Abstract: An oil pump including a first housing having a rotation shaft insertion hole, a cam ring, a pump element, a rotation shaft rotatably extending through the rotation shaft insertion hole, a second housing disposed on the cam ring, wherein the cam ring is placed in a position relative to the rotation shaft insertion hole of the first housing by using a jig, and the cam ring includes a clamped portion that is clamped by a cam ring holding device, while the first housing and the second housing are fixed to each other after placing the cam ring in the position relative to the rotation shaft insertion hole by using the jig. Alternatively, the oil pump including a fixing means for fixing the cam ring to the pump body instead of the clamped portion.

Abstract: A power steering system includes a hydraulic power cylinder having a first and a second hydraulic chambers, for assisting a steering force of a steering mechanism, a first and a second oil passages respectively connected to the first and second hydraulic chambers, a reversible pump discharging operating oil and providing oil pressure to the hydraulic power cylinder through the first and second oil passages, and a motor connected to the reversible pump and rotating the reversible pump in normal and reverse directions. A steering load detection unit detects a steering load of a steering wheel for steering of the steered road wheels, and a motor control unit outputs a control signal to the motor to bring an actual oil pressure generated by the reversible pump closer to a desired oil pressure determined based on the detected steering load. A discharge amount per rotation of the reversible pump is smaller than or equal to 5 cc.

Abstract: In a power steering system comprising a power cylinder for assisting a steering power of a steering mechanism, a hydraulic pump for supplying a hydraulic pressure to the power cylinder, a first oil passage and a second oil passage connecting the power cylinder and the hydraulic pump respectively, a motor for driving the hydraulic pump, and power steering control means for calculating a command value to the motor based on the steering torque, a flow rate of the working oil supplied from a high-pressure side oil passage to a low-pressure side oil passage is restrained at the transition from the end of the steering state (lock end) of the steering mechanism to the returning. The flow-rate restraint increasingly corrects a driving current of the motor in the steering direction or limits the flow rate of the working oil.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus includes a power cylinder; a reversible pump; first and second hydraulic passages; a reservoir tank; a first supply passage arranged to supply the hydraulic fluid through the reversible pump to the second hydraulic passage; a first one-way valve provided in the first supply passage; a second supply passage arranged to supply the hydraulic fluid through the reversible pump to the first hydraulic passage; and a second one-way valve provided in the second supply passage. A Reynolds number of a flow in the first one-way valve is equal to or smaller than 2300 when a flow rate per unit time of the flow in the first one-way valve is maximum. A Reynolds number of a flow in the second one-way valve is equal to or smaller than 2300 when a flow rate per unit time of the flow in the second one-way valve is maximum.

Abstract: An oil pump including a first housing having a rotation shaft insertion hole, a cam ring, a pump element, a rotation shaft rotatably extending through the rotation shaft insertion hole, a second housing disposed on the cam ring, wherein the cam ring is placed in a position relative to the rotation shaft insertion hole of the first housing by using a jig, and the cam ring includes a clamped portion that is clamped by a cam ring holding device, while the first housing and the second housing are fixed to each other after placing the cam ring in the position relative to the rotation shaft insertion hole by using the jig. Alternatively, the oil pump including a fixing means for fixing the cam ring to the pump body instead of the clamped portion.

Abstract: An oil pump is provided which includes a cam ring made of a material having a first line expansion coefficient, a pump element rotatably disposed in the cam ring and smaller in an axial length than the cam ring, a first housing member disposed on one of axially opposite sides of the cam ring and made of a material having a second line expansion coefficient larger than the first line expansion coefficient, and a second housing member disposed on the other of the axially opposite sides of the cam ring and made of a material having a third line expansion coefficient than the first line expansion coefficient.

