Device for limiting the steering angle in an electrically controlled steering system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for limiting the steering angle in an electrically controlled steering system, which device can comprise a steering column, a crash element and a disc-shaped member, the steering column being rotatable with a steering wheel, the crash element being arranged to pass through the steering column and to rotate with the steering column, and the crash element having a guide pin and a stop pin, the disc-shaped member having a stopper and a helical-shaped slide formed on a surface facing the guide pin, the stopper being formed at a position that limits the maximum steering angle of the steering column during rotation of the guide pin along the slide and translation of the crash element relative to the steering column, such that the stop pin is caught by the stopper during the rotational and translational movement of the crash element.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for limiting a steering angle in a steer-by-wire (SBW) system, which can prevent self-locking by limiting a maximum steering angle without increasing friction. BACKGROUND

[0002] A steer-by-wire (SBW) system is a steering system that separates a mechanical connection between a steering wheel and driving wheels of a vehicle. The vehicle can receive a rotation signal of the steering wheel through an electronic control unit (ECU) and operate a steering motor connected to the driving wheels to steer based on the input rotation signal.

[0003] Such a steer-by-wire system cancels a mechanical connection structure of a conventional steering system, thereby having advantages of improvement in fuel economy, elimination of disturbance input from the wheels, and increase in freedom of layout due to the configuration of the steering system.

[0004] On the other hand, since the mechanical connection structure is disconnected, there is a disadvantage that steering information required by a driver cannot be accurately fed back.

[0005] In other words, in the conventional steering system, since a mechanical connection structure such as a universal joint is used, the steering wheel is also restricted by a rotation limit of a tire. However, since the steering wheel and the tire steering system are mechanically separated in the steer-by-wire system, a mechanical device for continuously limiting a steering angle of the steering wheel is required.

[0006] Among devices for limiting a steering angle, there is a method of using a bolt and a nut to limit displacement of the steering wheel.

[0007] In the bolt and nut structure, the nut (a collision member) is provided to a fixed housing, and up and down sliding between the housing and the nut is possible, but rotation is not possible. Therefore, when the steering wheel rotates, the bolt rotates together, and correspondingly, the collision member moves up and down along the bolt.

[0008] The displacement of the collision member moving up and down according to the steering angle is limited by a vertical stopper provided near a maximum steering angle, and thus the steering angle is finally limited.

[0009] However, if the pitch of the bolt is too small, friction increases, and when a torque is applied after reaching the maximum steering angle, a self-locking phenomenon (locking like a screw) occurs and a problem of locking of the steering wheel occurs. Conversely, if the pitch is increased, there is a disadvantage that the length of the system increases.

[0010] The information disclosed in the Background section of the present application is only intended to increase an understanding of the general context of the present application and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms prior art that is already publicly known. SUMMARY

[0011] Various aspects of the present application aim to provide a device for limiting a steering angle in an SBW system, which is capable of limiting a maximum steering angle without increasing friction and preventing a self-locking phenomenon.

[0012] To achieve the above object, the present application can include a steering column that rotates together with a steering wheel; a collision member that is disposed to pass through the steering column in a radial direction of the steering column and rotate together with the steering column, and has a guide pin and a stop pin formed at an end thereof; and a disc-shaped member that has a stopper formed at a position of a rotational path of the stop pin in a rotation process of the steering column, in which the guide pin is rotated along a spiral-shaped slide groove formed on a surface of the disc-shaped member facing the guide pin so that the collision member is translated with respect to the steering column, to limit a maximum steering angle of the steering column, and in which the stop pin is caught by the stopper in a rotation and translation movement process of the collision member.

[0013] A column groove can be formed in a radial direction of the steering column; and the collision member can pass through and be translated along the column groove.

[0014] An inner surface of the column groove can be provided with a bearing.

[0015] The disc-shaped member can be disposed in a form in which a guide disc and a stop disc are vertically overlapped, and fixed to surround a shape of the steering column; and the collision member can be rotated between the guide disc and the stop disc and translated in a horizontal direction.

[0016] The spiral-shaped slide groove can be formed on an inner surface of the guide disc with reference to an axis of the steering column; and the guide pin can be formed to protrude from one surface of the collision member facing the guide disc so that the guide pin is guided along the slide groove.

[0017] Only one guide pin can be formed at one side of the collision member.

[0018] The stopper can be formed to protrude from an inner surface of the stop disc facing the slide groove; and the stop pin can be formed to protrude from another surface of the collision member facing the stop disc so that the stop pin can be caught by the stopper in a rotation process of the collision member.

