Abstract: A steering apparatus for vehicle comprises a steering shaft including a first portion connected to a steering member and a second portion connected to steerable wheels; a transmission ratio variable mechanism capable of varying a transmission ratio as a ratio of a steered angle of the steerable wheels to a steering angle of the steering member; and a reaction-force compensation motor for compensating a steering reaction force of the steering member caused by the operation of the transmission ratio variable mechanism. The transmission ratio variable mechanism includes a differential mechanism for differentially rotatably interconnecting the first and second portions; and a differential-mechanism motor for driving the differential mechanism. Both an axis of a rotary shaft of the differential-mechanism motor and an axis of a rotary shaft of the reaction-force compensation motor are aligned with an axis of the steering shaft.

Abstract: A steering device for a vehicle includes a first sun gear connected to a steering member, a second sun gear which is operated according to operation of the steering member and connected to a steering mechanism for turning vehicle wheels, a first planet gear which is meshed with the first sun gear, and a second planet gear which is rotated integrally with the first planet gear and meshed with the second sun gear. The steering device is constructed in such a manner that at least one of the first and second sun gears is a profile shifted gear, and the first and second planet gears are formed as a cylindrical body which has internal teeth of the same number at both end parts thereof.

Abstract: A planetary gear mechanism as a transfer ratio varying mechanism includes primary and secondary sun gears, three primary planetary gears and three secondary planetary gears. The numbers of teeth of the primary sun gear, the primary planetary gears, the secondary planetary gears, and the secondary sun gear are set in such a manner as to satisfy a predetermined particular relationship. By this, three primary planetary gears are disposed at equal intervals in a rotational direction of the primary sun gear, and three secondary planetary gears 22 are disposed at equal intervals in a rotational direction of the secondary sun gear.

Abstract: A rotation transmitting apparatus comprises a first sun gear joined to a first shaft so as to rotate interlockingly, a second shaft arranged to the first shaft coaxially, a second sun gear joined to the second shaft so as to rotate interlockingly, a first planetary gear meshed with the first sun gear, a second planetary gear rotating with the first planetary gear and meshed with the second sun gear, and a carrier supporting the first and second planetary gears and arranged to be driven by a differential electric motor. In particular, the number of teeth of each of the first and second sun gears and the first and second planetary gears is determined so that the ratio of a torque applied to the second shaft to a torque applied to the first shaft ranges from 1:0.7 to 1:0.9.

Abstract: A steering device for a vehicle includes a planet gear mechanism which can vary transmission ratio, and a lock mechanism for fixing the transmission ratio. The planet gear mechanism includes a first sun gear connected to a steering member, a second sun gear connected to turning wheels, a planet gear which is meshed with both the first and second sun gears and a carrier in an annular shape which supports the planet gear. The lock mechanism includes a restraining member which is engageable with the carrier thereby to restrain rotation of the carrier.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system is provided which includes a variable angle ratio mechanism for changing an angle ratio of a steering angle of a steering member to a turning angle of a steering mechanism, the variable angle ratio mechanism including a first sun gear connected to a steering column, a second sun gear connected to the steering mechanism, and planetary gears each having a first toothed portion and a second toothed portion which are adapted to mesh with the first and second sun gears respectively, and are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a tooth face width direction, the first toothed portion and the second toothed portion being formed integrally through forging.

Abstract: A variable stiffness stabilizer device (1) has a stabilizer bar (2) and actuators (3). The stabilizer bar (2) has a torsion bar (4) extending in the lateral direction (X1) of a vehicle and arms (6) connected through bend portions (5) to the ends (4a, 4b) of the torsion bar (4) and bendingly deformed according to the strokes of wheel supporting members (11). Variable bending stiffness parts (13; 130) of the arms (6) are rotatable about the axes (C1) of the arms (6), so that the bending stiffness of the arms (6) can be changed according to their rotational positions. The actuators (3) rotationally drive the variable bending stiffness parts (13; 130) about the axes (C1) to adjust the rotational positions of the variable bending stiffness parts (13; 130).

Abstract: In a steering-without-driving state, a larger current limit value, drive limit time and steering angle deviation threshold value are set than when a low-speed driving state occurs. An automatic parking mode is held until a time period over which a state where a motor current value of an electric motor which drives a steering mechanism is equal to the current limit value reaches the drive limit time. Even though the state where the motor current value is equal to the current limit value has continued over the drive limit time, the automatic parking mode is held during the steering angle deviation not exceeding the steering angle deviation threshold value. When the state where the motor current value is equal to the current limit value has continued over the drive limit time Ta and that the steering angle deviation exceeds the threshold value, the automatic parking control is cancelled.

Abstract: A brake application speed is compared with a speed threshold value so as to judge whether or not a braking operation being performed is an emergency braking operation. If not the emergency braking operation, an automatic parking mode is held. When the emergency braking operation is in effect, control information related to a state of an automatic parking control then is stored in a control information storage section, and the automatic parking control is cancelled. Thereafter, when a steering operation or a gearshift operation is performed before a cancellation of application of the brake is detected, the process is ended, and the control mode is held in an assist mode. When the application of the brake is cancelled with neither the steering operation nor the gearshift operation performed, the control information is read in so as to resume the automatic parking control.

