JP2009040095A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device that further properly achieves anti-theft protection. <P>SOLUTION: The steering device 1 has a steering-amount input means 2 for inputting a steering amount, wheel-turning means 6, 9 for turning wheels, a control means 5, which calculates a steering amount on the basis of the inputted steering amount so as to control the wheel-turning means 6 on the basis of the calculated steering amount, a connecting means 10 for mechanically connecting the steering-amount input means 2 with the wheel-turning means 9 during a failure of the control means 5, and a connection preventing means 19 for preventing the connection of the connecting means 10 during ignition-off. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus suitable for application to vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, and buses.

  Generally, as a vehicle steering device, a driver's steering amount input to a steering wheel is transmitted to a pinion gear through a steering shaft, and a rack bar extending in the vehicle width direction is operated in the vehicle width direction by the pinion gear. Forms are known. In recent years, it has been described in Patent Document 1 referred to as a so-called steer-by-wire in order to reduce the weight of the vehicle by omitting the steering shaft and to increase the degree of freedom of layout of various in-vehicle devices in the engine room. Steering devices have been proposed.

Such a steering apparatus includes a steering ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that calculates a turning amount based on a steering amount input by a driver through a steering handle, and a motor that performs turning based on a command from the steering ECU. In addition, a mechanical backup mechanism is provided that performs steering directly by the steering handle even when the power supply system of the steering ECU fails (including OFF failure). In this steering device, when the electric system is normal, the mechanical backup mechanism is released to the steering handle side, and when the electric system fails, the mechanical backup mechanism is connected to the steering handle side.
JP 2006-182057 A

  However, in such a steering device, the mechanical backup mechanism is connected to the steering handle side in the case of IGOFF, and steering is possible even in the case of IGOFF, which is preferable from the viewpoint of preventing theft. There was no problem.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a steering device that can more appropriately prevent theft.

In order to solve the above problem, the steering device according to the present invention is:
Steering amount input means for inputting the steering amount; Steering means for turning the wheel; Control for calculating the turning amount based on the steering amount and controlling the turning means based on the turning amount Means, a connection means for mechanically connecting the steering amount input means and the turning means when the control means fails, and a connection preventing means for preventing the connection means from being connected at the time of IGOFF. .

  The steering amount input means is specifically a steering handle that is steered by the driver, the control means is a steering ECU, and the steering means is, for example, a rack bar directly in the vehicle width direction. A steered motor and a rack and pinion mechanism to be operated.

  Further, the connection means includes a pulley on the steering handle side, a pulley connected to the pinion on the rack and pinion mechanism side, and a cable for connecting the pulley on the steering handle side and the pulley on the rack and pinion mechanism side. The pulley on the steering handle side of the mechanical backup mechanism and the steering handle constituting the steering input means are connected when the power supply system of the control means fails.

  Moreover, the time of IGOFF means the case where the ignition key of the vehicle is turned off. Similarly, the time of IGON indicates the case where the ignition key of the vehicle is turned on.

Here, in the steering device,
The connection means is a planetary gear clutch having a lock key for locking a ring gear, a spring, and a solenoid, and the connection prevention means is a shaft that inhibits the lock operation of the lock key at the time of the IGOFF. Is preferred.

  According to this, the said connection means can be comprised more simply. In this case, the input side of the planetary gear clutch is a sun gear or carrier, and the output side is a carrier or sun gear. In any case, when the ring gear is locked by the lock key, the driving force based on the steering amount is transmitted from the input side to the output side.

  In addition, the connection prevention means can be configured more simply by using the connection prevention means as a shaft that inhibits the locking operation of the lock key.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the connection preventing means includes a motor and a gear for operating the shaft at the time of the IGOFF.

  According to this, the said connection prevention means can be comprised more simply. In any case, at the time of the IGOFF, the lock key constituting the connection means is blocked by the shaft constituting the connection prevention means, and the ring gear constituting the connection means is locked by the lock key. It is possible to prevent the steering handle constituting the steering amount input means from being connected to the rack and pinion mechanism constituting the steered means by the connection means, and more appropriately theft Prevention can be achieved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a steering device that can more appropriately prevent theft.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a steering apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a part of one embodiment of the steering apparatus according to the present invention in a cross section including a central axis. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a part of one embodiment of the steering apparatus according to the present invention in the AA cross section of FIG.