[0019] The stop pins can be formed at both ends of the collision member, respectively; and the stoppers can be formed at both sides of the steering column with reference to an axis of the steering column, respectively.

[0020] According to the above means for solving the problem, the present application is able to physically block the rotation path of the stop pin (which is formed in the collision member) in the vertical plane and prevent the rotation of the stop pin by forming a stopper in the disc-shaped member. Therefore, even when the steering angle increases, the friction force does not increase, and has the effect of eliminating the self-locking phenomenon due to the clamping between the components.

[0021] Further, since the device is configured such that the collision member rotates and moves in the horizontal direction within the disc-shaped member, the vertical length of the device can be designed to be short, and thus the device is excellent not only in terms of packaging but also in terms of durability since the collision member operates within the disc-shaped member.

[0022] The methods and devices of the present application have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or which will be elaborated upon in the accompanying drawings and detailed description which are incorporated herein and which together form a part of this specification. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 is a view showing the inside projection of the device for limiting the steering angle according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0024] Figure 2 is a sectional view of the device for limiting the steering angle according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0025] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the sectional structure of the disc-shaped member and the collision member according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0026] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the guide disc configured with the collision member according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0027] Figure 5 is a bottom perspective view of the stop disc configured with the collision member according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0028] Figure 6 is a view for explaining the limiting effect of the steering angle based on the rotation and translation movement of the collision member according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0029] It should be appreciated that the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale, but are merely a proper simplification of various features of the basic principles of the present application. The specific design features of the present application disclosed herein include, for example, specific dimensions, directions, positions, and shapes will be determined in part by the specific environment to which the application is applied and used.

[0030] In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise indicated. Some embodiments of the present application will now be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Reference will now be made in detail embodiments of the application, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the application will be described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the application to these exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the application is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments that can be included within the spirit and scope of the application as defined by the appended claims.

[0032] The exemplary embodiments of this application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Figure 1 is a view showing an internal projection of a device for limiting a steering angle in an electrically controlled steering (SBW) system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0034] Referring to the drawings, the present application includes a steering column 100 that rotates together with a steering wheel, a collision member 200 disposed to pass through the steering column 100 in a radial direction and rotate together with the steering column 100, and the collision member 200 has a guide pin 210 and a stop pin 220 formed at an end thereof, and a disc-shaped member 300 having a helical-shaped slide groove 312 formed on a surface facing the guide pin 210, and the disc-shaped member 300 has a stopper 322 formed at a position on a rotational path of the stop pin 220 that limits a maximum steering angle of the steering column 100 during rotation of the steering column 100 in which the guide pin 210 rotates along the slide groove 312 such that the collision member 200 translates with respect to the steering column 100, so that the stop pin 220 is caught by the stopper 322 during rotational and translational movement of the collision member 200.

[0035] The steering wheel is coupled to an upper end of the steering column 100 so as to rotate together with the steering column 100 as the steering wheel is steered. In addition, a reaction force motor is provided at a lower end of the steering column 100 to provide a steering reaction force to the steering wheel.

[0036] The collision member 200 is formed in an elongated bar shape and is disposed by passing through a middle portion of the steering column 100 in a radial direction of the steering column 100, so as to rotate together with the steering column 100 when the steering column 100 rotates.

[0037] Further, a guide pin 210 is formed in the impact member 200, and a helical groove 312 is formed in the disc-shaped member 300 facing the guide pin 210, so that the guide pin 210 is guided and moved when inserted into the helical groove 312.

[0038] As the guide pin 210 is guided along the helical groove 312, the distance between the axis of the steering column 100 and the guide pin 210 gradually increases or becomes closer in proportion to the rotation of the steering column 100. Accordingly, the impact member 200 is translated in the radial direction of the steering column 100.

[0039] Further, a stop pin 220 is formed in the impact member 200, and a stopper 322 is formed at a position of the disc-shaped member 300 where the maximum steering angle is to be limited, so that the stop pin 220 formed in the impact member 200 is caught by the stopper 322 in the course of the rotation and translation of the impact member 200.

[0040] That is, while the impact member 200 is rotated, the impact member 200 is linearly moved in one direction in proportion to the rotation of the impact member 200, so that the impact member 200 is caught by the stopper 322 located in the rotation path of the stop pin 220 in the course of continuously turning the steering wheel to the left or right. Accordingly, the maximum steering angle of the steering wheel is mechanically limited.

