Abstract: A method for remotely controlling a big rig comprises a tractor unit and one or more trailers coupled to the tractor unit, wherein the tractor unit comprises a drive train which can be electronically actuated by control means of the tractor unit and by way of which the tractor unit can be driven automatically. The control means of the tractor unit have a wireless communication link to a touchscreen device so that automatic driving of the big rig can be remotely controlled by way of the touchscreen device during which at least one articulation angle between a longitudinal axis of the tractor unit and a longitudinal axis of the trailer is continuously regulated.

Abstract: A power steering system, and more particularly a power-assisted steering system for a vehicle, comprises a lead screw which is driven by a servo motor and is composed of a nut, which is mounted axially non-displaceably in a frame, and an axially displaceable component, the thread of which is engaged with a thread of the nut, and further comprising a belt pulley, which is non-rotatably connected to the nut and forms part of a traction mechanism gear between the servo motor and the nut, wherein the nut is mounted in the frame by a rolling bearing. So as to provide a power steering system which produces little noise and is easy to install, very precise in operation and also cost-effective to produce, the belt pulley is produced from plastic.

Abstract: A torque actuator is regulated so as to permit an activation of the torque actuator such that steering wheel rotary oscillations that occur can be compensated. For this purpose, in one embodiment, a torsion bar torque is detected. A compensation torque is determined as a function of the detected torsion bar torque by means of a variable-frequency disturbance variable and state variable calculator. The compensation torque or a signal corresponding to the compensation torque is then taken into consideration during activation of the torque actuator.

Abstract: A device for exposing at least one opening in a housing part of a steering gear in a vehicle steering system is provided with a closure element, which closes the opening, and an operating element. At least one of the properties of the operating element changes when coming in contact with a liquid so that the opening can be exposed by the closure element after cooperation of the operating element with the closure element. The closure element is at least partially covered by a cover part and is designed as a buoyant body, or is provided with one or more buoyant bodies, wherein the cover part completely exposes the opening when liquid makes contact with the cover part.

Abstract: A recirculating ball gear, in particular for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprises a nut, which is mounted in a housing by way of a bearing, wherein at least one spring element is disposed on each end face of the bearing between the bearing and the housing. During operation, the recirculating ball gear is exposed to impact in the axial direction, whereby the gear may become damaged over time and annoying rattling noise may develop in the recirculating ball gear. The spring elements are thus operated in the progressive area of characteristic curve.

Abstract: A power steering system for a vehicle comprises a lead screw which is driven by a servo motor and which is composed of a nut that is mounted axially non-displaceably in a frame, and an axially displaceable component, the thread of which is engaged with a thread of the nut, wherein the nut is mounted in the frame by a rolling bearing. At least one side of the rolling bearing is provided on an outer ring with at least one respective bearing disk, the side of which facing away from the outer ring is provided in the radial region of the outer ring with a ring or an annular component made of elastomeric material, wherein the ring protrudes in the axial direction over the outer surface of the respective bearing disk when the rolling bearing is not installed.

Abstract: A steering shaft for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprises an inner shaft mounted axially displaceably in a hollow shaft, wherein a rolling bearing having multiple metallic rolling elements, which are disposed axially in at least two rows, is disposed between the hollow shaft and the inner shaft. Previously known steering shafts cannot reliably present vibrations from being transmitted from the inner shaft to the hollow shaft. Therefore, the diameters of the metallic rolling elements decreases proceeding from the center of the rolling bearing toward the end faces thereof, wherein multiple mutually adjacent metallic rolling elements have identical and/or different diameters.

Abstract: A device for pressing a rack onto a pinion engaged with the rack, in particular for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprising a pressure piece, which can be loaded in the direction of the rack and is displaceably guided in a housing, and comprising an adjusting device for compensating play that occurs in the steering system. In known devices, the play of the pressure piece must be set by way of an adjusting screw. This proves to be very complicated and problematic. An adjusting screw is therefore provided, wherein a spring washer is disposed between the adjusting screw and the adjusting device, and the adjusting device has a shoulder and the adjusting screw has a recess, or the adjusting device has the recess and the adjusting screw has the shoulder.

Abstract: A steering system in a vehicle comprises an electrical servo motor for generating a supporting servo torque, wherein the motor shaft of the servo motor is coupled to a motion-transmitting component of the steering system. A water protection shield enclosing the motor shaft is disposed between the motor housing of the servo motor and the motion-transmitting component.

Abstract: A method for implementing a transition from a functioning steering assistance system to a deactivated steering assistance system when a fault occurs, comprising the following steps: establishing the fault of the steering assistance system; establishing that all high-side power switches are functional (first case), or establishing that all low-side power switches are functional (second case); and in the first case: opening all high-side power switches and performing PWM-like control of the low-side power switches; or in the second case: opening all low-side power switches and performing PWM-like control of the high-side power switches.

