Steering Gear Patents (Class 180/400)
  • Patent number: 11964690
    Abstract: A linear actuator for a steer-by-wire system including a component, in particular an axle or a shaft, that can be moved along a linear trajectory, and including a measuring device for determining a position of the component. The measuring device has a coil for inductively determining the position of the component, and the coil is arranged coaxially relative to the linear trajectory of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Drescher
  • Patent number: 11904777
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a vehicle body to which work instrument is connected at a back, and a ROPS frame erected at a back portion of a driver seat area in the vehicle body. The work vehicle further includes a positioning unit configured to detect a position of the vehicle body based on a signal sent from a positioning satellite, and a support unit that is fixed to an upper portion of the ROPS frame and supports the positioning unit from below. The positioning unit has a harness connection portion that is connected to a harness for sending information to outside. The harness connection portion is located at a back portion of the positioning unit. The support unit is located protruding backwardly from the harness connection portion of the positioning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: YANMAR HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ishino, Yohei Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11851219
    Abstract: A mushroom packaging system 10 comprising a mushroom packaging apparatus 11 wherein empty containers 12 are at least partially filled with mushrooms 13. The system further comprises a mushroom loading apparatus 14 comprising a mushroom loading station 15 and a mushroom conveyor 16 for retaining and conveying mushrooms loaded thereon by an operator to the mushroom packaging apparatus 11. A container storage apparatus 50 is also provided which provides a container loading station 17 positioned such that an operator may load empty containers 12 thereinto. A container conveyance apparatus 22 conveys empty containers 12 from the container storage apparatus 50 to a packaged mushroom collection station 18 via the mushroom packaging apparatus 11. Packaged mushrooms 19 received at the packaged mushroom collection station 18 may be retrieved by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventors: Alan Edwards, Sharon Edwards
  • Patent number: 11834130
    Abstract: A tiltable vehicle has a pair of front wheels coupled to a tiltable chassis by a tilt linkage, such that the pair of front wheels and the chassis are configured to tilt in unison with respect to a roll axis of the chassis. The tilt linkage includes a four-bar linkage having a pair of upper bar segments coupled to the chassis at spaced-apart respective inboard joints. In some examples, the inboard joints of the upper bar segments are each disposed outboard of a central chassis joint of a lower bar of the tilt linkage. An orientation sensor is configured to detect directional information regarding a net force vector applied to the chassis, and a tilt actuator operatively coupled to the chassis and configured to selectively tilt the chassis. A controller is configured to selectively control the tilt actuator based on the directional information from the orientation sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11738793
    Abstract: A movable object includes: a body part forming a main body; a wheel provided on a left side or a right side of the body part; a steering module connecting the body part and the wheel, wherein the steering module controls movement of the wheel in a manner that steers the wheel to the left when the wheel moves upward with respect to the body part, and steers the wheel to the right when the wheel moves downward with respect to the body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Geun Sang Yu, Hun Keon Ko, Joo Young Chun, Eun Ho Seo
  • Patent number: 11591016
    Abstract: A tiltable vehicle is configured to transform between an autonomous mode and a rideable mode by pivoting the handlebars and steering column of the vehicle about a pitch axis. In the autonomous mode, the steering column is folded back toward the chassis and a tiltable chassis of the vehicle is prevented from tilting. In the rideable mode, the steering column is unfolded and the chassis is free to tilt. In some examples, a tiltable vehicle includes features beneficial for vehicle-sharing, such as parking devices or a basket. These features may be included on any suitable vehicle and are not limited to use on transforming vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11565598
    Abstract: A charging system for an autonomous rover includes a charging interface with contacts that interface with the autonomous rover, a rover power source for the autonomous rover, and circuitry operated by the autonomous rover for controlling charging of the rover power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Symbotic LLC
    Inventors: Rick K. Dorval, Predrag Puskarevic, John Matthews
  • Patent number: 11352050
    Abstract: A method is proposed for operating a steering system of a motor vehicle, in particular an electromechanically supported steering system. First, at least one first virtual magnet and one second virtual magnet are provided in the steering system of the motor vehicle. A virtual magnetic force exerted on each other by the multiple virtual magnets is determined. A setpoint force that is to be applied to a lower part of the steering system is estimated and an auxiliary force with which a servo motor of the steering system acts on the lower part of the steering system is determined from the specified virtual magnetic force and the estimated setpoint force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Philipp Bergmann
