Abstract: A shaft is adapted to be inserted through a circuit apparatus without a need for disassembling a shaft side sensor device from an end part of the shaft to place the shaft side sensor device in an opposed relationship to a circuit board side sensor device at a location adjacent to the circuit board side sensor device. The shaft side sensor device forms a sensor apparatus in cooperation with the circuit board side sensor device to sense a rotational angle of the rotor.

Abstract: An input gear rotates integrally with an input shaft, and an output gear rotates integrally with an output shaft. Pinion gears are rotatably supported by pinion gear shaft members, respectively, and are meshed with both of the input gear and the output gear. An inner end part of each pinion gear shaft member is fitted to an inner peripheral wall of a corresponding primary hole of an inner ring member, and an outer end part of each pinion gear shaft member is fitted to an inner peripheral wall of a corresponding secondary hole of an outer ring member.

Abstract: An electrically driven power steering system for a vehicle comprises a steering sensor for detecting a steering operation of a steering wheel and a power steering control unit, which receives a command signal from a vehicle movement total control unit, calculates a target steering assist torque from a steering signal from the steering sensor and the command signal and drives a steering assist electric motor in accordance with the above calculated target steering assist torque. The power steering control unit further calculates a feasible torque to be generated at the steering assist electric motor, and drives the steering assist electric motor at the feasible torque, when the feasible torque is lower than the target steering assist torque, namely when a driving current to the electric motor should be limited due to an increased temperature of the electric motor and so on.

Abstract: A motor-driven power steering system includes a power assisting motor; a motor current sensor, a sample-hold circuit that has sampling section and a holding section, a timing signal generating circuit that generates a timing signal to activate either the sampling section or the holding section and an alarming unit that generates an abnormality signal if the timing signal is not detected for a prescribed period.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical power steering system for a vehicle, in which an abnormal condition of a motor current detecting device for a motor current is detected with high precision. A power steering control unit calculates a target assist torque based on a steering signal from a steering sensor and calculates a motor driving current based on such target assist torque. The control unit then calculates a difference between a motor current in a normal condition and a detected motor current, so that the difference is used as an offset correction amount. The control unit further calculates an upper and a lower limit of the offset correction amount depending on a detected temperature of the motor current detecting device. The control unit finally determines that the motor current detecting device is not in a normal condition, when the offset amount is not within a range between the upper and lower limits of the offset correction amount.

Abstract: An electrically driven power steering system for a vehicle comprises a steering sensor for detecting a steering operation of a steering wheel and a power steering control unit, which receives a command signal from a vehicle movement total control unit, calculates a target steering assist torque from a steering signal from the steering sensor and the command signal and drives a steering assist electric motor in accordance with the above calculated target steering assist torque. The power steering control unit further calculates a feasible torque to be generated at the steering assist electric motor, and drives the steering assist electric motor at the feasible torque, when the feasible torque is lower than the target steering assist torque, namely when a driving current to the electric motor should be limited due to an increased temperature of the electric motor and so on.

Abstract: A motor-driven power steering system includes a power assisting motor; a motor current sensor, a sample-hold circuit that has sampling section and a holding section, a timing signal generating circuit that generates a timing signal to activate either the sampling section or the holding section and an alarming unit that generates an abnormality signal if the timing signal is not detected for a prescribed period.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical power steering system for a vehicle, in which an abnormal condition of a motor current detecting device for a motor current is detected with high precision. A power steering control unit calculates a target assist torque based on a steering signal from a steering sensor and calculates a motor driving current based on such target assist torque. The control unit then calculates a difference between a motor current in a normal condition and a detected motor current, so that the difference is used as an offset correction amount. The control unit further calculates an upper and a lower limit of the offset correction amount depending on a detected temperature of the motor current detecting device. The control unit finally determines that the motor current detecting device is not in a normal condition, when the offset amount is not within a range between the upper and lower limits of the offset correction amount.