  The steering device 1 includes a steering handle 2, a steering rotation angle sensor 3, a steering reaction force motor 4, a steering ECU 5, a steering motor 6, a steering position sensor 7, a tire 8, and a rack and pinion mechanism 9. And a mechanical backup mechanism 10 and a planetary gear clutch 11. The steering ECU 5, the steering rotation angle sensor 3, the steered motor 6, the steered position sensor 7, and the steering reaction force motor 4 are connected via a CAN (Controller Area Network) communication standard.

  The steering handle 2 is disposed on the driver's seat side in the passenger compartment and constitutes a steering amount input means for a driver to input a steering amount. The steering handle 2 is provided with a steering rotation angle sensor 3 via a gear. Connected.

  The steering rotation angle sensor 3 detects the rotation angle of the steering handle 2 as a steering amount input by the driver, and outputs the detected value to the steering ECU 5.

  The steering reaction force motor 4 applies, to the steering handle 2, a reaction force for sensing the steering reaction force according to the rotation angle of the steering handle 2 detected by the steering rotation angle sensor 3 based on the control of the steering ECU 5. It works.

  The steering ECU 5 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a data bus that interconnects them, and detects the rotation angle of the steering wheel 2 as a steering amount input by the driver according to a program stored in the ROM. It functions as a control means for calculating a turning amount based on the steering amount and controlling the turning motor 6 to turn the tire 8 based on the turning amount.

  The steered motor 6 constitutes steered means for operating in the vehicle width direction a rack bar extending in the vehicle width direction connected to a tire 8 (not shown) via a tie rod, based on the control of the steering ECU 5. is there.

  The steered position sensor 7 detects the rotation angle of the pinion of the rack and pinion mechanism 9 constituting the steered means, and outputs the detected value to the steering ECU 5.

  The mechanical backup mechanism 10 includes a pulley 12 on the steering handle 2 side, a pulley 13 on the rack and pinion mechanism 9 side, and a cable 14 that is wound around and connected to these pulleys 12 and 13 in opposite directions. It is what is done.

  The planetary gear clutch 11 constitutes connection means, and connects the pulley 12 on the steering handle 2 side and the steering handle 2 constituting the steering input means when the steering ECU 5 fails.

  The planetary gear clutch 11 constitutes a well-known planetary gear mechanism, and includes a ring gear 15, a carrier 23, and a sun gear 24. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the planetary gear clutch 11 includes a ring gear 15, a lock key 16 having a swing shaft on the outer peripheral side of the ring gear 15 and locking the ring gear 15, and a swing shaft of the lock key 16. Provided is a spring 17 that constantly urges the lock key 16 in the lock direction, and a solenoid 18 that urges the lock key 16 in the unlock direction when the power supply system of the steering ECU 5 does not fail.

  In addition, the planetary gear clutch 11 is screwed into a shaft 19 that inhibits the lock of the ring gear 15 by the lock key 16 at the time of IGOFF and a gear portion 19a formed at an intermediate portion of the shaft 19 so that the shaft 19 is screwed in FIG. The gear 20 is configured to be operated leftward or rightward, the worm gear 21 screwed into the gear 20, and the motor 22 that operates the worm gear 21 under the control of the steering ECU 5.

  When the shaft 19 is located on the outer peripheral side of the ring gear 15 and is moved in the right direction in FIG. 2, the lock key 16 is shown at a substantially intermediate portion between the fitting portion at the tip of the lock key 16 and the swing shaft. 3 is supported by a bearing so as to be movable in the axial direction of the ring gear 15 so as to inhibit the movement from the unlock position indicated by the solid line to the lock position indicated by the two-dot chain line.

  When the power supply system of the steering ECU 5 is not failed, if the lock of the ring gear 15 by the lock key 16 is released based on the solenoid 18 being turned on, the steering handle 2 and the steering handle 2 side of the mechanical backup mechanism 10 are arranged. The connection with the pulley 12 is released, and the driving force is not transmitted from the input-side carrier 23 to the output-side sun gear 24.

  Further, when the power supply system of the steering ECU 5 fails, the solenoid 18 is turned OFF, so that the fitting portion at the tip of the lock key 16 moves around the outer peripheral surface of the ring gear 15 based on the biasing force of the spring 17. As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the lock key 16 locks the ring gear 15 in the circumferential direction.

  As a result, the steering handle 2 and the pulley 12 on the steering handle 2 side constituting the mechanical backup mechanism 10 are connected, and the driving force is transmitted from the input-side carrier 23 to the output-side sun gear 24, so that the rack-and-pinion mechanism 9, the rack bar (not shown) is operated in the vehicle width direction, and the tire 8 can be steered by the steering handle 2 even during a failure.