  • Patent number: 11299198
    Abstract: A method estimates a track rod force which is exerted, in a power steering system with which a vehicle is equipped, on a track rod belonging to a steering mechanism which connects an actuator to a steered wheel which is orientable in the yaw direction and which bears a tyre of which the tread is in contact with the ground, the value of the estimated track rod force being corrected as a function of the longitudinal speed of the vehicle by a force component that models the release of the elastic torsion of the tyre so as to reduce, the estimated track rod force according to the longitudinal speed of the vehicle, when the vehicle transitions from a park situation in which the longitudinal speed of the vehicle is zero to a drive situation in which the longitudinal speed of the vehicle is non-zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Sébastien Bourdrez, Pierre Dupraz, Serge Gaudin, Pascal Moulaire, Kazusa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11223934
    Abstract: A road-vehicle communication system includes an in-vehicle communication apparatus and a roadside communication apparatus, the in-vehicle communication apparatus has a vehicle information transmission unit that transmits vehicle information related to a vehicle. The roadside communication apparatus has a storage unit storing a plurality of pieces of data to be transmitted to the in-vehicle communication apparatus. A vehicle information reception unit receives vehicle information transmitted from the in-vehicle communication apparatus. A transmission data generation unit combines a plurality of pieces of data stored in the storage unit to generate a single piece of transmission data. A data transmission unit transmits the data generated by the transmission data generation unit to the in-vehicle communication apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yabuuchi, Yuichi Kodama
  • Patent number: 11124224
    Abstract: An electric power steering system includes a housing, a ball screw, a motor, an angular position sensor and a computing unit. The ball screw includes a nut and a threaded shaft. The motor is disposed in the housing and connected to the nut and includes a bushing and a metal component. The metal component is fixed on the bushing and includes a central portion, a first wing portion and a second wing portion. The first wing portion and the second wing portion are disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the central portion. The angular position sensor is disposed in the housing and fixed relative to the housing. The angular position sensor includes a first sensing unit and a second sensing unit. The computing unit is electrically connected to the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Eric Wang, Yi-Wei Liao, Cheng-Che Ho
  • Patent number: 10933910
    Abstract: A controller controls a steering motor in accordance with a pinion angle command value calculated in response to a steering state. The steering motor produces a driving force to a steering operation mechanism. The controller calculates a target pinion angle in accordance with the steering state and the pinion angle command value by performing feedback control such that an actual pinion angle corresponds to the target pinion angle. The controller includes a compensation control circuit which calculates compensation amounts reflected in the pinion angle command value so as to compensate for an inertia component, a viscosity component, and a spring component of the steering operation mechanism in accordance with the target pinion angle. The compensation control circuit adds the compensation amounts to the target pinion angle so as to calculate the final target pinion angle to be used for the calculation of the pinion angle command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Kodera
  • Patent number: 10745045
    Abstract: A power steering device includes a steering mechanism, an electric motor for applying a steering assist force to the steering mechanism, and a first motor rotational position sensor for sensing as an actual axis phase a rotational position of a rotor of the electric motor. A control device is configured to: receive input of a signal of first actual axis phase outputted from the first motor rotational position sensor; receive input of a signal of value of electric current flowing through the electric motor; estimate as a control phase a phase of an induced voltage occurring in the electric motor, based on the signal of value of electric current; and determine whether or not the first motor rotational position sensor is abnormal, based on a difference between the first actual axis phase and the control phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Sasaki, Takumi Hisazumi, Shigehisa Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 10661825
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus that easily obtains desired steering torques to a steering angle without being affected by a road surface state and changes of mechanism characteristics of a steering system due to aging. The apparatus includes a target steering torque generating section to generate a target steering torque based on at least one of EPS/vehicle information, a converting section to convert the target steering torque into a target torsional angle, and a torsional angle control section to calculate the current command value based on the target torsional angle, a steering angle, a torsional angle of a torsion bar and a motor angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Tsubaki
