Steering Patents (Class 73/117.02)
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Patent number: 7774945Abstract: A rotary angle detecting device includes a synthetic-resin wheel member which is provided with a shaft hole, into which a steering shaft having a pair of flat surfaces provided in a front end portion thereof is inserted, and a detecting portion and which rotates together with the steering shaft; a sheet-metal attachment member attached to the wheel member and engaged to the steering shaft; a signal detecting unit operable to detect a position variation of the detecting portion accompanied by the rotation of the wheel member; and a housing provided with a through-hole into which the steering shaft is rotatably inserted and accommodating the wheel member and the signal detecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2008Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tadashi Sano
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Patent number: 7772836Abstract: A multiple rotation absolute angle detecting device includes a reduction gear mechanism having an eccentric ring fitted to a rotatable member, an internally threaded member in a stationary member, an externally threaded member engageable with the internally threaded member, and a speed reducing member to which rotation is transmitted from the externally threaded member. The externally threaded member undergoes a speed-reduced rotation at a reduction gear ratio of 1/L (L represents an arbitrarily value exceeding 1) about an axis O? of rotation of the eccentric ring and the speed reducing member rotates around the rotatable member at a speed equal to that of the externally threaded member. A multiple rotation detecting unit for outputting a sinusoidal or sawtooth wave having one period per rotation includes a to-be-detected member in the speed reducing member and a detecting member in the stationary member that confronts the to-be-detected member.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2006Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: NTN CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Takayoshi Ozaki, Norihiko Sasaki
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Patent number: 7765858Abstract: A method for measuring low amplitude dynamic properties of a steering column includes mounting the steering column into a test fixture and performing test runs. The test runs include subjecting the input end of the steering column to input excitations and measuring output conditions, which include at least one of acceleration, velocity and position, and determining whether the output conditions are within a predetermined output range. Input excitations may include sinusoidal excitations having a selected frequency range, torque, or displacement; or dither excitations. The selected torque or displacement is determined using open loop calculations from the output conditions, to achieve target acceleration levels. Data is interpreted to determine the natural frequency or rim gain of the steering column, which are compared to predetermined permissible ranges. The maximum steering wheel rim gain permissible level may be equal to approximately 1 divided by the polar moment of inertia of the wheel.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2008Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth L. Oblizajek, John D. Sopoci
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Patent number: 7765702Abstract: An angle sensor includes two measuring pinions which rotate in the same direction in response to a drive pinion rotating. The measuring pinions have different absolute angular positions after rotating. The absolute angular position of the drive pinion is determinable from the absolute angular positions of the measuring pinions. A delta wheel between the measuring pinions has two coaxially arranged rings. One ring engages the second measuring pinion and the other ring engages the first measuring pinion such that the rings rotate relative to one another in the same direction in response to the measuring pinions rotating in the opposite direction. A spring connecting the rings together biases the rings to move in opposite directions toward one another after the rings have been rotated relative to one another in the same direction such that the rings respectively press the measuring pinions against the drive pinion.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2008Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Christian Schirp, Arnd Ruebenhagen, Oliver Maier
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Publication number: 20100147060Abstract: The invention concerns a rotation angle sensor, in particular a steering angle sensor (1) for a steering unit, with a housing (2) comprising an exterior (8), a transmitter (7) arranged in a sensor chamber in the housing (2) to perform rotary movements around a rotation axis, and a stationary receiver interacting with the pick-up sensor (7). It is endeavoured to make such steering angle sensors fit for rough environmental conditions. For this purpose, the sensor chamber is connected to the exterior (8) via at least one free space (16).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2009Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: Sauer-Danfoss ApSInventors: Dennis Henning, John Kristensen, Soeren Moeller Hansen
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Publication number: 20100114523Abstract: A position sensor assembly for determining the absolute angular position of a motor vehicle steering wheel includes a housing, an input gear driven by a rotary input, and a pickup gear coupled to the input gear. A cam having a spiroidal profile is generated about the rotational axis of the input gear and is rotatable with the input gear. A cam follower is coupled with the housing and engages the spiroidal profile, wherein rotation of the spiroidal profile as the input gear turns causes the cam follower to move along the spiroidal profile. A first sensor is associated with the pickup gear such that rotation of the pickup gear provides an output signal from the first sensor. A second sensor is associated with the cam follower such that motion of the cam follower produces an output signal from the second sensor. A processor receives output signals from the first and second sensors to produce a signal proportional to the angular position of the input gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2007Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: Daryn L. Waite, David L. Maloney