Abstract: An automotive electrically-powered steering device is provided which is easy of assembly and electric connections. The steering device includes an electric motor, a motor torque transmission mechanism, a torque detector, and a motor controller which are arranged integrally as a unit. The controller includes a motor driver and a control substrate to which terminals of the motor driver are connected electrically. A steering shaft passes through a portion of the control substrate. The electrical terminals of the motor, the torque detector, and the motor driver extend in an axial direction of the steering shaft and connect electrically to the control substrate from the same side.

Abstract: An automotive electrically-powered steering device is provided which is easy of assembly and electric connections. The steering device includes an electric motor, a motor torque transmission mechanism, a torque detector, and a motor controller which are arranged integrally as a unit. The controller includes a motor driver and a control substrate to which terminals of the motor driver are connected electrically. A steering shaft passes through a portion of the control substrate. The electrical terminals of the motor, the torque detector, and the motor driver extend in an axial direction of the steering shaft and connect electrically to the control substrate from the same side.

Abstract: Steering of a vehicle is assisted by a motor driven according to a steering signal formulated by a digital computer. The steering signal is formulated so that a high and quick power-assist is obtained when the steering is steep or sharp, while trembling vibrations appearing on a steering wheel due to noise are suppressed when the steering is slow or the steering wheel is stably held. A steering velocity calculated from a steering angle and a steering torque signal detected from a torsional torque of a steering shaft are used to formulate the steering signal. An original steering torque signal is modified by a transfer function having a higher gain and a higher phase advance in a certain frequency range thereof, thereby formulating a final steering signal which controls operation of the power-assist motor.

Abstract: In a vehicle power steering device, a motor is turned on to rotate in one direction whether a steering wheel is turned clockwise or counterclockwise. A switching mechanism is interposed between a motor armature shaft and an output shaft to change directions of the output shaft rotation relative to the armature shaft rotation in response to turning direction of the steering. The switching mechanism may include electrically controlled coupling/releasing members or mechanically controlled rotation reversing and coupling mechanisms.

Abstract: In a vehicle power steering device, a motor is turned on to rotate in one direction whether a steering wheel is turned clockwise or counterclockwise. A switching mechanism is interposed between a motor armature shaft and an output shaft to change directions of the output shaft rotation relative to the armature shaft rotation in response to turning direction of the steering wheel. The switching mechanism may include electrically controlled coupling/releasing members or mechanically controlled rotation reversing and coupling mechanisms.

Abstract: In a starter motor for a starter, a plurality of permanent magnets are arranged circumferentially inside a cylindrical yoke and outside an armature. A cylindrical sleeve is fitted with the permanent magnets to radially outwardly fix the permanent magnets to the yoke. A discharge hole for discharging a cooling air from the inside to the outside of the motor is formed on the bottom of the yoke at a position between the adjacent two of the permanent magnets. The sleeve restricts the splash water from entering directly inside the motor through the discharge hole.

Abstract: In a starter, to improve a heat dissipation performance, an axial length from the end of a starter housing fit into a clutch housing to a starter installation surface of the clutch housing is set to be longer than an axial length from the end of a starter motor not fit into the clutch housing to the starter installation surface. Alternatively, the exposed surface area of the starter housing fit into the clutch housing is set to be larger than the exposed surface area of the portion of the starter housing not fit into the clutch housing and the starter motor. With this configuration, the starter housing can be effectively cooled by whirling air flow in the clutch housing.

Abstract: An overrunning clutch which exhibits improved resistance to wear owing to grease filled thereinto which exhibits resistance to thermal oxidation even at increased temperatures due to overrunning. The overrunning clutch has a plurality of cam cases formed between its outer and inner members and also has a plurality of rollers arranged one by one in the cases. The cases are filled with a grease containing a first extreme pressure additive which is liquid and a second extreme pressure additive which is solid and yet melts at a prescribed temperature. Below the prescribed temperature, only the first extreme pressure additive functions as a lubricant, so that the rollers permit the engagement of the outer and inner members for the transmission of turning force from one member to the other. When the prescribed temperature is reached in the overrunning state, the second extreme pressure additive melts to function as a lubricant, thereby preventing the rollers from wearing.