JPS58128962A - Steering gear of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve stability in high speed traveling by detecting the steering angle of a steering wheel and the lateral acceleration of a vehicle to calculate the lateral acceleration caused by the disturbance and automatically correct said steering angle of the steering wheel according to the component of said acceleration. CONSTITUTION:Respective detecting signals of a steering angle detecting resistance plate 4 of a steering wheel 1, a vehicle speed detecting sensor 7, a lateral acceleration sensor 8 and a tire steering angle sensor 9 are sent to the input of a microcomputer 5 which estimates and calculates the lateral acceleration gC from the tire steering angle and the vehicle speed when the lateral acceleration caused by the disturbance is absent and compares it with actual lateral acceleration gL for decision. When gC and gL differ from the each other, a corrective angle alpha of the steering angle is calculated to operate a steering mechanism through a drive circuit 12 and an actuator 13 so as to add or subtract alpha to or from the tire steering angle of the steering wheel 1. Thus, the steering angle to the lateral acceleration caused by the disturbance is automatically corrected to improve high speed stability.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a steering mechanism for a motor vehicle.

When a car is hit by a crosswind while driving on a highway, it shifts into the direction of the lateral force. In particular, if you pass through a tunnel or cut and suddenly find yourself in a place with strong winds, you will suddenly receive a large lateral force and shift sideways.

However, in conventional automobiles, no measures have been taken to prevent such a lateral shift, and the only way to prevent this shift is through the driver's steering wheel operation. In other words, the driver visually recognizes changes in the surrounding scenery or visibility as the vehicle shifts, or physically feels lateral acceleration, and corrects the steering wheel operation based on this. However, correcting lateral disturbance acceleration such as a crosswind by operating the steering wheel requires a high degree of driving skill and quick reflex action. In addition, incorrect driving operations could cause a traffic accident, so it was necessary to pay particular attention to safety when driving at high speeds.

The present invention has been made with the aim of overcoming such problems, and is designed to make corrections in accordance with this acceleration when lateral acceleration is applied to the vehicle due to causes other than lyophobic. However, the object of the present invention is to provide a balance collection device.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the handle 1 of the steering mechanism of this embodiment is not mechanically mated with the steering gear, but instead has a handle shaft 2 with a slide made of a conductive material. Mover 3 is attached.

This slider 3 is in sliding contact with a resistance plate 4, and a voltage proportional to the turning angle of the handle 1 is taken out as a signal. This signal is input to the microcomputer 5. The microcomputer 5 also receives the detection output of a vehicle speed detection sensor 7 provided in the transmission 6 and the detection output of a lateral acceleration sensor 8, respectively. Note that the acceleration sensor 8 is arranged forward of the yaw center of the vehicle. Furthermore, a detection output from a tire turning angle detection sensor 9 that detects the actual tire turning angle is also input to the microcomputer 5. This sensor 9 is composed of, for example, a sliding resistor, and is attached to the knuckle 11 of the front wheel via a support arm 10.

On the other hand, the output of the microcomputer 5 is supplied to a drive circuit 12, and this drive circuit 12 fully drives the actuator 13 based on the control signal from the computer 5. In addition, actuator 13c,
In this embodiment, it is composed of a pulse motor. A worm 14 is fixed to the output shaft of the pulse motor 13 and meshes with a steering gear 15. A pitman arm 16 fixed to the shaft of the steering gear 15 is connected to the knuckle 11 via a huddle ring 17 and a knuckle arm 18. Further, the pair of left and right knuckle arms 18 are connected to each other by tie rods 19.

The operation of the steering mechanism as described above will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG. The microcomputer 5 first reads the vehicle speed based on the signal from the sensor 7.

Next, the turning angle of the handle 1 is read based on the output voltage of the resistor plate 4. Furthermore, the computer 5 reads the actual tire turning angle based on the output from the tire turning angle detection sensor 9. Further, the lateral acceleration actually applied to the vehicle is read from the detection output from the lateral acceleration sensor 8.

After completing this series of readings, the microcomputer 5 uses the information about the actual tire turning angle and vehicle speed to
Estimating the lateral acceleration caused only by steering the vehicle in the absence of lateral acceleration due to disturbance. And this calculated value g. and the actual lateral acceleration g already read into the microcomputer 5.
Make a comparative judgment with L. Here g. When it is determined that gL and gL are equal to each other, the microcomputer 5 controls the drive circuit 12 and the actuator 1 so that the steering angle of the steering wheel 1 and the steering angle of the tire are equal.
Steering is done through 3. If gc and gL are different from each other, the microcomputer 5 calculates the steering angle correction degree α, and determines whether the steering angle of the tire is increased or decreased by α compared to the steering angle of the steering wheel 1. The steering mechanism is operated via the drive circuit 12 and the actuator 13 so that the value is reached.

Calculated lateral acceleration gc and actual lateral acceleration g
When L is different, it is a case where the vehicle is receiving a force that tends to move sideways due to a crosswind, a slope of the road surface, etc. In such a case, as mentioned above, the actual steering angle of the tire will not be equal to the steering angle of the steering wheel 1, and will be corrected and the steering action will be performed automatically. The forces created by the inclination of the vehicle prevent the vehicle from moving laterally. Therefore, safety is improved especially when driving at high speeds.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, according to the present invention,
If lateral acceleration is applied due to a cause other than lateral acceleration associated with steering, the turning angle of the steering wheel is corrected and a steering action is automatically performed, which improves safety, especially when driving at high speeds. will improve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of a microcomputer of this device. In addition, in the symbols used in the drawings, 1... Handle 3... Slider 4... Resistance plate 5... Microcomputer 7... Vehicle speed detection sensor 8... Lateral acceleration sensor 9. ...Tire turning angle detection sensor 13...Actuator 15...Steering gear 18...Knuckle arm. Applicant Hino Motors Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In addition to extracting the turning angle of the handle as an electrical output,
The lateral acceleration applied to the vehicle is detected, the electrical output of the turning angle of the steering wheel is corrected according to the acceleration component of the lateral acceleration due to causes other than steering, and this corrected signal is used to control the actuator. 5. Automatic η steering system, which is characterized by driving the steering mechanism through the 5.