[0041] Therefore, by adding a simple structure to the steering column 100, an end-lock function of limiting the maximum steering angle is effectively implemented, and since the stopper 322 physically blocks the rotation path of the stop pin 220 and prevents the rotation of the stop pin 220 in the vertical plane, even when the steering angle increases, the friction does not increase, thereby fundamentally eliminating the self-locking phenomenon due to the clamping between the components.

[0042] Further, Figure 2 is a sectional view of a device for limiting a steering angle according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a guide disc 310 configured with an impact member 200 according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0043] Referring to the drawings, a column groove 110 is formed in the radial direction of a steering column 100; and an impact member 200 passes through the column groove 110 to be translated along the column groove 110.

[0044] Further, an inner surface of the column groove 110 can be provided with a bearing 120.

[0045] That is, by forming the column groove 110 through which the impact member 200 passes in the radial direction based on the axis of the steering column 100, the impact member 200 is translated in the radial direction along the column groove 110.

[0046] With the current method, since the impact member 200 is translated with respect to the steering column 100, the bearing 120 structure can be installed on the inner surface of the column groove 110 to prevent play and minimize friction. Accordingly, the occurrence of mechanical friction due to the translational motion of the impact member 200 during steering of the steering wheel can be minimized.

[0047] Meanwhile, referring to Figure 2 In various exemplary embodiments of the present application, the disc-shaped member 300 is provided in a shape in which the guide disc 310 and the stop disc 320 are vertically overlapped, and is fixed in a shape surrounding the steering column 100; and the impact member 200 is rotated and translated in a horizontal direction between the guide disc 310 and the stop disc 320.

[0048] That is, when the steering column 100 is rotated, the impact member 200 is rotated and moved only in a horizontal direction along the slide groove 312 and the column groove 110, and the disc-shaped member 300 is also fixed to the vehicle body and does not move. Accordingly, the up-and-down length of the device can be designed to be very short, thereby having a very excellent advantage in terms of packaging, and since the impact member 200 operates within the disc-shaped member 300, it also has an advantage in terms of durability.

[0049] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a guide disc 310 configured with an impact member 200 according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0050] Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 4 The helical slide groove 312 is formed on the inner surface of the guide disc 310 with reference to the axis of the steering column 100; and the guide pin 210 is formed to protrude from one surface of the impact member 200 (which faces the guide disc 310), so that the guide pin 210 is guided along the slide groove 312.

[0051] The guide pin 210 is formed to protrude from the bottom surface of the end portion of the impact member 200, and a portion of the lower end portion of the guide pin 210 is inserted into the slide groove 312.

[0052] That is, as the guide pin 210 is guided along the helical slide groove 312, the distance between the axis of the steering column 100 and the guide pin 210 gradually increases or becomes closer in proportion to the rotation of the steering column 100.

[0053] For example, the impact member 200 that rotates together with the steering column 100 can be designed to translate the slide groove 312 by one pitch every time it is rotated by 180°.

[0054] Accordingly, the maximum steering angle can be implemented to various angles according to the design of the pitch of the slide groove 312 and the design of the position of the stopper 322 and the stop pin 220, which will be described later.

[0055] In addition, only one guide pin 210 can be formed on one surface of the impact member 200.

[0056] That is, when the steering column 100 rotates, the guide pin 210 rotates along the spiral groove 312 while sufficiently causing the movement of the impact member 200, so that only one guide pin 210 can be formed to minimize the friction between the guide disc 310 and the guide pin 210 and to stably translate the impact member 200.

[0057] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a bottom surface of a stop disc 320 configured with the impact member 200 according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0058] Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 5 The stop 322 is formed to protrude from an inner surface of the stop disc 320, which faces the spiral groove 312, and the stop pin 220 is formed to protrude from the other surface of the impact member 200, which faces the stop disc 320, so that the stop pin 220 is caught by the stop 322 during the rotation of the impact member 200.

[0059] In addition, the stop pin 220 can be formed on both ends of the impact member 200, respectively, and the stop 322 can be formed on both sides based on the axis of the steering column 100, respectively.

[0060] For example, the stop pin 220 is formed to protrude from the upper surfaces of both ends of the impact member 200, respectively, and the stop 322 is formed to protrude from both sides of the bottom surface of the stop disc 320, respectively.

[0061] In the current case, the stop 322 can be formed to be symmetrical at intervals of 180° based on the axis of the steering column 100 and formed on the path where the stop pin 220 rotates.

