JP2019119238A - Operation auxiliary device of steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

To alleviate the lowering of the steering performance of an own vehicle and other moving bodies by a simple and inexpensive constitution.SOLUTION: In an auxiliary device of a steering wheel in a moving body having a steering system which is operated by main torque imparted via a steering wheel 10 as the steering wheel, and auxiliary torque imparted from a motor 50, the operation auxiliary device of the steering wheel comprises a wheel deployment part 20 and the like for alleviating a force applied to the steering wheel 10 in order to impart the main torque when the auxiliary torque is lost by making the force directly act on the steering wheel 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation assisting device for a steering wheel used for steering a mobile body such as an automobile.

  Conventionally, in the steering of an automobile, where power assistance is provided by power steering, instead of hydraulic power steering that operates following an engine drive, it is independent when the engine is stopped or in response to a hybrid car or an electric car. Electric power steering (EPS) that assists the operation with the generated power is the mainstream.

  The EPS is a precision machine that cooperates with an ECU (Engine Control Unit) of a car, and a malfunction causes a decrease in steering performance. Therefore, from the viewpoint of fail-safety, a technology has been proposed in which the drive circuit, the configuration in the motor, the configuration of the CPU, and the like are duplicated to provide redundancy (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).

Ohashi Masayuki "Drive 2-system MCU for EPS" DENSO TECHNICAL REVIEW Vol. 21 2016, P. 48-53

  However, the above-described conventional techniques have the following problems. That is, the technique described in Non-Patent Document 1 results in complication of the configuration of EPS and an increase in manufacturing cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an operation assisting device of a steering wheel capable of reducing a decrease in the steering performance of an automobile or other mobile body with a simple and low-cost configuration. The purpose is to

  In order to achieve the above object, aspects of the present invention operate with a main torque applied via a steering wheel that receives a pivoting operation by an operator and an auxiliary torque provided by power independent of the operation by the operator. An auxiliary device of a steering wheel for assisting the turning operation of the steering wheel in a moving body having a steering system, the operation for applying the main torque when all or part of the auxiliary torque is lost It is an operation assisting device for a steering wheel provided with operation burden reducing means for reducing a force applied to the operation handle by a person by acting directly on the operation handle.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the steering handle is gripped by the operator, and the operation load reducing means sets a distance from a rotational center of the steering handle to a gripping position of the steering handle. The extension may reduce the force applied to the operating handle.

  Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the steering wheel may be a steering wheel, and the operation burden reducing means may extend a spoke length of the steering wheel.

  The present invention as described above has an effect that it is possible to reduce a decrease in the steering performance of a vehicle or other mobile body with a simple and low-cost configuration.

A block diagram showing a configuration of a steering wheel operation assisting device according to an embodiment of the present invention and the periphery thereof The flowchart which shows the operation of the operation assistance device of the steering wheel which relates to the form of execution of this invention (A) A diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the operation assisting device of the steering wheel according to the embodiment of the present invention (b) A sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3 (a) (c) Sectional view by AA straight line The figure for demonstrating the operation state of the operation assistance apparatus of the steering wheel which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) Diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the steering wheel operation assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention (b) For explaining the operation state of the steering wheel operation assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention Figure (A) Diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the steering wheel operation assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention (b) For explaining the operation state of the steering wheel operation assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention Figure (A) Diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the steering wheel operation assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention (b) For explaining the operation state of the steering wheel operation assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention Figure (A) A diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the steering assist device according to another embodiment of the present invention (b) The operation state of the steering assist device according to another embodiment of the present invention Figure to explain

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a column assist type EPS of a four-wheeled vehicle and its vicinity including an operation assisting device for a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, in the four-wheeled motor vehicle 1 including the steering wheel operation assisting device of the present embodiment, the steering wheel 10 is an interface for receiving an operation from a driver as an operator, and rotates the steering column S1. It is a means to give the main torque which makes it

  When the driver grips and turns the steering wheel 10, the steering column S1 coaxially disposed on the steering wheel 10 is driven to rotate. A sensor 30 is provided on the steering column S1 to detect various amounts of steering torque applied via the steering wheel 10, a steering angle of the steering wheel 10, etc. The amounts detected by the sensor 30 are EPS It is output to the CPU 60 which is a dedicated CPU.