  Further, at the time of IGOFF, by moving the shaft 19 in the right direction in FIG. 2 in advance, even if the control means of the steering ECU 5 turns off the solenoid 18, the lock key 16 locks the ring gear 15 by the shaft 19. Since the movement in the direction, that is, the locking operation is hindered, the steering handle 2 and the pulley 12 on the steering handle 2 side constituting the mechanical backup mechanism 10 are not connected. That is, at the time of IGOFF, the steering handle 2 and the rack and pinion mechanism 9 are not mechanically connected, and the steering of the tire 8 by the steering of the steering handle 2 is impossible.

  The control content of the steering apparatus 1 described above will be described with reference to flowcharts and diagrams. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the steering apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

  In S1, the control means of the steering ECU 5 determines whether or not it is IGON, proceeds to S2 if affirmative, and ends control if negative.

  In S2, the control means of the steering ECU 5 controls the motor 22 so as to move the shaft 19 leftward in FIG. Subsequently, in S 3, the control means of the steering ECU 5 turns on the solenoid 18, whereby the lock key 16 releases the lock of the ring gear 15, and the steering handle 2 and the pulley on the steering handle 2 side constituting the mechanical backup mechanism 10. 12 is released.

  Subsequently, in S4, the control means of the steering ECU 5 determines whether or not a failure of the power supply system has occurred, and proceeds to S5 if affirmative, and proceeds to S10 if negative.

  In S 5, the control means of the steering ECU 5 turns off the solenoid 18, whereby the fitting portion at the tip of the lock key 16 is moved to the fitting portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the ring gear 15 based on the biasing force of the spring 17. When fitted, the lock key 16 locks the ring gear 15. Thereby, the steering handle 2 and the pulley 12 on the steering handle 2 side constituting the mechanical backup mechanism 10 are connected.

  Subsequently, in S6, it is determined whether or not the control means of the steering ECU 5 is IGOFF. If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to S7, and if the result is negative, the control is terminated.

  In S7, the control means of the steering ECU 5 once turns on the solenoid 18, and then proceeds to S8. In S8, the control unit controls the motor 22 so as to move the shaft 19 to the right in FIG. Thus, by moving the shaft 19 to the right in FIG. 2 at the time of IGOFF, even if the control means of the steering ECU 5 turns off the solenoid 18 in S9, the lock key 16 causes the ring gear 15 to be moved by the shaft 19. Since the movement in the locking direction, that is, the locking operation is hindered, the steering handle 2 and the pulley 12 on the steering handle 2 side constituting the mechanical backup mechanism 10 are not connected.

  If the result in S4 is negative, that is, if there is no power system failure, the process proceeds to S10, and it is determined whether the control means of the steering ECU 5 is IGOFF. If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to S11. End control.

  In S11, the control means of the steering ECU 5 controls the motor 22 so as to move the shaft 19 in the right direction in FIG. In this way, by moving the shaft 19 to the right in FIG. 2 at the time of IGOFF, even if the control means of the steering ECU 5 turns off the solenoid 18 in S12, the lock key 16 causes the ring gear 15 to be moved by the shaft 19. Since the movement in the locking direction, that is, the locking operation is hindered, the steering handle 2 and the pulley 12 on the steering handle 2 side constituting the mechanical backup mechanism 10 are not connected.

  As described above, even at the same IGOFF, it is necessary to change the processing contents after S6 when there is a power system failure and after S10 when there is no power system failure.

  That is, if a failure of the power supply system occurs in S4, the solenoid 18 is temporarily turned off in S5, and the lock operation of the ring gear 15 is performed by the lock key 16, so that the shaft 19 is simply moved to the right in this state. Even if it is moved to, the locking operation cannot be hindered.

  Therefore, after determining that IGOFF is in S6, the solenoid 18 is once turned on, the lock of the ring gear 15 by the lock key 16 is released, and then the shaft 19 is moved rightward in FIG. 2 in S8, and in S9. The solenoid 18 may be turned off. As a result, the lock operation of the ring gear 15 by the lock key 16 can be inhibited by the shaft 19.

  According to the steering device 1 of the present embodiment realized by these control contents, the following operational effects can be obtained.