  • Patent number: 10583833
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate a locus of a position of an own vehicle for each predetermined time in a future as a trajectory of the own vehicle, a traveling control unit configured to control a traveling of the own vehicle on the basis of the trajectory generated by the generation unit, and a storage control unit configured to cause a storage unit to store information indicating a steering component corresponding to a trajectory previously generated by the generation unit when the own vehicle is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Oniwa, Mineyuki Yoshida, Hiroshi Oguro
  • Patent number: 10527467
    Abstract: A rotation angle detector comprises a rotating body including a plurality of track parts, and an abnormality detecting unit for detecting an abnormality based on signals generated in detection units. The detection units generate a first signal based on a first track part and a second signal based on a second track part. The abnormality detecting unit includes a judgement unit for judging an occurrence of an abnormality when the difference between the fluctuation range of the first signal and the fluctuation range of the second signal is larger than a predetermined fluctuation range judgement value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nishioka, Shunichi Odaka, Keisuke Imai
  • Patent number: 10458527
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a pin gear having a plurality of power transmission pins that are relatively moved corresponding to a tooth shape formed on an outer gear, a motor arranged in a direction crossing a rotation axis of the pin gear, and generating power to rotate the pin gear, and a motion transfer unit connected to the pin gear and the motor between the pin gear and the motor, and transferring a rotational motion of the motor to a rotational motion of the pin gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SEJIN-IGB CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sun Ho Lim
  • Patent number: 10434995
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger capsule having a first end and a second end, a front module coupled to the first end of the passenger capsule and including a front axle assembly, an engine coupled to the front module, a rear module coupled to the second end of the passenger capsule and including a rear axle assembly, and a transaxle coupled to the rear module and the engine. The transaxle includes a transfercase component and a differential component contained at least partially within a housing that defines a structural component of the rear module. The rear axle assembly includes at least one of an upper control arm, a lower control arm, a spring, and a damper that is directly coupled to the transaxle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Don Verhoff, Gary Schmiedel, Chris Yakes, Rob Messina, Brian Wilkins, Kent Schulte, Daniel R. Seffernick, Joseph Holda, Michael Peotter, David McGraw, Anthony Seefeldt, Dave Pelko, Jesse Gander, Jerry Reineking, Jesse Steinke
  • Patent number: 10370028
    Abstract: Provided is a power steering device capable of causing control that uses a pump device and control that uses an electric motor on an input shaft to cooperate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE STEERING SYSTEM JAPAN LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Matsumura, Masaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10343709
    Abstract: A restoring torque generating device for generating a restoring torque acting on a steering handle of a vehicle comprising a first spring unit for generating a first restoring torque, a second spring unit for generating a second restoring torque, a driver cooperating with the first and the second spring unit. The driver can be coupled with a steering shaft of the vehicle such that during a rotation of the steering shaft in a first direction of rotation it acts on the first spring unit and during a rotation of the steering shaft in an opposite, second direction of rotation it acts on the second spring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Dieter Markfort
  • Patent number: 10262476
    Abstract: A reference vehicle is identified from data measuring changes in steering wheel angles of a plurality of vehicles. A target vehicle's steering wheel angle deviations is compared to steering wheel angle deviations of the reference vehicle A target vehicle component is actuated upon determining that a difference of the target vehicle's change of steering wheel angle and the reference vehicle's change of steering wheel angle exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10232878
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of a steering column over an angular range of more than 360° in a vehicle, comprising—a transmitter element for exciting a transmitter field and a measuring sensor for exciting an output signal dependent on a reception of the transmitter field, wherein the measuring sensor and the transmitter element are arranged such that the transmitter field received by the measuring sensor is dependent on the steering column rotational angle to be detected, and—a counter element with a non-volatile storage unit for counting and outputting a number of revolutions of the transmitter field with respect to a reference rotational angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Jens Habig, Frank Hickl
  • Patent number: 10202145