  The CPU 60 is means for controlling the operation of the motor 50 on the basis of various amounts detected by the sensor 30 and various information regarding the vehicle such as the vehicle speed acquired from the ECU of the automobile not shown. The motor 50 is a means controlled by the CPU 60 to provide an auxiliary torque for rotating the steering shaft S2 based on the above-mentioned main torque. The CPU 60 also monitors the current and voltage during the operation of the motor 50 to control the operation of the motor 50.

  The rotation of the motor 50 controlled by the CPU 60 is decelerated by the reduction gear 40 and transmitted to the steering shaft S2, and converted into translational movement of a rack gear (not shown) in the rack bar 71 in the steering gear box 72 incorporating a pinion gear (not shown) The steering angles of the steered wheels 80 are made variable via the pair of left and right tie rods 73 connected to both ends of the rack gear.

  Furthermore, in the steering wheel 10, there is provided a wheel development unit 20 which is operated by the control of the CPU 60, which will be described later. In the steering column S1 and the steering shaft S2, joints and the like for changing the angle of the rotation axis are not shown.

  In the above configuration, the combination of the steering wheel 10, the sensor 30, the reduction gear 40, the motor 50, the CPU 60, the steering column S1, the steering shaft S2, the rack bar 72, the steering gear box 72 and the pair of tie rods 73 constituting the EPS is The steering wheel 10 corresponds to the steering wheel of the present invention.

  Furthermore, the combination of the steering wheel 10, the wheel unfolding unit 20 and the CPU 60 corresponds to the operation assisting device of the steering wheel of the present invention, and the combination of the wheel unfolding unit 20 and the CPU 60 corresponds to the operation burden reducing means of the present invention.

  With the above-described configuration, the operation assist device for the steering wheel according to the present embodiment assists the motor 50 when the CPU 60 detects an abnormality in the motor 50 and determines that normal power assistance can not be performed. By stopping the power assistance by the torque and operating the wheel deployment unit 20, the operation of the steering system by the main torque based on the operation of the steering wheel 10 by the driver is assisted.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2, the operation of the steering assist device at the time of stopping the power assistance by the motor 50 under the control of the CPU 60 will be described in detail.

  First, while the driver operates the steering wheel 10 and the steering system is operating with the power assistance by the operation of the motor 50, the CPU 60 monitors the sensor 30 and the motor 50 (S10), and is in operation. Is there no abnormality in the power assistance by the motor 50 by comparing the current / voltage of the motor 50 and the correspondence of the steering angle / torque of the steering wheel 10 detected by the sensor 30 with a reference value stored in advance? It is determined whether or not (S11).

  If it is determined that no abnormality has occurred, the process returns to S10 to continue monitoring, and if it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, the CPU 60 loses the assist torque given to the steering system (S12), Stop power assistance. Specifically, the CPU 60 performs control such as stopping operation of the motor 50, disconnecting power transmission between the reduction gear 40 and the motor 50 if possible, and the like.

  Next, the CPU 60 operates the wheel developing unit 20 (S13). Specifically, the substantial outer diameter of the steering wheel 10 is enlarged.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the wheel developing unit 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the configuration of the steering wheel 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the steering wheel 10 includes a housing 11 including a rotation center O coaxially arranged with the steering column S1, a wheel main body 12 disposed around the housing 11 and gripped by a driver, and the housing A spoke 13 connecting the wheel 11 and the wheel body 12 and a wheel deployment portion 20 housed in the housing 11 are provided as main components.

  In the wheel body 12, a frame 12a having a semicircular arc shape located on the left side in the drawing and a frame 12a having the same shape as the frame 12a located on the right face each other and abut on the joining surface D Thus, an arc-shaped outer shape is formed.