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Publication number: 20100083744Abstract: An inventive load apparatus for performance evaluation of a steering system has a simple construction and yet is capable of faithfully reproducing a tire load observed when the steering system is actually mounted on a motor vehicle. A compression load spring device (12) includes a piston (18) which is axially movable within a cylinder (17), and a pair of springs (20, 21) which resiliently urge the piston (18) to hold the piston (18) in a force balanced state at a neutral position in the cylinder. The piston (18) is connected to a rod (19) having one end (19a) serving as a load output portion. A load outputted from the load output portion (19a) is multiplied by a preset factor by means of a lever mechanism (13), and the resulting load is applied to the steering system (30).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2007Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicant: JTEKT CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Obata, Terutaka Tamaizumi
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Publication number: 20100031739Abstract: A method for measuring low amplitude dynamic properties of a steering column includes mounting the steering column into a test fixture and performing test runs. The test runs include subjecting the input end of the steering column to input excitations and measuring output conditions, which include at least one of acceleration, velocity and position, and determining whether the output conditions are within a predetermined output range. Input excitations may include sinusoidal excitations having a selected frequency range, torque, or displacement; or dither excitations. The selected torque or displacement is determined using open loop calculations from the output conditions, to achieve target acceleration levels. Data is interpreted to determine the natural frequency or rim gain of the steering column, which are compared to predetermined permissible ranges. The maximum steering wheel rim gain permissible level may be equal to approximately 1 divided by the polar moment of inertia of the wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2008Publication date: February 11, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPEARATIONS, INC.Inventors: Kenneth L. Oblizajek, John D. Sopoci
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Patent number: 7591174Abstract: A rudder angle sensor with high accuracy, including a memory for storing a correction value to correct a rotational delay of a driven gear relative to a main drive gear caused by a backlash at a time of reverse of a steering shaft, a computer for correcting the value measured by the measuring mechanism based on the correction value stored in the memory, to thereby, calculate the rotation angle of the steering shaft. The measured result of the driven gear obtained by the measuring mechanism is corrected based on the correction value, and therefore, the backlash existing between the main drive gear and the driven gear can be matched completely or approximately. Thus, the high accuracy angle sensor is realized.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2006Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Toyo Denso Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masahiro Matsuda
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Publication number: 20090199676Abstract: A sensor system for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle is provided, characterized in that, in one form, in and/or on a steering wheel rim at least one sensor device for recording the effects of an acceleration is arranged. Rapid and effective reactions can thus be made to impact events, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2007Publication date: August 13, 2009Applicant: TAKATA-PETRI AGInventor: Marcus Kandler
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Patent number: 7543488Abstract: An electric servo steering arrangement and method for motor vehicles with a rotational angle sensor configuration for acquisition of the position of the steering movement has a support plate rotating relative or corresponding to the steering movement, with at least one code track and at least one stationary sensor acting on the code track. The code track is disposed about the rotational axis of the support plate and has markings for generating a sequentially changing bit pattern and the 360° of the circumference divided by the number of markings on the circumference defines a clock angle (?). The bit pattern is determined by a phase-shifted disposition of markings with respect to the fixed division of the clock angle (?).Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta AGInventors: Christian Staudenmann, Daniel Brunnschweiler
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Publication number: 20090133485Abstract: A device for exposing an opening in a housing part of a steering gear in a vehicle steering system has a closure element that closes the opening and a component that, when it comes into contact with a liquid, changes at least one of its properties such that, after the component cooperates with the closure element, the closure element exposes the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2006Publication date: May 28, 2009Applicant: ZF Lenksysteme GmbHInventors: Helmut Bareis, Martin Budaker, Reiner Kunz, Wolfgang Reuter, Oliver Hetzel, John Hasenclever
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Publication number: 20080307873Abstract: A steering angle sensing apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus and method sense the steering angle of a steering shaft by using a rotated bit value difference corresponding to the rotated angles of magnets, which are respectively coupled on an axis of one of a plurality of sub gears, when the sub gears with respectively different gear ratios rotate with a shaft gear that rotates together with the steering shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2007Publication date: December 18, 2008Inventors: Kyong Ho Kang, Choon Wook Park, Sung Kyu Bae, Chang Hwan Lee
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Publication number: 20080282788Abstract: A method for determining an absolute rotational position of a vehicle steering column is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method determines a relative position of a steering assist motor utilizing a relative position sensor. Thereafter, the method determines the absolute rotational position of the vehicle steering column based upon the relative position of the steering assist motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Kathryn L. Pattok, Geoff P. Krieger, Tony Dodak, William H. Wittig, Steve R. Bannister