Abstract: A bearing bushing assembly for a telescopic steering shaft comprises an outer tube and an inner tube, wherein the bearing bushing assembly comprises a bearing bushing, which is seated against the inner tube and made of an inflexible plastic material, and a sealing element, which is molded onto the bearing bushing and made of an elastic plastic material so as to connect the inner tube to the outer tube in an axially movable and sealing manner, the bearing bushing being enclosed by an elastic bushing, which in turn is enclosed by an end section of the outer tube, the outer circumference of the elastic bushing comprising outwardly extending rib-shaped elements, the elastic bushing comprises at least one sealing lip extending in the axial direction.

Abstract: A method for determining a rack force for a steering apparatus of a vehicle, in which the rack force is determined as a function of a steering angle variable which characterizes an actual wheel steering angle or a set point of the wheel steering angle. In order to specify a method for determining a rack force, with which a target steering torque can be generated such that a comfortable steering feel is imparted to the driver and the steering apparatus nevertheless gives the driver feedback that is as realistic as possible regarding the motion state of the vehicle, the method comprises: determining a variable which characterizes a lateral force on a shaft of the steering apparatus, and determining the rack force as a function of the lateral force, wherein the determination of the rack force comprises a filtering by means of a signal processing element having a proportional-differential transfer function.

Abstract: A device for pressing a rack onto a pinion engaging the rack, more particularly for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprises a pressure piece which is slidably guided in a housing and which is loaded in the direction of the rack, and an adjusting device. Devices made of metal are known from the prior art, which, however, generate excessive noise emissions during operation. Therefore, the pressure piece is made of plastic and the adjusting device is made of metal and/or plastic.

Abstract: A method for operating an electric motor which is used as an electric servo drive in an electronic power steering system of a motor vehicle for power assistance and which has a number of magnetic elements and phase windings and is actuated and/or controlled by an electronic control unit of the electronic power steering system, wherein a temperature of at least one magnetic element of the electric motor is continuously determined during the operation of the electric motor by way of a temperature model and wherein, based on the temperature of the at least one magnetic element of the electric motor determined by way of the temperature model, an electrical current flowing in at least one of the phase windings of the electric motor is limited, taking into account a predeterminable limit temperature of the at least one magnetic element of the electric motor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a toothed rack force on a steering device in a vehicle, wherein the toothed rack force (forZS) is determined as a function of a plurality of models, and wherein a component (forESM) of the toothed rack force (forZS) which relates to a driving process is generated by means of a first model, and a component of the toothed rack force (forZS) which relates to a parking process is generated by means of a second model.

Abstract: A sensor device for detecting the rotational position of a rotating shaft, which is rotatably mounted in a housing, comprises a transducer magnet fastened to a carrier pin, which is accommodated in a recess in the end face of the shaft.

Abstract: A steering system in a vehicle comprising an electric servomotor which includes a switching gearbox that is integrated into the steering shaft and has a switching actuator wherein a less direct gear ratio is presented when the switching actuator is de-energized than when it is energized.

Abstract: A device for pressing a rack onto a pinion engaged with the rack, for a steering system of a motor vehicle, is equipped with a pressure piece, which can be loaded in the direction of the rack by way of a compression spring and is displaceably guided in a housing, and with an adjusting device for compensating play that occurs in the steering system. A spring washer is disposed between the adjusting device and the pressure piece, wherein the adjusting device has shoulder and the pressure piece has a recess or the pressure piece has a shoulder and the adjusting device has a recess in the region of the spring washer. The adjusting device further comprises two adjusting disks which are rotatable relative to one another and beat against one another at contact surfaces, and the contact surfaces have at least two beveled edges. The complete adjusting device is preinstalled as an assembly unit comprising the pressure piece, the spring washer, and the compression spring with the use of a spring pin.

Abstract: A method for determining a steering rack force (FR) for a steering system of a vehicle, in which a first steering rack force (RFD) is ascertained as a function of at least one force that occurs in the steering system or at least one torque (tor_RA) that occurs in the steering system. So as to provide less strong feedback on the force conditions in the steering system for reasons of driving comfort, in particular when this is currently not required, it is proposed to ascertain a second steering rack force (RFC) as a function of at least one vehicle variable (v, ang_RA), which characterizes the state of movement of the vehicle, and to generate a resulting steering rack force (FR) based on the first steering rack force (RFD) and the second steering rack force (RFC).

Abstract: In a device for releasing a securing screw for a unit in a housing, in particular a pinion unit in a steering gear of a motor vehicle, the securing screw is connected via an external thread to an internal thread in the housing, wherein the securing screw is provided with a latching device, which has latching levers disposed distributed on the circumference of the securing screw, each of which said latching levers is provided with latching lugs disposed on the free ends of the latching levers. The latching lugs latch into toothing gaps of a toothing geometry of the housing. The latching device can be connected to a tool in order to release the latching levers having the latching lugs from the latched position by means of a radially inwardly directed movement of the latching levers.