  The spokes 13 are respectively inserted into the outer spokes 13a and 13b and the outer spokes 13a and 13b joined to the housing 11 in contact with the inner circumferential surfaces of the frames 12a and 12b, respectively, and one end thereof is the inner circumferential surface of the frames 12a and 12b , And the other end is comprised of inner spokes 14a and 14b incorporated in the wheel deployment portion 20 in the housing 11. The inner spokes 14a and 14b are movably fixed in the outer spokes 13a and 13b along the extending direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 (b) and 3 (c), which are sectional views taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3 (a), the inner spokes 14a and 14b are coaxial with the outer spokes 13a and 13b, respectively. It may be a mode where it is arranged, or it may be a mode where inner spokes 14a and 14b are arranged on the inner surface of outer spokes 13a and 13b as a guide rail having a substantially U-shaped cross section.

  The steering wheel 10 having such a configuration causes the wheel deployment unit 20 to send the inner spokes 14 a and 14 b toward the wheel body 12 under the control of the CPU 60. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, in the steering wheel 10, the spokes 13 are extended, and the wheel body 12 is separated into the frames 12a and 12b and moved leftward and rightward.

  Thus, the outer diameter of the steering wheel 10 is substantially expanded from the normal diameter R1 shown in FIG. 3 to the diameter R2 shown in FIG. Therefore, when the torque required to turn the steering column S1 is only the main torque based on the turning operation of the steering wheel 10 by the driver, the force for turning the steering wheel 10 is higher It is possible to reduce and improve the ease and safety of operation of the steering system in the state where the assist torque is lost.

  Next, an example of a mechanism for delivering the inner spokes 14 a and 14 b of the wheel deployment unit 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. In the following description, although it demonstrates with the inner spoke 14a, the inner spoke 14b is also the same.

  As shown in the partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 (a), in the wheel deployment unit 20, the inner spokes 14a are accommodated in the internal space 21x of the synthetic resin sleeve 21 together with the pre-compression spring 22 in a compressed state. . The end 14E of the inner spoke 14a has a larger outer diameter than that of the other portion of the inner spoke 14a, or has a shape in which a part of the surface protrudes. On the other hand, on the inner wall of the sleeve 21, a latch 22a which is a portion integrally formed with or separately from the sleeve 21 is urged toward the inside of the internal space 21x by receiving an urging force from the pushing projection of the actuator 23 controlled by the CPU 60. Thereby engaging with the end 14E of the inner spoke 14a.

  Thus, the movement of the inner spokes 14a to the side of the frame 12a (not shown) is restricted in a state where the inner spokes 14a receive the elastic force from the pre-compression spring 22.

  When the CPU 60 operates the actuator 23 as the contents of execution of S13 of FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 5B, the push-in projection 23a is pulled into the actuator 23, and the latch 22a losing the biasing force is of the sleeve 21. By retracting to the outer peripheral surface side, the engagement with the end 14E of the inner spoke 14a is released. As a result, the pre-compression spring 22 is restored, and the return force causes the inner spokes 14a to slide the sleeve 21 to move the frame 12a (not shown) outward. The end of the sleeve 21 is formed with a fold 22 b whose inner diameter is larger than that of the other portion or a part of the surface protrudes from the inner wall, and the inner spokes 14 a slide by the restoring force of the pre-compression spring 22. The end portion 14E is locked to the folded back portion 22b, so that the end portion 14E is prevented from coming off from the sleeve 21 and is fixed by the restoring force of the pre-compression spring 22.

  Next, in the wheel expansion portion 20, the inner spokes 14a are accommodated in the inner space of the metal sleeve 21 in the wheel expansion portion 20, and the outer portion is outside the other portion of the inner spokes 14a. Due to the large diameter end portion 14E, the inner space is separated to form a moving space 21x1 and a chamber 21x2 of the inner spoke 14a. On the other hand, a synthetic resin shear pin 25 having a shaft 25a penetrating the sleeve 21 and a tip T embedded in the end 14E of the inner spoke 14 is attached to the wall of the sleeve 21. Thereby, the inner spokes 14 a are fixed in the sleeve 21.