Abstract: A first fluid passage extends from a first outlet/inlet port of a hydraulic pump to a first work chamber of a power cylinder, and a second fluid passage extends from a second outlet/inlet port of the pump to a second work chamber of the power cylinder. A switch system switches the role of the first and second outlet/inlet ports in accordance with a turning direction of a steering wheel. Flow control mechanisms are respectively incorporated with the first and second fluid passages, so that a controlled flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the first or second work chamber and vice versa are appropriately carried out thereby providing the driver with a comfortable steering feeling. A bypass arrangement may be provided between the first and second fluid passages to deal with a residual pressure that would be remained in the first or second work chamber when the hydraulic pump is under inoperative condition.

Abstract: A steering system includes a hydraulic power cylinder 5 that assists a steering force of a rack-and-pinion mechanism 4, and a first hydraulic pressure supply mechanism 8 having a first trochoid pump 23 selectively supplying hydraulic pressure to two hydraulic pressure chambers 15a and 15b of the hydraulic power cylinder via first and second fluid passages 6 and 7, and a first electric motor 24 for the first trochoid pump. When the first hydraulic pressure supply mechanism becomes failed, a second hydraulic pressure supply mechanism 11 is operated responsively to a command signal from a control unit 14 to selectively supply hydraulic pressure via third and fourth fluid passages to either one of the hydraulic pressure chambers. Thus, it is possible to positively apply a steering assist force by means of the second hydraulic pressure supply mechanism 11, thereby reducing a driver's operating force applied to a steering wheel.

Abstract: In a power steering system comprising a power cylinder for assisting a steering power of a steering mechanism, a hydraulic pump for supplying a hydraulic pressure to the power cylinder, a first oil passage and a second oil passage connecting the power cylinder and the hydraulic pump respectively, a motor for driving the hydraulic pump, and power steering control means for calculating a command value to the motor based on the steering torque, a flow rate of the working oil supplied from a high-pressure side oil passage to a low-pressure side oil passage is restrained at the transition from the end of the steering state (lock end) of the steering mechanism to the returning. The flow-rate restraint increasingly corrects a driving current of the motor in the steering direction or limits the flow rate of the working oil.

Abstract: A power steering apparatus includes a power cylinder including first and second pressure chambers, a hydraulic pump including first and second discharge ports, the hydraulic pump being arranged to supply a hydraulic pressure selectively to the first and second pressure chambers; first and second hydraulic passages connecting the first and second pressure chambers and the first and second discharge ports; a motor arranged to drive the hydraulic pump; a motor control section configured to output a drive signal to the motor; a reservoir tank storing a hydraulic fluid; first and second bypass passages connecting the first and second hydraulic passages and the reservoir tank; first and second bypass valves arranged to open and close the first and second bypass passages; and first and second flow rate restricting sections disposed in the first and second bypass passages, and arranged to decrease flow rates of the first and second bypass passages.

Abstract: A power assist mechanism is provided that assists operation of a steering mechanism when receiving a pressurized hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic pump feeds the power assist mechanism with the pressurized hydraulic fluid when driven. An electric motor drives the hydraulic pump. A battery unit is provided for energizing the electric motor. A control unit is provided for controlling the electric power from the battery unit to the electric motor. The battery unit comprises a plurality of lead-acid batteries that are connected in series. Each lead-acid battery comprises a spirally wound positive plate, a spirally wound negative plate, a spirally wound insulating plate that is spirally wound and sandwiched between the positive and negative plates, a battery case that puts therein the spirally wound positive, negative and insulating plates and an electrolyte that is provided in the battery case.

Abstract: A power steering system includes a hydraulic power cylinder having a first and a second hydraulic chambers, for assisting a steering force of a steering mechanism, a first and a second oil passages respectively connected to the first and second hydraulic chambers, a reversible pump discharging operating oil and providing oil pressure to the hydraulic power cylinder through the first and second oil passages, and a motor connected to the reversible pump and rotating the reversible pump in normal and reverse directions. A steering load detection unit detects a steering load of a steering wheel for steering of the steered road wheels, and a motor control unit outputs a control signal to the motor to bring an actual oil pressure generated by the reversible pump closer to a desired oil pressure determined based on the detected steering load. A discharge amount per rotation of the reversible pump is smaller than or equal to 5 cc.