    Abstract: In an electric power steering system, a low-pass filter executes a low-pass filtering process on a detected steering torque value detected by a torque sensor. A steering torque deviation computing unit computes a deviation ?T between a detected steering torque value T* obtained through the low-pass filtering process and the detected steering torque value detected by the torque sensor. A PI control unit generates a vibration compensation value used to lead the detected steering torque value to the steering torque value obtained through the low-pass filtering process, by executing PI computation on the steering torque deviation computed by the steering torque deviation computing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Kariatsumari, Tatsuma Kouchi
  • Patent number: 10155090
    Abstract: System comprising a sensor assembly (3, 4, 5, 6) adapted to measure a magnetic field, and a moveable element (1) adapted to be moved relative to the sensor assembly between two positions by a combined axial and rotational movement, the rotational movement having a pre-determined relationship to the axial movement. A magnet (3) is mounted to the moveable element and configured to generate a spatial magnetic field which relative to the sensor assembly varies corresponding to both the axial and rotational movement of the magnet and thus the moveable element. A processor is configured to determine on the basis of measured values for the magnetic field an axial position of the moveable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
    Inventors: Andre Larsen, Henrik Riehm Soerensen, Laurits Hoejgaard Olesen, Nikolaj Frogner Krusell, Jens Christian Andersen
  • Patent number: 10081388
    Abstract: Disclosed is a torque sensor connected with a first shaft and a second shaft, the torque sensor including a first case, a second case coupled with the first case, a third case coupled with the second case, a torque sensor module disposed between the first case and the second case and connected with the first shaft and the second shaft, and an angle sensor module disposed between the second case and the third case. The second case includes first fixing units formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and the first fixing units are rotationally symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ho Min Choi
  • Patent number: 10081386
    Abstract: A torque detection device capable of suppressing intrusion of static electricity thereinto. A magnetism collection unit includes magnetism collection rings, first and second magnetism collection holders that hold the magnetism collection rings, respectively, and a magnetic shield that covers the outer peripheries of the magnetism collection rings. The inner peripheral surface of the first magnetism collection holder is provided with recessed portions. The outer peripheral surface of the second magnetism collection holder is provided with engagement protrusions to be inserted into the recessed portions. The inner peripheral surface of the second magnetism collection holder is provided with recessed portions. The inner peripheral surface of the first magnetism collection holder is provided with protrusions that project toward the second magnetism collection holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Toyama
  • Patent number: 10081367
    Abstract: Based on a steering control input, a measured value of the steering control attribute and a measured value of the traction control attribute received by a steering application, determining: a first setpoint value of the steering control attribute; a target steering angle of the steered wheel of the vehicle. Based on receiving, by a traction application executing on the vehicle control module of the vehicle: a traction speed control input to control the traction wheel of the vehicle, and the target steering angle, from the steering application, determining, by the traction application: a second setpoint value of the traction control attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen T. Mangette, Joe K. Hammer, Brent A. Barnhart
  • Patent number: 10023202
    Abstract: Based on a steering control input, a measured value of the steering control attribute and a measured value of the traction control attribute received by a steering application, determining: a first setpoint value of the steering control attribute; a target steering angle of the steered wheel of the vehicle. Based on receiving, by a traction application executing on the vehicle control module of the vehicle: a traction speed control input to control the traction wheel of the vehicle, and the target steering angle, from the steering application, determining, by the traction application: a second setpoint value of the traction control attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen T. Mangette, Joe K. Hammer, Brent A. Barnhart
  • Patent number: 9919734
    Abstract: To provide an electric power steering apparatus capable of suppressing a vibration of an assist torque while keeping a steering feeling. A current command value is calculated by adding a torque differential compensation value depending on a differential value of a steering torque to a basic assist current command value calculated based on the steering torque and vehicle speed. In this situation, the torque differential compensation value is calculated to be smaller when the steering speed of a steering wheel falls within a specific steering speed region in which a resonance phenomenon easily occurs due to a disturbance vibration of a steering assist torque, in comparison with when the steering speed falls outside the specific steering speed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kitazume
