TWI589473B - Modular electric auxiliary steering system - Google Patents

Description

Modular electric assisted steering system

The invention relates to a vehicle auxiliary steering system, in particular to a modular electric assisted steering system.

The auxiliary steering systems of the existing large vans are mostly hydraulically assisted (HPS), and the steering main body itself has a power assist function, and a hydraulic pump is driven by the engine or the motor to provide the required steering power assist. In order to realize intelligent functions such as automatic driving on commercial vehicles, and to overcome the problem that the motor output is insufficient and the conventional HPS cannot actively control the steering, a product combining the electric assisted steering (EPS) module and the hydraulic direction main body has appeared, which is mostly applied. Heavy duty truck.

The existing buses can be divided into three categories: large buses, medium buses and minibuses. The large buses are mostly long front suspension vehicles. The small buses are mostly short front suspension vehicles, while the medium buses are long forward vehicles. One of the species of suspension and short front suspension. For medium- and small-sized buses with lighter tonnage, EPS has the opportunity to completely replace HPS to achieve intelligent functions such as autonomous driving, while eliminating the cost of production and maintenance of hydraulic systems.

The long front suspension type has a bevel gear box mounted below the machine column in a direction in which the main direction of the steering wheel is driven in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the bevel gear box is mounted below the machine column. The direction of the main machine operates, which in turn changes the direction of the tire.

The short front suspension type is located below the machine column in the direction of driving the tire steering, so the lower side of the direction column directly connects the main machine in the direction to change the direction of the tire.

According to the foregoing, it can be seen that since the relative positions of the main body and the direction column are different between different vehicle types, when the steering mechanism is disposed, different types of components must be provided corresponding to different vehicle types, for example, the long front suspension type must be set. The bevel gear box and the corresponding connecting element, while the short front suspension only needs to connect the steering column to the main body in the direction, so that because of the combination of different components, when assembling the vehicle Increasing the complexity of the process, and the various types of components will also lead to increased costs.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a modular electric assisted steering system.

Therefore, the modular electric assist steering system of the present invention is used for a vehicle, the vehicle includes a steering column, and the electric assist steering system includes a casing and a The input shaft unit, a first output shaft unit, a second output shaft unit, a twisting force measuring unit and an auxiliary power unit.

The input shaft unit is disposed on the housing and includes an input shaft extending along a first axis and rotatable about the first axis by the direction of the column, the first output shaft unit including a parallel a first output shaft extending from the second axis of the first axis and rotatable about the second axis by the input shaft, the second output shaft unit including an inclination angle inclined along the second axis a third output shaft extending along the third axis, and the twisting force measuring unit is disposed on the input shaft unit to measure the torque when the input shaft rotates. The auxiliary power unit is electrically connected to the torsion strength measuring unit and can rotate the first output shaft and the second output shaft according to the torque when the input shaft rotates.

The utility model has the advantages that the design of the first output shaft and the second output shaft extending in different directions by the input shaft can be respectively applied to different vehicle types to achieve simplified assembly. Process and cost reduction.

2‧‧‧Shell

3‧‧‧Input shaft unit

42‧‧‧First bevel gear

5‧‧‧Second output shaft unit

31‧‧‧Input shaft

311‧‧‧First installation section

312‧‧‧First extension

32‧‧‧Flexible body

4‧‧‧First output shaft unit

41‧‧‧First output shaft

411‧‧‧Second installation section

412‧‧‧Second extension

72‧‧‧Motor Module

721‧‧‧Motor body

722‧‧‧Reducer

723‧‧‧Reduction gear set

73‧‧‧Auxiliary shaft

74‧‧‧Auxiliary gear

9‧‧‧ Vehicles

51‧‧‧Second output shaft

511‧‧‧ Third installation section

512‧‧‧ third extension

52‧‧‧second bevel gear

53‧‧‧ linkage gear

6‧‧‧Twist strength measuring unit

7‧‧‧Auxiliary power unit

71‧‧‧Control Module

91‧‧‧direction machine column

92‧‧‧ Directional host

L1‧‧‧first axis

L2‧‧‧second axis

L3‧‧‧ third axis

D‧‧‧ Tilt angle

Other features and effects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a modular electric assisted steering system of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the present invention; Schematic diagram of the use of a vehicle applied to a long front suspension; and Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the use of the vehicle of this embodiment applied to a short front suspension type.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, an embodiment of the modular electric assist steering system of the present invention is for a vehicle 9, the vehicle 9 includes a steering column 91, and a direction host 92, the electric assist steering system The utility model comprises a casing 2, an input shaft unit 3, a first output shaft unit 4, a second output shaft unit 5, a twisting force measuring unit 6, and an auxiliary power unit 7.