Abstract: An oil pump is provided which includes a cam ring made of a material having a first line expansion coefficient, a pump element rotatably disposed in the cam ring and smaller in an axial length than the cam ring, a first housing member disposed on one of axially opposite sides of the cam ring and made of a material having a second line expansion coefficient larger than the first line expansion coefficient, and a second housing member disposed on the other of the axially opposite sides of the cam ring and made of a material having a third line expansion coefficient than the first line expansion coefficient.

Abstract: A first fluid passage extends from a first outlet/inlet port of a hydraulic pump to a first work chamber of a power cylinder, and a second fluid passage extends from a second outlet/inlet port of the pump to a second work chamber of the power cylinder. A switch system switches the role of the first and second outlet/inlet ports in accordance with a turning direction of a steering wheel. Flow control mechanisms are respectively incorporated with the first and second fluid passages, so that a controlled flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the first or second work chamber and vice versa are appropriately carried out thereby providing the driver with a comfortable steering feeling. A bypass arrangement may be provided between the first and second fluid passages to deal with a residual pressure that would be remained in the first or second work chamber when the hydraulic pump is under inoperative condition.

Abstract: A first fluid passage extends from a first outlet/inlet port of a hydraulic pump to a first work chamber of a power cylinder, and a second fluid passage extends from a second outlet/inlet port of the pump to a second work chamber of the power cylinder. A switch system switches the role of the first and second outlet/inlet ports in accordance with a turning direction of a steering wheel. Flow control mechanisms are respectively incorporated with the first and second fluid passages, so that a controlled flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the first or second work chamber and vice versa are appropriately carried out thereby providing the driver with a comfortable steering feeling. A bypass arrangement may be provided between the first and second fluid passages to deal with a residual pressure that would be remained in the first or second work chamber when the hydraulic pump is under inoperative condition.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor control system is arranged to control a command current indicative of a current to be supplied to the brushless motor on the basis of an estimated phase angle and an actual phase angle to control a current supplied to the brushless motor on the basis of an estimated phase angle and an actual phase angle, and to execute at least one of an estimated phase angle returning processing for returning the estimated phase angle and a current lowering processing for lowering a command current, when the estimated phase angle advances relative to the actual phase angle.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor control system is arranged to control a command current indicative of a current to be supplied to the brushless motor on the basis of an estimated phase angle and an actual phase angle to control a current supplied to the brushless motor on the basis of an estimated phase angle and an actual phase angle, and to execute at least one of an estimated phase angle returning processing for returning the estimated phase angle and a current lowering processing for lowering a command current, when the estimated phase angle advances relative to the actual phase angle.

Abstract: A power steering system is provided which comprises a bypass conduit connecting between first and second communication conduits and having bypass conduit ports. A pair of valves disposed in the bypass conduit for selectively opening and closing the bypass conduit ports in response to the pressure fluid from the pressure source. The valves are adapted to provide communication between the first and second communication conduits when the hydraulic pressure source is inoperative.

Abstract: A first fluid passage extends from a first outlet/inlet port of a hydraulic pump to a first work chamber of a power cylinder, and a second fluid passage extends from a second outlet/inlet port of the pump to a second work chamber of the power cylinder. A switch system switches the role of the first and second outlet/inlet ports in accordance with a turning direction of a steering wheel. Flow control mechanisms are respectively incorporated with the first and second fluid passages, so that a controlled flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the first or second work chamber and vice versa are appropriately carried out thereby providing the driver with a comfortable steering feeling. A bypass arrangement may be provided between the first and second fluid passages to deal with a residual pressure that would be remained in the first or second work chamber when the hydraulic pump is under inoperative condition.

Abstract: A power steering system is provided which comprises a bypass conduit connecting between first and second communication conduits and having bypass conduit ports. A pair of valves disposed in the bypass conduit for selectively opening and closing the bypass conduit ports in response to the pressure fluid from the pressure source. The valves are adapted to provide communication between the first and second communication conduits when the hydraulic pressure source is inoperative.