  Furthermore, the explosive 24 a is disposed in the chamber 21 x 2 and is put in a flammable state by the igniter 24 controlled by the CPU 60.

  As the execution content of S13 of FIG. 2, when the CPU 60 operates the igniter 24, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the igniter 24 ignites the explosive charge in the chamber 21x2. The internal pressure in the chamber 21x2 is increased by the combustion gas of the explosives, and the pressure causes the inner spokes 14a to slide in the moving space 21x1 to move the frame 12a outward, and the end 14E is folded back 22b By being locked, falling off from the sleeve 21 is prevented, and at the same time, the pressure of the combustion gas is fixed. At this time, the T of the shear pin 25 is sheared by the shaft 25 a and the inner wall of the sleeve 21.

  Next, in the example shown in the partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 7A, the inner spokes 14a are accommodated in the internal space 21x of the metal sleeve 21 in the wheel expansion portion 20. Further, the inner spoke 14a is formed with an opening 24ax which is cylindrical and has an internal thread-like surface, and an external thread-like drive screw 26 corresponding to the internal thread of the opening 24ax is engaged. The end of the drive screw 26 is interlocked with a motor 27 whose on / off and rotational speed are controlled by the CPU 60 by a belt 27a through an opening 21y on the sleeve 21.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, when the CPU 60 operates the motor 27 for a predetermined number of revolutions, the inner spokes 14a and the drive are driven by the rotation of the drive screw 26 following the rotation of the motor 27 as the contents of execution of S13 of FIG. While the screwing of the screw 26 is released, the inner spokes 14a slide the sleeve 21 for a predetermined distance to move the frame 12a outward and fix it.

  The configuration of the wheel deployment unit 20 described above may be provided for each of the frames 12a and 12b, or may be a mechanism in which the inner spokes 14a and 14b operate in conjunction with each other with a single configuration. In this case, in particular, the expansion of the frames 12a and 12b is performed synchronously, and it is possible to keep the driver's grip posture of the steering wheel 10 well.

  Furthermore, the configuration of the wheel deployment unit 20 may be provided outside the housing 11 of the steering wheel 10. As an example, the configuration shown in the top view of the main part in FIG. 8A is pivoted to the shaft 16 operated by an external force (not shown), the fixture 15 fixed to the shaft 16 and the fixture 15 as the wheel deployment unit 20 It comprises freely fixed spokes 17a and 17b. In such a configuration, the spokes 17a and 17b are deployed by moving the fixing tool 15 together with the shaft 16 to the driver side, and the frames 12a and 12b are separated to enlarge the substantial outer diameter of the steering wheel 10. Do. Also in this case, the expansion of the frames 12a and 12b is performed synchronously, and it is possible to keep the driver's grip posture of the steering wheel 10 in a good condition.

  As described above, according to the operation assisting device for the steering wheel of the embodiment of the present invention, in the steering system using power steering, when the power assistance by the motor 50 performing the power assistance stops and the assist torque is lost, the wheel deployment By substantially enlarging the outer diameter of the steering wheel 10 by the portion 20, the force for turning the steering wheel 10 can be reduced as compared with that at the normal time, and the steering system can be easily operated with the assist torque lost. And improve safety.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the mechanism of the wheel deployment unit 20 for substantially enlarging the outside diameter of the steering wheel 10 is based on mechanical operation, and an EPS that requires hardware for electronic control. It is possible to realize with a simple configuration and low cost as compared with redundancy and the like.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the mechanism of the wheel deployment unit 20 that directly acts on the steering wheel 10 is another mechanical mechanism of the steering system of the EPS, exemplifying that the outer diameter is substantially enlarged. It can be provided without any modification, and can be retrofitted to conventional vehicles. Therefore, it is possible to provide a highly versatile operation assisting device.

  As described above, according to the operation assisting device for the steering wheel of the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the decrease in the steering performance of the automobile or other mobile body with a simple and low-cost configuration. The effect is achieved that the effect can be stably performed.