The input shaft unit 3 is disposed on the housing 2 and includes an input shaft 31 extending along a first axis L1 and rotatable about the first axis L1 by the upper direction of the column 91, and a connection The input shaft 31 and the flexible body 32 of the first output shaft unit 4 are provided.

The input shaft 31 has a first mounting portion 311 located outside the housing 2 for mounting the steering column 91, and a first mounting portion 311 opposite thereto and extending into the housing 2 to connect the flexible portion The first extension 312 of the body 32.

The first output shaft unit 4 includes a first output shaft 41 extending along a second axis L2 parallel to the first axis L1 and rotatable about the second axis L2 by the input shaft 31, and a first output shaft 41 The first bevel gear 42 is disposed on the first output shaft 41. In the embodiment, the flexible body 32 is connected between the input shaft 31 and the first output shaft 41.

The first output shaft 41 has a second mounting portion 411 located outside the housing 2, and a second mounting portion 411 opposite thereto and extending into the housing 2 and connecting the first bevel gear 42 and the A second extension 412 of the body 32.

The second output shaft unit 5 includes a second output shaft extending along a third axis L3 inclined by an inclination angle D from the second axis L2 and rotatable about the third axis L3 by the input shaft 31. A rod 51, a second bevel gear 52 disposed on the second output shaft 51 and intermeshing with the first bevel gear 42, and a linkage gear 53 disposed on the second output shaft 51. In this embodiment, the first axis L1 and the second axis L2 are collinear, and the inclination angle D is a right angle.

The second output shaft 51 has a third mounting portion 511 located outside the housing 2, and a third mounting portion 511 opposite thereto and extending into the housing 2 and connecting the second bevel gear 52 and the linkage A third extension 512 of the gear 53.

The twisting force measuring unit 6 is disposed on the input shaft unit 3 to measure the torque when the input shaft 31 rotates. In the embodiment, when the input shaft 31 is rotated by the direction of the column 91, the first output shaft 41 is rotated relative to the first output shaft 41 due to the flexible deformation of the flexible body 32. The rotational displacement of the input shaft 31 can be obtained by measuring the rotational displacement.

The auxiliary power unit 7 is electrically connected to the torsion force measuring unit 6 and can rotate the first output shaft 41 and the second output shaft 51 according to the torque when the input shaft 31 rotates, and includes an electrical connection. Control module 71 of the twisting force measuring unit 6, one The motor module 72 electrically connected to the control module 71, an auxiliary shaft 73 connected to and driven by the motor module 72, and an auxiliary gear disposed on the auxiliary shaft 73 and meshing with the interlocking gear 53 74.

The motor module 72 has a motor body 721 electrically connected to the control module 71, and a speed reducer 722 disposed between the motor body 721 and the auxiliary shaft 73. The speed reducer 722 has a reduction gear set 723.

In use, the steering column 91 rotates the input shaft 31 during rotation, and the first output shaft 41 and the first bevel gear 42 are rotated by the flexible body 32. The first bevel gear 42 is rotated. The second bevel gear 52 and the second output shaft 51 are rotated, and the control module 71 is controlled after receiving the torque of the input shaft 31 measured by the torsion force measuring unit 6. The motor body 721 rotates and is driven to rotate the auxiliary shaft 73 and the auxiliary gear 74 via the reduction gear set 723 of the speed reducer 722, so that the torque that is lifted through the reduction gear set 723 can be transmitted to the interlocking gear 53. The second output shaft 51 and the first output shaft 41 are further provided to assist the torque.

That is to say, the first output shaft 41 and the second output shaft 51 respectively extending in different directions are simultaneously rotatable by the input shaft 31 and can be simultaneously assisted by the auxiliary power unit 7. Powered to work.

And one of the second mounting section 411 of the first output shaft 41 and the third mounting section 511 of the second output shaft 51 is for mounting and linking the square To the host computer 92, therefore, whether it is applied to a vehicle of a long front suspension type (see FIG. 2) or a vehicle of a short front suspension type (see FIG. 3), even if the relative position of the direction pillar 91 and the direction main body 92 are different, By using the present invention, the direction main body 92 can still be mounted to one of the second mounting section 411 of the first output shaft 41 and the third mounting section 511 of the second output shaft 51, as appropriate, and The operation of the main unit 92 can be smoothly linked, so that the components and the corresponding connecting elements are not required to be changed according to different types of vehicles, and can be applied to different vehicles, so that the process of assembling the vehicles can be greatly simplified, and the uniform form is single. Components can also reduce the cost of production.