[0062] Figure 6 is a view for explaining the limiting effect of the steering angle based on the rotational and translational movement of the impact member 200 according to various exemplary embodiments of the present application.

[0063] Referring to the drawings to explain the operation of limiting the steering angle, when the steering wheel is manipulated to turn to the left, the impact member 200 rotates counterclockwise.

[0064] Accordingly, the guide pin 210 rotates along the spiral groove 312, and the impact member 200 gradually translates in the radial direction along one side of the column groove 110 in proportion to the rotation of the guide pin 210.

[0065] According to such rotational and translational movement, the stop pin 220 formed on one end of the impact member 200 is caught by the stop 322 located on the right side, thereby limiting the maximum steering angle in the left turning direction.

[0066] On the other hand, during right turn steering of the steering wheel, the collision member 200 rotates clockwise, contrary to the left turn.

[0067] Accordingly, the guide pin 210 rotates along the helical groove 312, and the collision member 200 gradually translates in another radial direction of the column groove 110 in proportion to the rotation of the guide pin 210.

[0068] According to this rotation and translation movement, the stop pin 220 formed at the other end of the collision member 200 is caught by the stopper 322 located at the left side, thereby limiting the maximum steering angle in the right turn direction.

[0069] As described above, in various exemplary embodiments of the present application, the stopper 322 formed at the disc-shaped member 300 physically blocks the rotation path of the stop pin 220 (which is formed at the collision member 200) in the vertical plane to prevent the rotation of the stop pin 220. Therefore, even when the steering angle increases, the friction does not increase, thereby eliminating the self-locking phenomenon due to the clamping between the components.

[0070] For the convenience of explanation and precise definition of the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "top", "bottom", "upward", "downward", "front", "rear", "back", "inward", "outward", "interior", "exterior", "internal", "external", "forward", and "rearward" are used to describe the features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of these features shown in the drawings. It will be further understood that the term "connected" or its derivatives refer both to direct and indirect connections.

[0071] The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the application has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the application to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the application and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the application and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The scope of the application is defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A device for limiting the steering angle in an electronically controlled steering system, the device comprising: The steering column rotates along with the steering wheel; A collision element, configured to pass through the steering column radially and rotate with the steering column, wherein the collision element includes a guide pin and a stop pin formed at its ends; and A disc-shaped component fixed to a stationary component, the disc-shaped component comprising: A spiral groove is formed on the surface of the disc-shaped member facing the guide pin; and A stop is formed on the rotation path of a stop pin during the rotation of the steering column, limiting the position of the maximum steering angle of the steering column. The guide pin rotates along a helical groove, causing the collision member to translate relative to the steering column, and the stop pin is selectively locked by the stop during the rotation and translation of the collision member.

2. The device for limiting the steering angle in the electronic steering system according to claim 1, wherein, A column groove is formed in the steering column along the radial direction of the steering column. The collision element passes through the groove and is able to translate along the groove.

3. The device for limiting the steering angle in the electronic steering system according to claim 2, wherein, The inner surface of the column groove is provided with a bearing. The collision element can be slidably mounted on the bearing.

4. The device for limiting the steering angle in the electronic steering system according to claim 1, wherein, The disc-shaped component includes a guide disc and a stop disc, which are vertically overlapping and fixed to each other to slide around the steering column. As the steering column rotates, the impact component rotates between the guide disc and the stop disc and translates radially along the steering column.

5. The device for limiting the steering angle in the electronically controlled steering system according to claim 4, wherein, The spiral groove is formed on the inner surface of the guide disc around the axis of the steering column. The guide pin protrudes from the first surface of the impact member and engages with the spiral groove to be guided along the spiral groove, the first surface facing the guide disc.

6. The device for limiting the steering angle in the electronic steering system according to claim 5, wherein, The guide pin is single and formed on the first surface of the impact member.

7. The device for limiting the steering angle in the electronic steering system according to claim 4, wherein, The stop protrudes from the inner surface of the stop disc facing the spiral groove. The stop pin protrudes from the second surface of the impact member, such that the stop pin is selectively locked by the stop member when the impact member rotates, the second surface facing the stop disc.

8. The device for limiting the steering angle in the electronic steering system according to claim 7, wherein, The stop pins are formed in a plurality of units and are respectively located at the first end and the second end of the collision member. The stop is formed in a plurality of units and is located on the first and second sides of the inner surface of the stop disc, respectively, with the axis of the steering column as a reference.

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