  • Patent number: 9751558
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes a first sensor sensing a pinion angle of a handwheel and a second sensor sensing a torsion bar windup angle. An autonomous steering module generates a steering command having an input torque signal. A steering angle controller is configured to determine a filtered handwheel acceleration based on the pinion angle and the windup angle. The steering angle controller also determines an offset torque based on the filtered handwheel acceleration. Further, the steering angle controller applies the offset torque to the input torque signal to define a refined torque signal that compensates for inertia and off-center mass of the handwheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Darrel Alan Recker, Michael Richard Johnson
  • Patent number: 9573616
    Abstract: A control device in an electric power steering device calculates a first assist component based on steering torque and a vehicle speed. The control device also calculates a compensation component associated with an reverse input and calculates a steered angle command value based on an addition value of the compensation component and basic drive torque that is an addition value of the steering torque and the first assist component, produces a second assist component by performing steered angle feedback control that causes the steered angle of a vehicle to follow the steered angle command value. The control device controls drive of a motor based on an assist command value that is an addition value of the first assist component and the second assist component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terutaka Tamaizumi, Hirozumi Eki, Masayuki Kita, Isao Namikawa, Akihiko Nishimura, Jun Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9469340
    Abstract: A steerable, self-propelled vehicle (20) includes a rotatable steering column that is connected to control the steering angle of one or more ground-engaging members of the vehicle. The vehicle includes between the steering column and the ground-engaging member a first steering servomechanism having at least a first steering assistance characteristic; a second steering servomechanism having a second steering assistance characteristic also being connected to act on the steering column. A controller is provided for causing the first and second steering assistance characteristics to influence the steering of the vehicle in dependence on one or more one or more control commands generated in the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Riccardo Morselli, Francesco Canuto, Patrizio Turco, Enrico Raffone
  • Patent number: 9446790
    Abstract: An electric power steering system includes: an electric motor that generates assist torque; an auxiliary power supply device including a capacitor connected to a main power supply and discharging electric power to the electric motor; and a control device that controls the auxiliary power supply device. There is a plurality of modes of connection between the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply device. The control device switches the mode of connection between the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply device, depending on the situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toyoki Sugiyama, Masayasu Higashi
  • Patent number: 9428209
    Abstract: In a steering device, the transmission ratio variable mechanism changes a transmission ratio. The transmission ratio is a ratio of the turning angle of a wheel to the steering angle of a steering wheel. In the stationary-steering mode, the ECU sets a low transmission-ratio state where the transmission ratio is reduced compared with the transmission ratio in an ordinary mode when the steering wheel is increasingly steered while setting a zero-transmission-ratio state where coupling between the steering wheel and the wheel is released to set the transmission ratio to zero when the steering wheel is returned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuaki Tsurumi
  • Patent number: 9421963
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame; wheels supported on the frame; a traction motor coupled to one of the wheels to effect rotation of the one wheel; a speed control element operable by an operator to define a speed control signal corresponding to a desired speed of the traction motor; a system associated with a steerable wheel to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel; and control apparatus coupled to the speed control element to receive the speed control signal, and coupled to the traction motor to generate a drive signal to the traction motor in response to the speed control signal to control the operation of the traction motor. The control apparatus may determine an acceleration value for the traction motor based on at least one of an angular position of the steerable wheel, a speed of the traction motor and a current position of the speed control element as defined by the speed control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: George Robert Wetterer, James Francis Schloemer, Monty L. Crabill, Eric L. Jensen
  • Patent number: 9254868
    Abstract: A displacement detection apparatus for a linear motion mechanism includes a nut member, a rod including elongate grooves elongating in an axial direction of the rod and a through hole, a permanent magnet disposed parallel to the rod, a magnet block made of synthetic resin and including a retaining portion holding the permanent magnet, a pair of leg portions extending from ends of the retaining portion that are spaced apart, and a nut made of metal insert-molded at an intermediate position between the pair of leg portions, and a displacement sensor disposed opposing to the permanent magnet. The pair of leg portions and the nut of the magnet block are disposed in the elongate groove of the rod and the magnet block is fixed to the rod by a bolt screwed to the nut, the bolt penetrating through the through hole extending through the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinsuke Ando, Naoya Yoshizawa, Shimpei Fujii, Yusuke Akagi