Abstract: A rotation transmitting apparatus according to the present invention includes a first sun gear, a second sun gear, first planetary gears and second planetary gears. A carrier for supporting the respective planetary gears is integrally provided with a rotor of a speed change motor for changing a speed of rotation to be transmitted, so that the number of mesh portions in the gears is reduced. Further, the rotor is formed of a cylindrical shape and an input shaft for rotating the first sun gear is inserted into the rotor, so that a limited space is effectively used.

Abstract: A planet gear mechanism 19 interposed between a steering 2 and steerable wheels 4L and 4R is interposed. A torque controlling motor 25 for controlling a torque acting on the steering 2 and a transmission-rate varying motor 20 for driving the planet gear mechanism 19 are arranged coaxially (on an axial A) with the planet gear mechanism 19. This eliminates the need for arranging each motor 20 and 25 on the both ends of the axis A to face each other, and also reduces a space occupied by the motors 20 and 25 with respect to a radial direction of the axis A. As a result, reduction in the size of an apparatus can be achieved.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes: a steering actuator that imparts a steering force to a steering mechanism of a vehicle; an automatic steering controller that performs an automatic steering control by controlling the steering actuator; a driving state detector that detects a driving state of the vehicle during the automatic steering control; a threshold value setting unit that variably sets a threshold value for permitting an intervention in the automatic steering control; and an automatic steering intervention unit that intervenes in the automatic steering control based on a threshold value set by the threshold value setting unit.

Abstract: A differential gear apparatus according to the present invention comprises a first sun gear coupled to a first shaft to be rotated in conjunction with the first shaft, a second sun gear coupled to a second shaft to be rotated in conjunction with the second shaft, a first planetary gear meshed with the first sun gear, a second planetary gear rotated with the first planetary gear and meshed with the second sun gear, a carrier supporting the first and second planetary gears, and a housing supporting the second shaft upon rotation, wherein the sun gears and the planetary gears have profile shifted teeth of which addendum modifications are different at the positions in a flank width direction and a nut screwed on the mid way of the second shaft, and a through hole disposed at a position facing the nut are provided.

Abstract: An automatic parking control is cancelled when a motor current has not yet reached a maximum current value Imax with a steering angle deviation exceeding a deviation threshold value. In addition, the automatic parking control is cancelled when a steering speed has not yet reached a maximum steering speed with a state where the motor current has reached and remains at the maximum steering speed continuing over a first time period. On the other hand, when a state where the steering speed has reached and remains at the maximum steering speed continues over a second time period, it is determined that there occurs an output shortage of a steering actuator, an automatic parking condition is recalculated, so as to allow the automatic parking continue to continue.

Abstract: A planetary gear apparatus whose gears are all constituted by continuous shifted gears. A backlash between the input sun gear and each of the input side planetary gears is adjusted by pressing a second carrier plate supporting each integrated pair of the input side planetary gears and the output side planetary gears and moving it in the axial length direction by a ball bearing by a screwing operation of an adjusting nut. A backlash between the output sun gear and each of the output side planetary gears is also adjusted by pressing the output sun gear and moving it in the axial length direction by the ball bearing by the screwing operation of the adjusting nut. Accordingly, the backlash of all meshing portions can be adjusted during or after completion of the assemblage.

Abstract: A steering device for a vehicle includes a first sun gear connected to a steering member, a second sun gear which is operated according to operation of the steering member and connected to a steering mechanism for turning vehicle wheels, a first planet gear which is meshed with the first sun gear, and a second planet gear which is rotated integrally with the first planet gear and meshed with the second sun gear. The steering device is constructed in such a manner that at least one of the first and second sun gears is a profile shifted gear, and the first and second planet gears are formed as a cylindrical body which has internal teeth of the same number at both end parts thereof.

Abstract: A steering device for a vehicle includes a planet gear mechanism which can vary transmission ratio, and a lock mechanism for fixing the transmission ratio. The planet gear mechanism includes a first sun gear connected to a steering member, a second sun gear connected to turning wheels, a planet gear which is meshed with both the first and second sun gears and a carrier in an annular shape which supports the planet gear. The lock mechanism includes a restraining member which is engageable with the carrier thereby to restrain rotation of the carrier.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicle steering system which includes an electric motor for imparting a steering force to a steering mechanism of a vehicle and an automatic parking controller for executing an automatic parking control by controlling the electric motor, wherein the automatic parking controller controls an energizing voltage of the electric motor by imparting a square wave to the electric motor and increasing/decreasing a neutral point voltage of a winding of the electric motor.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system is provided which includes a variable angle ratio mechanism for changing an angle ratio of a steering angle of a steering member to a turning angle of a steering mechanism, the variable angle ratio mechanism including a first sun gear connected to a steering column, a second sun gear connected to the steering mechanism, and planetary gears each having a first toothed portion and a second toothed portion which are adapted to mesh with the first and second sun gears respectively, and are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a tooth face width direction, the first toothed portion and the second toothed portion being formed integrally through forging.

Abstract: An automatic parking control is cancelled when a motor current has not yet reached a maximum current value Imax with a steering angle deviation exceeding a deviation threshold value. In addition, the automatic parking control is cancelled when a steering speed has not yet reached a maximum steering speed with a state where the motor current has reached and remains at the maximum steering speed continuing over a first time period. On the other hand, when a state where the steering speed has reached and remains at the maximum steering speed continues over a second time period, it is determined that there occurs an output shortage of a steering actuator, an automatic parking condition is recalculated, so as to allow the automatic parking continue to continue.