JPH02175380A - Motor-driven power steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the degree of freedom of the installing space of a motor and improve an actual vehicle mounting property by mutually reversely winding a pair of right/left belts on a wind-up drum rotated by an electric motor and linking the other ends of the belts to right/left steering links. CONSTITUTION:In a motor-driven power steering device in which a motor-driven steering auxiliary power transmission mechanism 12 including an electric motor 11 is installed on a manual steering type rack-and-pinion steering mechanism 4, the steering auxiliary power transmission mechanism 12 steerably supports right/left steering wheels 1, 2, while being formed by linking one end of each of a pair of right/left belts 14a, 14b the other ends of which are mutually reversely wound around the wind-up portions 13a, 13b of a wind-up drum 13 to the eccentric position of each knuckle arm 9, 9 as right/left steering links for carrying out steering in accordance with the steering operation of a steering handle 3. The wind-up drum 13 is rotated by means of the electric motor 11 which is controlled in its rotation in accordance with the operation of the handle 3 via a reduction gear mechanism 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a power steering device used to reduce the operating force (steering force) of a steering wheel.

In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in an electric power steering device using an electric motor as a steering assist force generating means.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, power steering devices called power steering have become widely installed in various vehicles including small cars. It can be effective in alleviating feelings of fatigue.

Conventionally, a hydraulic type has been generally used as this type of power steering device, but in recent years, various electric types using an electric motor or the like have been proposed in place of the hydraulic type.

In other words, the above-mentioned hydraulic device requires a hydraulic cylinder for generating steering assist force, a hydraulic pump, a flow path switching valve, a hydraulic piping system to connect these parts, etc., and has a large number of components. The configuration of each part is complex, requiring high processing precision, making the single-piece assembly difficult and complicated, and the entire device also increases in size and weight.

This had problems such as high costs.

For this reason, recently, electric motors that can be used by connecting to an on-board battery or controller using simple electrical wiring have been introduced.
Electric-powered systems as a means of generating steering assist force are attracting attention, and compared to the hydraulic type mentioned above, the configuration of each part of the device is more flexible.
! [Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in the conventionally well-known electric power steering device, it was possible to make the entire device smaller and more compact. In this system, an electric motor, which is the first stage for generating steering assist force, is attached close to the input shaft or output shaft that constitutes the steering gear mechanism, and its rotational force is transmitted to the input and output shafts through a reduction gear mechanism, etc. This configuration limits the locations where the motor can be attached, and depending on the vehicle, there may not be enough space for the motor, which poses a problem in terms of practical installation. This problem is particularly noticeable in small cars and the like where the space within the engine compartment is small. Furthermore, in such conventional devices, the two motors rotate at high speeds because the motors are attached close to the steering gear mechanism and the like.

Gear backlash sound in a reduction gear mechanism.

There is also a noise problem in that the meshing sound echoes into the vehicle interior through the steering wheel, and it is desired that some kind of countermeasure be taken to eliminate these problems.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to meet such demands, the electric power steering device according to the present invention supports the left and right steering wheels in a steerable manner and steers the left and right steering wheels in accordance with the steering operation of the steering wheel. left and right steering links, one end of which is connected to the eccentric position t of these left and right steering links, and the other end of which is wound around the winding portion of the winding drum in a reverse winding state; The winding drum is configured to include a pair of right belts and an electric motor that is rotationally controlled in a required direction in response to a steering operation of the steering handle and rotates the winding drum via a rotation transmission mechanism. be.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, one of the left and right belts is wound onto the winding section of the winding drum, while the other belt is unwound by the electric motor driven in response to the steering operation of the steering handle. By being left.

The right steering wheel can be steered while applying a required steering assist force in the steering direction.

〔Example〕

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail using embodiments shown in the drawings.

1 to 3 show an embodiment of an electric power steering device according to the present invention, and in these figures, in this embodiment,
In order to steer the left and right steering wheels 1 and 2 using the steering handle 3, a manual steering type rack and pinion type steering mechanism 4 as shown in FIG. This figure shows a case in which an electric power steering device, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, is constructed by adding an electric steering assist force transmission mechanism 12 using an electric steering assist force transmission mechanism 12.

First, to briefly explain the schematic configuration of the above-mentioned rack and pinion type steering mechanism 4, 5 is connected to the steering wheel nozzle 3 (see Figure 1) via an input shaft 5a and a torsion lever 5b, and has a pinion 5C. The binion shaft 6 is a rack disposed between the left and right steering wheels 1 and 2 and has rack teeth 6a that mesh with the binion 5C in the steering gear body 7, and the movement of the rack 6 is caused by the tie rod 8. 8a to the knuckle arms 9, 9 rotatably supported by king pins 9a, 9a as shown in FIG. 1, thereby steering the left and right steering wheels 1, 2 in the desired steering direction. It is configured to allow

The above-mentioned rack and pinion type steering mechanism 4 has a conventionally known configuration.

A detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Now, according to the present invention, in the manual steering type steering mechanism 4 having the above-mentioned configuration, as is clear from FIGS. 1 and 2.

A steering wheel 3 supports the left and right steering wheels 1.2 in a steerable manner.
A winding drum 13 is connected at one end to eccentric positions of knuckle arms 9, 9 as left and right steering links to be steered in response to steering operations of the winding drum 13, and the other end is in a reverse winding state.
Winding section 13a.

A pair of left and right bells wound around 13b) 14a.