  However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  In the above description, in order to substantially enlarge the outer diameter of the steering wheel 10, the distance between the frames 12a and 12b of the wheel body 12 of the steering wheel 10 is expanded. It is sufficient if the force applied to the operating handle can be reduced by extending the distance from the turning center of the steering wheel exemplified in the steering wheel 10 to the grip position of the steering handle, and the invention is limited to other specific configurations. I will not. Therefore, for example, only the position of the steering wheel 10 at which the driver of the wheel body 12 grips may be configured to separate and extend.

  Furthermore, in the above description, the steering wheel 10 is raised as an example of the steering wheel according to the present invention, but the steering wheel according to the present invention only needs to be able to receive a turning operation by the operator. However, the steering wheel may be implemented as a lever, a bar handle or the like.

  Furthermore, in the above description, although the four-wheeled vehicle was mentioned as an example of the moving body of the present invention, the moving body of the present invention can be operated by applying the main torque and the operation The steering system is not limited to the other specific configuration as long as it has a steering system operated by the assist torque provided by power independent of the operation by the driver, and therefore implemented in two-wheelers, ships, trains and other moving bodies. It is also good.

  Furthermore, in the above description, when the wheel deployment unit 20 as an example of the operation load reducing means of the present invention determines that an abnormality has occurred in the motor 50 that provides the assist torque, the contribution of the assist torque in the steering system is Although it operates when lost, the operation burden reducing means of the present invention is a force applied to the operating handle by the operator to apply the main torque when all or part of the auxiliary torque is lost. As long as it is reduced by acting directly on the operation handle.

  Therefore, the operation load reducing means of the present invention operates as an example of all or a part of the assist torque when there are a plurality of means for applying the assist torque, even if any one of the assist torques is lost. Well, if there is only one means for providing the assist torque, it may operate when a part of the torque is lost. However, from the viewpoint of fail-safe, as described above, it is preferable to operate the operation burden reducing means of the present invention when all the assist torque is lost.

  As described above, the present invention is an operation assisting device for a steering wheel, which is provided by a main torque applied via the steering wheel that receives a turning operation by the operator and a power independent of the operation by the operator. An auxiliary device for a steering wheel, which assists the turning operation of the steering wheel in a moving body having a steering system operated by an auxiliary torque, which applies the main torque when all or part of the auxiliary torque is lost. In order to reduce the force applied to the operating handle by the operator directly by acting on the operating handle, any operation burden reducing means may be provided. It is not limited by the configuration.

  Therefore, the present invention may be implemented as various modifications to the above-described embodiment, including those described above, as long as the scope of the present invention is not deviated.

  The present invention as described above has an effect that it is possible to reduce a decrease in the steering performance of a vehicle or other mobile body with a simple and low-cost configuration, and is applicable to vehicles such as four-wheeled vehicles. Useful in application.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Four-wheeled vehicle 10 Steering wheel 11 Housing 12 Wheel main body 12a Frame 13, 17a Spoke 13a Outer spoke 14, 14a, 14b Inner spoke 14E End 15 Fixture 16 Shaft 20 Wheel deployment part 21 Sleeve 21x Internal space 21x1 Moving space 21y, 24ax opening 21x2 chamber 22 pre-compression spring 22a latch 22b folding 23 actuator 23a pushing projection 24 ignition device 24a explosive 25 shared pin 25a shaft 26 drive screw 27, 50 motor 27a belt 30 sensor 40 reduction gear 60 CPU
71 rack bar 72 steering gear box 73 tie rods 80 steered wheels

Claims (1)

The rotation of the steering wheel in a mobile unit having a steering system operated by a main torque given via a steering wheel that receives a turning operation by the operator and an auxiliary torque given by power independent of the operation by the operator An auxiliary device for a steering wheel that assists operation.
Operation load reducing means for reducing the force applied to the operating handle by the operator to apply the main torque when all or part of the auxiliary torque is lost, by acting directly on the operating handle Equipped with
Steering assist device for steering wheel.

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