  • Publication number: 20150144416
    Abstract: The invention relates to a superposition drive for a superimposed steering system of a motor vehicle, with a drive shaft and a drive gear cooperating with the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is pivotally mounted with respect to the drive gear. A lever element pivotally mounted with respect to the drive gear, which is designed and arranged such that pivoting of the lever element entails pivoting of the drive shaft or vice versa pivoting of the drive shaft entails pivoting of the lever element, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Marotzke
  • Patent number: 9008911
    Abstract: A method for an electrical limitation of the travel path of a steering gear in a wheeled vehicle, in particular a passenger car, which exhibits a steering drive, is provided. The method includes adjusting the steering gear in a first direction and acquiring a first maximum travel path in the first direction. The method includes prescribing a first limiting value based upon this acquired first maximum travel path and electrically limiting the travel path of the steering gear in the first direction based upon the first limiting value. The first maximum travel path is acquired by the steering drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Degenstein
  • Publication number: 20150060186
    Abstract: A power steering system that may include a rack, a slider shaft, and an actuator disposed on a housing. The slider shaft may be coupled to a tie rod assembly. The rack, slider shaft, and actuator may engage an end plate. The actuator may exert force upon the end plate to assist with actuation of the rack and slider shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Pavuk, Braden Bromley, Victor Duong, Howard Sherman, Michael Weaver
  • Publication number: 20150014086
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a dual steering system including a first front wheel and a second front wheel, a lateral steering linkage connecting the first and second front wheels, a first steering system with a first steering wheel and a power steering module that assists steering inputs applied to the first steering wheel, and a second steering system with a second steering wheel and a torque sensor in communication with the power steering module of the first steering system and monitoring steering inputs applied to the second steering wheel, whereby the power steering module may provide power assist to the steering inputs applied to the second steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: VOLVO GROUP NORTH AMERICA, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Alton Eisenbarth
  • Patent number: 8935051
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for improving a steering feeling of a driver while preventing a heavy feeling of a steering wheel or a kickback phenomenon during an eco-roll operation for improving a fuel ratio of the vehicle. The method includes determining, by a controller, an eco-roll operation condition in which a brake is disengaged, an accelerator pedal is disengaged, and a speed of the vehicle is a reference speed or higher. Furthermore, when the eco-roll operation condition is determined, the controller coverts a gear state of a transmission into a neutral gear state. The controller also controls an engine RPM to an idle RPM to start the eco-roll mode and an operation of an emergency steering system to assist steering power according to a steering input due to a driver manipulation of a steering wheel while the traveling in a neutral gear state of an eco-roll mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jin Han Kim
  • Patent number: 8930077
    Abstract: A damping control unit sets a damping torque command value that corresponds to a steering angular velocity when a direction of a detected steering torque is a turning direction, a magnitude of the detected steering torque is larger than or equal to a first threshold, a direction of the steering angular velocity is a returning direction and a magnitude of the steering angular velocity is higher than or equal to a second threshold. An addition unit adds the damping torque command value generated by the damping control unit to a basic assist torque command value set by a basic assist torque command value setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 8898033
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining angular velocity of a vehicle. Systems include an array of accelerometers and a computing unit configured to determine angular velocity as a function of acceleration measured by the array of accelerometers. Angular velocity can then be used, for example, by stability systems to control the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Ivan Fadeev
  • Patent number: 8881657
