoid valve (blocking member) B Connecting means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Katsutoshi Nishizaki 3-58 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (72) Masaya Segawa 3-5-minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. 8 F-term in Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (Reference) 3D033 CA02 CA16 CA17 CA18 CA21 CA31 CA32 DC01 DC03 HA00

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A steering mechanism which is not mechanically connected to a steering mechanism for changing the direction of wheels but is driven in accordance with steering of a steering means connected to a steering shaft supported by a stationary member. When the steering mechanism cannot be driven due to a failure of the driving means, a steering apparatus for a vehicle including a connecting means for connecting the steering shaft to the steering mechanism, wherein the connecting means is configured to introduce liquid. A rotor having one of a liquid chamber and a connecting member arranged to be able to move into the liquid chamber, a casing having the other and fitted with the rotor to enable relative rotation, and when the failure occurs A steering body for preventing flow of the liquid in the liquid chamber. 2. The vehicle steering system according to claim 1, further comprising a circulating fluid passage communicating with the fluid chamber, wherein the blocking body is provided in the circulating fluid passage. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member uses a vane movable in a radial direction with respect to a center of the relative rotation, and the vane contacts an inner surface of the liquid chamber. Steering device. 4. The vehicle steering system according to claim 1, wherein the blocking body is an electromagnetic valve. 5. The rotor or the casing having the linking body includes a holding hole for movably holding the linking body, and the circulating fluid path includes a liquid path communicating with the liquid chamber and the holding hole. The vehicle steering system according to claim 2. 6. The steering mechanism according to the steering of a steering wheel connected to a steering shaft rotatably supported by a stationary member without being mechanically connected to a steering mechanism for changing the direction of a wheel. A steering unit for connecting the steering shaft to the steering mechanism when the steering mechanism cannot be driven due to a failure of the driving unit for driving the steering mechanism; A steering motor connected to a mechanism and a steering control unit that drives and controls the steering motor in accordance with the steering of the steered wheels, wherein the connecting unit is provided in a radial direction with respect to a rotation center of the steering shaft. A rotor having a movable vane and a holding hole for holding the vane, a liquid chamber in which the vane is disposed, a liquid chamber into which liquid is introduced, and a circulating liquid path communicating with the liquid chamber through a pair of suction and discharge ports. And
A casing connected to the rotor so as to enable relative rotation; and a pair of solenoid valves connected to the steering control unit and configured to prevent a flow of liquid in the circulating fluid path when the failure occurs. A steering device for a vehicle, comprising: