IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0429480
(2006-05-05)
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등록번호 |
US-7806419
(2010-10-26)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
38 |
초록
▼
A steering system control apparatus having a centering unit for resisting off-center movement of the steer wheels of a vehicle and returning them to a selected center position after each such movement. A centering shaft is connected to the steering shaft of a vehicle steering gear for rotational rec
A steering system control apparatus having a centering unit for resisting off-center movement of the steer wheels of a vehicle and returning them to a selected center position after each such movement. A centering shaft is connected to the steering shaft of a vehicle steering gear for rotational reciprocation therewith and an intermediate rotational position thereof defines a neutral position that is adjustable by a trimming assembly to change a selected center position of the steering system. A holding force and a return force are applied to the centering shaft by actuating members that engage a cylinder arranged for reciprocal movement against a constantly applied resilient force.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for positioning at least one steerable member connected to a steering shaft for movement to either side of a selected center position in response to rotational reciprocation of the steering shaft to either side of a centering position, said apparatus comprising r
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for positioning at least one steerable member connected to a steering shaft for movement to either side of a selected center position in response to rotational reciprocation of the steering shaft to either side of a centering position, said apparatus comprising resistance means for providing a holding force resisting steering forces tending to move said steerable member to either side of said center position, said resistance means comprising: a centering shaft and means for connecting said centering shaft to the steering shaft for rotational reciprocation around a centering shaft axis, a rotational position of said centering shaft defining a neutral position corresponding to said selected center position; a hollow centering cylinder and stationary housing means for cooperating with said cylinder so that a cavity within said cylinder forms at least part of a centering chamber, said centering cylinder being arranged to reciprocate between a rest position and an active position for compressing resilient means in said centering chamber for exerting a resilient force against said cylinder; and, actuating means for causing compressive movement of said centering cylinder away from said rest position in response to rotational movement of said centering shaft around said shaft axis to either side of said neutral position, said actuating means comprising first engaging means for engaging an outer surface of an end wall of said centering cylinder so that rotation of said centering shaft away from said neutral position toward one side causes compressive movement of said centering cylinder, and second engaging means for engaging said outer surface of said centering cylinder end wall so that rotation of said centering shaft away from said neutral position toward the other side causes compressive movement of said centering cylinder; wherein the exertion of said resilient force against said centering cylinder causes said centering cylinder and said first and second engaging means to resist rotation of said centering shaft away from its neutral position, and thereby provides said holding force by opposing movement of said steerable member toward either side of said selected center position and provides a return force continuously biasing said steerable member toward said selected center position during movement of said steerable member to either side of said selected center position, the rest position of centering cylinder corresponding to the neutral position of said centering shaft. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first engaging means comprises a push arm and said second engaging means comprises another push arm, wherein each of said push arms has a proximate end rigidly connected to said centering shaft, and wherein each of said push arms has a distal end for engaging the outer surface of said centering cylinder end wall. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said distal ends comprises a corresponding bearing means. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising guide means for guiding reciprocation of said centering cylinder in a bore of said housing means. 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said guide means comprises a sleeve of low friction material carried in a peripheral recess in an outer surface of a sidewall of said centering cylinder and arranged to engage an opposing surface of said bore. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising trim means for changing the centering position of said steering shaft to vary the selected center position of said steerable member. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said steering shaft is connected to a steering system component movable with said steerable member, wherein said trim means comprises a linkage assembly connected between said steering system component and a centering lever connected to said centering shaft, the length of said linkage assembly being adjustable to change the centering position of said steering shaft; and wherein said adjustable linkage assembly comprises a trim rod having oppositely canted threads at opposite ends thereof that are engaged by correspondingly canted threads in respective first and second sleeve portions, said first sleeve portion being connected to said steering system component, and said second sleeve portion being connected to said centering lever so that rotation of said trim rod in one direction pulls said sleeves together and rotation of said trim rod in another direction pushes said sleeves apart. 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said steering system component is connected to a steering lever carried by said steering shaft such that rotational reciprocation of the steering shaft causes pivotal reciprocation of both said steering lever and said centering lever. 9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first engaging means comprises a first pair of push arms and said second engaging means comprises a second pair of push arms, wherein each of said push arms has a proximate end rigidly connected to said centering shaft, and wherein each of said push arms has a distal end, the distal ends of said first pair and the distal ends of said second pair supporting therebetween a contact member for engaging the outer surface of said centering cylinder end wall. 10. An apparatus according to claim 1 for a vehicle having a power steering unit for providing steering power to said steerable member, said apparatus further comprising means for preventing said resilient force in the absence of steering power from said power steering unit. 11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reciprocating centering cylinder cooperates with said housing means to form a sealed centering chamber, said centering cylinder being arranged to reciprocate between said rest position and said active position for compressing a fluid within said sealed centering chamber; and wherein said apparatus further comprises fluid means for providing a pressurized fluid in said sealed centering chamber, said resilient means comprising said pressurized fluid, and said fluid means comprising a source of said pressurized fluid and conduit means for providing a flow of said pressurized fluid from said source to said sealed centering chamber. 12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said fluid means further comprises control means for controllably varying the pressure of said fluid in said sealed centering chamber so as to vary the holding force provided by said centering cylinder. 13. An apparatus according to claim 12 for positioning a steerable wheel of a vehicle, wherein said control means comprises sensor means for sensing a speed of said vehicle, and means for adjusting the amount of said fluid pressure in response to said vehicle speed. 14. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of said engaging means engage a corresponding bearing surface of said centering cylinder with an amount of contact pressure dependant upon the fluid pressure in said sealed centering chamber, and wherein said fluid means includes adjusting means for remotely adjusting said fluid pressure to change the amount of said resilient force and thereby change said holding force. 