    Abstract: A method and device lock a guiding system of a vehicle guided by at least one rail. The locking device includes first and second cylinders combined with guiding devices belonging to the guiding system of a steering axle. Each of the cylinders contains at least two characteristic configuration states: a first configuration state placing the guiding device with which the cylinder is combined in a first guiding state, and a second configuration state placing the guiding device with which the cylinder is combined in a second guiding state. A power supply supplies power to the cylinders to switch the configuration state. The power supply is coupled with a rotary member, the rotation of which is mechanically linked to the movement of the vehicle, such that a change in the direction of rotation of the rotary member is transmitted to the power supply and switches the configuration state of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens SAS
    Inventor: Yves Clarissou
  • Patent number: 8862331
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a controller for a steering apparatus having easy operation of an adjustment of a tilting angle. The steering apparatus comprises a tilting mechanism adjusting a tilting angle of a steering wheel, and an electrical motor driving the tilting mechanism. The controller for the steering apparatus 1 detects the tilting angle based on a rotational angle of the screw shaft. The controller defines the predetermined supplying current according to the detected amount of the tilting angle as the supplying current to the electrical motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Tanaka, Tomihide Masuda
  • Patent number: 8851226
    Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle adapted to travel on a track or a guideway includes a drive shaft having a rotational axis and first and second substantially semicircular gear elements provided on the drive shaft and adapted to engage first and second racks, respectively. The first and second substantially semicircular gear elements are offset along the rotational axis of the drive shaft and are located about a common end of the drive shaft. The first substantially semicircular gear element engages the first rack when the drive shaft is rotated in a first direction while the second substantially semicircular gear element engages the second rack when the drive shaft is rotated in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. Both first and second substantially semicircular gear elements engage the first and the second rack, respectively, when the drive shaft is in a neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventor: Dean Culver
  • Publication number: 20140262581
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, an engine, a steering assembly, a steerable wheel, a flywheel assembly, and a controller. The frame has a front end and a rear end and defines a roll axis extending between the front end and the rear end. The engine is supported by the frame. The steering assembly is pivotally coupled with the frame and is pivotable about a steering axis. The steerable wheel is rotatably coupled with the steering assembly. The flywheel assembly comprises an inertial mass and is coupled with the frame. The inertial mass is rotatable about a flywheel axis. The controller is in communication with the flywheel assembly and is configured to facilitate rotation of the inertial mass in one of a counterclockwise direction and a clockwise direction in response to pivoting of the steering assembly in a leftward direction and a rightward direction, respectively. Methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joseph P. W. Whinnery
  • Patent number: 8807265
    Abstract: A tractor includes: a driver's compartment; an engine compartment; a partitioning member that partitions the driver's compartment and engine compartment and has a through-hole; a steering wheel provided in the driver's compartment; a power steering unit disposed on the engine compartment side; a steering shaft that extends from the steering wheel and is connected to the power steering unit; an elastic sealing member provided in an inner circumferential portion of the through-hole; and an anti-vibration member. The elastic sealing member includes a supported portion supported to the inner circumferential portion and a ring-shaped lip portion protruding downward from one end of the supported portion. The power steering unit is mounted to the partitioning member via the anti-vibration member, the ring-shaped lip portion is elastically clamped to the upper face of the power steering unit, and the steering shaft is connected to the power steering unit while inserted in the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Asada, Yoshihisa Tahara, Kiyokazu Fujibayashi
  • Publication number: 20140209406
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame; wheels supported on the frame; a traction motor coupled to one of the wheels to effect rotation of the one wheel; a speed control element operable by an operator to define a speed control signal corresponding to a desired speed of the traction motor; a system associated with a steerable wheel to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel; and control apparatus coupled to the speed control element to receive the speed control signal, and coupled to the traction motor to generate a drive signal to the traction motor in response to the speed control signal to control the operation of the traction motor. The control apparatus may determine an acceleration value for the traction motor based on at least one of an angular position of the steerable wheel, a speed of the traction motor and a current position of the speed control element as defined by the speed control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CROWN EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: George Robert Wetterer, James Francis Schloemer, Monty L. Crabill, Eric L. Jensen
  • Patent number: 8788147
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Strecker, Thomas Werner