  That is, at the time of IGOFF, the locking operation of the lock key 16 constituting the connection means is inhibited by the shaft 19 constituting the connection prevention means, and the ring gear 15 constituting the connection means is locked by the lock key 16 by the lock key 16. The planetary gear clutch 11 constituting the connecting means is mechanically connected to the steering handle 2 constituting the steering amount input means and the rack and pinion mechanism 9 constituting the steered means. Can be prevented. Thereby, it is impossible to steer the tire 8 by steering the steering wheel 2 at the time of IGOFF, and it is possible to more appropriately prevent theft.

  Further, the connecting means is a planetary gear clutch 11 having a lock key 16 that locks the ring gear 15, a spring 17 and a solenoid 18, and the connection preventing means is a shaft 19 that inhibits the locking operation of the lock key 16 at the time of IGOFF. Thus, the connecting means can be configured more simply.

  In this case, the input side of the planetary gear clutch 11 is a carrier 23 and the output side is a sun gear 24. Also in this case, when the ring gear 15 is locked by the lock key 16, the driving force based on the steering amount is transmitted from the input-side carrier 23 to the output-side sun gear 24.

  In addition, by using the shaft 19 that inhibits the operation of the lock key 16 as the connection preventing means, the connection preventing means can be configured more simply.

  Furthermore, the connection preventing means can be configured more simply by having the motor 22 and the worm gear 20 that operate the shaft 19 when the connection preventing means is IGOFF.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions are made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. be able to.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the worm gear 20 is used to move the shaft 19 leftward and rightward in FIG. 2, but a rack and pinion mechanism can also be used.

  Further, when the power supply system of the steering ECU 5 is not failing the shaft 19, a solenoid that biases the shaft 19 in the left direction in FIG. 2 and a spring that always biases the shaft 19 in the right direction in FIG. .

  In this case, when a failure occurs in the power supply system, the timing at which the steering ECU 5 turns off the solenoid is made faster than the timing at which the solenoid 18 that urges the lock key 16 in the unlocking direction is turned off. There is a need.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the input side of the planetary gear clutch 11 is the carrier 23 and the output side is the sun gear 24. However, this can be changed as appropriate, and the input side is the sun gear 24 and the output side is the carrier. 23.

  Further, although the planetary gear clutch 11 is used as the connecting means in the above-described embodiment, an electromagnetic clutch can also be used. In this case, the connection preventing means is under the control of the steering ECU 5 at the time of IGOFF. It is possible to appropriately select a configuration such as a configuration in which the electromagnetic clutch is turned off.

  Further, in the case where a planetary gear clutch is used as the connecting means as in the above-described embodiment, the means for locking the ring gear is not limited to the lock key, and a normal brake device can also be used. In this case, the connection preventing means that inhibits the locking of the ring gear by the brake device can be a means for releasing the hydraulic pressure of the brake device at the time of IGOFF, for example.

  The present invention relates to a steering device that can more appropriately prevent theft, and can be applied to various vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, and buses because desired effects can be obtained by relatively minor changes. It is useful.

It is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a steering device concerning the present invention. It is a mimetic diagram showing a part of one embodiment of a steering device concerning the present invention. It is a mimetic diagram showing a part of one embodiment of a steering device concerning the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of one Embodiment of the steering device which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering device 2 Steering handle 3 Steering rotation angle sensor 4 Steering reaction force motor 5 Steering ECU
6 Steering motor 7 Steering position sensor 8 Tire 9 Rack and pinion mechanism 10 Mechanical backup mechanism 11 Planetary gear clutch 12 Pulley 13 Pulley 14 Cable 15 Ring gear 16 Lock key 17 Spring 18 Solenoid 19 Shaft 19a Gear portion 20 Worm gear 21 Gear 22 Motor 23 carrier 24 sun gear

Claims (3)

  Steering amount input means for inputting the steering amount; Steering means for turning the wheel; Control means for calculating the steering amount based on the steering amount and controlling the turning means based on the steering amount; A steering device comprising: a connecting means for mechanically connecting the steering amount input means and the steering means when the control means fails; and a connection preventing means for preventing connection of the connecting means when the control means is IGOFF. .   The connection means is a planetary gear clutch having a lock key that locks a ring gear, a spring, and a solenoid, and the connection prevention means is a shaft that inhibits the lock operation of the lock key at the time of the IGOFF. Item 2. The steering device according to Item 1.   The steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connection preventing means includes a motor and a gear that operate the shaft when the IGOFF is set.

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