15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises a resilient spring arranged in said centering chamber so that said resilient force is a spring force is applied against a wall of said centering cylinder and reciprocation of said centering cylinder between said rest position and said active position compresses said spring. 16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said centering shaft is formed as an extension of said steering shaft such that said centering shaft axis substantially coincides with a rotational axis of said steering shaft. 17. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising trim means for changing the selected center position of said steerable member, wherein said trim means comprises a linkage assembly connected between said steering shaft and another steering system component movable with said steerable member, the length of said linkage assembly being adjustable to change the center position of said steerable member; and wherein said linkage assembly comprises a trim rod having oppositely canted threads at opposite ends thereof that are engaged by correspondingly canted threads in respective first and second sleeve portions, said first sleeve portion being connected to said steering system component and said second sleeve portion being connected to a steering lever carried by said steering shaft so that rotation of said trim rod in one direction pulls said sleeves together and rotation of said trim rod in another direction pushes said sleeves apart. 18. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first engaging means comprises a first push arm and said second engaging means comprises a second push arm, wherein said push arms have a proximate end rigidly connected to said centering shaft and a distal end supporting respective first and second bearing means for engaging an outer surface of an end wall of said centering cylinder, and wherein said outer surface has a radial contour for engagement by each of said bearing means to provide an amount of said holding force greater than an amount of holding force that would be provided if said bearing means instead engaged a flat outer surface. 19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said first bearing means is arranged to move along said radial contour as said centering shaft rotates toward said one side of said neutral position, wherein said second bearing means is arranged to move along said radial contour as said centering shaft rotates toward said other side of said neutral position, and wherein said radial contour has a slope that changes from opposite edge portions to a central portion of said outer surface to cause corresponding changes in said holding and return forces as said bearing means move along said radial contour. 20. An apparatus for positioning at least one steerable member connected to a steering shaft for movement to either side of a selected center position in response to rotational reciprocation of the steering shaft to either side of a centering position, said apparatus comprising resistance means for providing a holding force resisting steering forces tending to move said steerable member to either side of said center position, said resistance means comprising: a centering shaft and means for connecting said centering shaft to the steering shaft for rotational reciprocation around a centering shaft axis, a rotational position of said centering shaft defining a neutral position corresponding to said selected center position; a hollow centering cylinder and stationary housing means for cooperating with said cylinder so that a cavity within said cylinder forms at least part of a centering chamber, said centering cylinder being arranged to reciprocate between a rest position and an active position for compressing resilient means in said centering chamber for exerting a resilient force against said cylinder; and, actuating means for causing compressive movement of said centering cylinder away from said rest position in response to rotational movement of said centering shaft around said shaft axis to either side of said neutral position, said actuating means comprising first engaging means for engaging said centering cylinder so that rotation of said centering shaft away from said neutral position toward one side causes compressive movement of said centering cylinder, and second engaging means for engaging said centering cylinder so that rotation of said centering shaft away from said neutral position toward the other side causes compressive movement of said centering cylinder; wherein said first engaging means comprises a first push arm and said second engaging means comprises a second push arm, wherein said push arms have a proximate end rigidly connected to said centering shaft and a distal end supporting respective first and second bearing means for engaging an outer surface of an end wall of said centering cylinder, wherein said outer surface has a radial contour for engagement by each of said bearing means to provide an amount of said holding force greater than an amount of holding force that would be provided if said bearing means instead engaged a flat outer surface, and wherein the exertion of said resilient force against said centering cylinder causes said centering cylinder and said first and second engaging means to resist rotation of said centering shaft away from its neutral position, and thereby provides said holding force by opposing movement of said steerable member toward either side of said selected center position and provides a return force continuously biasing said steerable member toward said selected center position during movement of said steerable member to either side of said selected center position, the rest position of centering cylinder corresponding to the neutral position of said centering shaft. 21. An apparatus for positioning at least one steerable member connected to a steering shaft for movement to either side of a selected center position in response to rotational reciprocation of the steering shaft to either side of a centering position, said apparatus comprising resistance means for providing a holding force resisting steering forces tending to move said steerable member to either side of said center position, said resistance means comprising: a centering shaft and means for connecting said centering shaft to the steering shaft for rotational reciprocation around a centering shaft axis, a rotational position of said centering shaft defining a neutral position corresponding to said selected center position; a hollow centering cylinder and stationary housing means for cooperating with said cylinder so that a cavity within said cylinder forms at least part of a centering chamber, said centering cylinder being arranged to reciprocate between a rest position and an active position for compressing resilient means in said centering chamber for exerting a resilient force against said cylinder; and, actuating means for causing compressive movement of said centering cylinder away from said rest position in response to rotational movement of said centering shaft around said shaft axis to either side of said neutral position, said actuating means comprising first engaging means for engaging said centering cylinder so that rotation of said centering shaft away from said neutral position toward one side causes compressive movement of said centering cylinder, and second engaging means for engaging said centering cylinder so that rotation of said centering shaft away from said neutral position toward the other side causes compressive movement of said centering cylinder; wherein said centering shaft is formed as an extension of said steering shaft such that said centering shaft axis substantially coincides with a rotational axis of said steering shaft, and wherein the exertion of said resilient force against said centering cylinder causes said centering cylinder and said first and second engaging means to resist rotation of said centering shaft away from its neutral position, and thereby provides said holding force by opposing movement of said steerable member toward either side of said selected center position and provides a return force continuously biasing said steerable member toward said selected center position during movement of said steerable member to either side of said selected center position, the rest position of centering cylinder corresponding to the neutral position of said centering shaft.
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