In summary, the design of the first output shaft 41 and the second output shaft 51 extending in different directions by the input shaft 31 can be applied to different vehicle types for simplification. The combination of the process and the cost reduction effect can indeed achieve the object of the present invention.

However, the above is only the embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, and all the equivalent equivalent changes and modifications according to the scope of the patent application and the patent specification of the present invention are still The scope of the invention is covered.

2‧‧‧Shell

3‧‧‧Input shaft unit

31‧‧‧Input shaft

311‧‧‧First installation section

312‧‧‧First extension

32‧‧‧Flexible body

4‧‧‧First output shaft unit

41‧‧‧First output shaft

411‧‧‧Second installation section

412‧‧‧Second extension

42‧‧‧First bevel gear

5‧‧‧Second output shaft unit

51‧‧‧Second output shaft

511‧‧‧ Third installation section

512‧‧‧ third extension

52‧‧‧second bevel gear

53‧‧‧ linkage gear

6‧‧‧Twist strength measuring unit

7‧‧‧Auxiliary power unit

71‧‧‧Control Module

72‧‧‧Motor Module

721‧‧‧Motor body

722‧‧‧Reducer

723‧‧‧Reduction gear set

73‧‧‧Auxiliary shaft

74‧‧‧Auxiliary gear

L1‧‧‧first axis

L2‧‧‧second axis

L3‧‧‧ third axis

D‧‧‧ Tilt angle

Claims (10)

A modular electric assist steering system for a vehicle, the vehicle including a steering column, the electric assist steering system comprising: an input shaft unit, including a machine shaft extending along a first axis and receiving the direction An input shaft that rotates about the first axis; a first output shaft unit including a first output shaft extending along a second axis parallel to the first axis and rotatable about the second axis; A second output shaft unit includes a second output shaft extending along a third axis inclined at an oblique angle to the second axis and rotatable about the third axis. The modular electric assist steering system of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary power unit, wherein the auxiliary power unit can interlock the first output shaft and the second output shaft according to the torque when the input shaft rotates The rod rotates. The modular electric assist steering system of claim 2, wherein the input shaft unit further comprises a flexible body connecting the input shaft and the first output shaft, the first output shaft unit further comprising a a first bevel gear disposed on the first output shaft, the second output shaft unit further comprising a second bevel gear disposed on the second output shaft and intermeshing with the first bevel gear. The modular electric assist steering system of claim 3, further comprising a torsion strength measuring unit electrically connected to the auxiliary power unit, the torsion strength measuring unit being disposed on the input shaft unit to measure the rotation of the input shaft Torque. The modular electric assisted steering system of claim 4, wherein the auxiliary power unit comprises a control module electrically connected to the twisting force measuring unit, a motor module electrically connected to the control module, and a connection Driven by the motor module a rotating auxiliary shaft, and an auxiliary gear disposed on the auxiliary shaft, the second output shaft unit further comprising a linkage gear disposed on the second output shaft and intermeshing with the auxiliary gear. The modular electric assist steering system of claim 5, wherein the vehicle further comprises a directional main body having a first mounting section located outside the housing for mounting the directional column, and The first mounting segment is opposite and extends into the housing to connect the first extension of the flexible body. The modular electric assist steering system of claim 6, wherein the first output shaft has a second mounting section on the outside of the housing, and a second mounting section opposite the second mounting section and extending into the housing And connecting the first bevel gear and the second extension of the flexible body, the second output shaft has a third mounting section on the outside of the housing, and a third mounting section opposite to the housing A second extension of the second bevel gear and the linkage gear is coupled to the body, and one of the second mounting segment and the third mounting segment is coupled to the directional host. The modular electric assist steering system of claim 7, wherein the first axis and the second axis are collinear, and the tilt angle is a right angle. The modular motor-assisted steering system of claim 5, wherein the motor module has a motor body electrically connected to the control module, and a speed reducer disposed between the motor body and the auxiliary shaft. The modular electric assist steering system of claim 9, wherein the reducer has a reduction gear set.