14b, and an electric motor 11 that is rotationally controlled in a required direction in response to a steering operation of the steering handle 3 and rotationally drives the winding drum 13 via a rotation transmission mechanism (reduction gear mechanism) 15. It is characterized by the following. In addition, 16 in the figure is a winding drum 13 that controls the rotation of the electric motor 11.
This is a clutch mechanism for selectively transmitting data to the side.

Here, the required operating conditions for the mechanism 12 for transmitting the steering assist force using such an electric motor 11 are the steering direction by the above-mentioned steering wheel 3,
For example, by detecting the steering angle, steering force, etc.
As shown in the figure and FIG. 3, a binion shaft 5 as a steering shaft and a torsion bar 5b
A steering force detection mechanism 20 that detects the relative rotational displacement between the input shafts 5a on the steering handle 3 side connected via a non-contact torque sensor, and It is preferable to use a steering angle detection mechanism 21 or the like that detects the steering direction and steering angle by detecting the rotation angle.

Then, in response to the steering operation of the steering wheel 3 obtained from the detection signals from these detection mechanisms 20 and 21, the electric motor 11 driven by a controller (not shown) activates either the left or right bell! -14a or 14
b is wound up on the winding portions 13a, 13b of the winding drum 13, while the other bell (14b or 14a) is unwound.

The left and right steering wheels 1 and 2 can be steered while applying a required steering assist force in the steering direction, and the advantage thereof will be easily understood.

According to such a configuration, the steering assist force transmission mechanism 12 using the electric motor 11 can be attached to the knuckle arms 9, 9 by the belts 14a, 14b separately from the steering link system, and the electric motor 11 etc. , it is possible to separate and freely select and install it without interfering with other mechanical parts, and it is suitable for vehicles where the installation space for the motor 11 etc. is limited when installing it along the steering shaft system as in the past. This has the advantage that it is easy to secure installation space. In addition, this increase in installation space is due to the fact that it is installed near the steering shaft system as in the past, so high-speed rotation of the motor, backlash noise from the reduction gear mechanism, meshing noise, etc. can be transmitted through the steering wheel into the vehicle interior. echoed,
It becomes possible to eliminate the problem of causing noise problems. Please note that this noise problem is caused by the knuckle arm 9.
If the material of the winding drum 13 and the like is made of vibration-damping steel or an elastic body, the effect can be further improved.

In addition, in this embodiment described above, the bell) 14a.

14b and the connection part between knuckle arm 9.9.

By setting it farther from the king pins 9a, 9a than the connection between the tie locks) 8, 8a and the knuckle arm 9,
It functions as a kind of deceleration mechanism.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the structure of the embodiment described above, and the shape, structure, etc. of each part may be modified and changed as necessary. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a rack and pinion type steering mechanism is illustrated as a manual steering type steering mechanism, but it is needless to say that the steering mechanism is not limited to this.
Steering direction.

Various modifications may be considered as the detection mechanism for detecting the steering angle and steering force.

Further, according to the present invention, one winding drum 13 is moved by the electric motor 1.
1, the rotation transmission mechanism (reduction gear mechanism) 15 and the clutch mechanism 16 are not necessarily required, as long as the rotation speed, starting, and stopping of the motor 11 can be appropriately controlled.

You are free to omit it.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the electric power steering device according to the present invention, the left and right steering links support the left and right steering wheels in a steerable manner and steer the wheels in accordance with the steering operation of the steering wheel. , a pair of left and right belts, one end of which is connected to the eccentric positions of these left and right steering links, and the other end of which is wound in a reverse winding state around the winding portion of the winding drum, and a steering handle. Despite its simple configuration, the winding drum is configured to include an electric motor that is rotationally controlled in a required direction in response to the steering operation of the winding drum and rotates the winding drum via a rotation transmission mechanism.
″: 4. The required steering assist force is applied to the left and right steering wheels in the steering direction by the winding and unwinding operations of the left and right belts wound around the winding portion of the winding drum that is rotationally driven by a dynamic motor. In particular, in addition to the steering force transmission system from the steering wheel side to the left and right steering link systems, the steering assist force from the electric motor can be transmitted by the belt, so the motor In addition to increasing the freedom of installation space and improving the ease of mounting on actual vehicles, mechanical parts that cause noise problems at high rotation speeds, such as the motor and deceleration southeast mechanism, can be membrane-mounted away from the steering wheel. is possible,
It has various excellent effects such as reducing noise inside the car.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the 'rlL* type power steering device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a steering assist force transmission mechanism that characterizes the present invention, and Fig. FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view showing only the main configuration of a steering mechanism to which the invention is applied. 1.2... Left and right steering wheels, 3... Steering handle, 4... Manual steering type rack and pinion type steering mechanism, 5... Binion shaft, 6...・
Rack, 8.8... Tie-ro, Do, 8a, 8a...
...Pitman arm, 9.9...Knuckle arm (left and right steering links), 10...Electric power steering device, 11...Electric motor, 12...Steering assist Force transmission mechanism, 13... Winding drum, 13a, 13b.
... Winding section, 14a, 14b... Belt, 15.
...Rotation transmission mechanism, 20.21...Detection mechanism. Patent applicant: Automotive Equipment Co., Ltd. Agent: Masaki Yamakawa (and 2 others) Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] Left and right steering links that support the left and right steering wheels in a steerable manner and steer the left and right steering wheels in response to the steering operation of the steering handle, and one end at an eccentric position of these left and right steering links. A pair of left and right belts are connected to each other and are wound around the winding portion of the winding drum with the other end winding in reverse, and the rotation is controlled in a desired direction according to the steering operation of the steering handle. and an electric motor that rotationally drives the winding drum via a rotation transmission mechanism.