Hydraulic Steering Gear Integrated with Active Steering Damper

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of steering gears, and particularly to a hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering shock absorber, which comprises a steering gear housing having a hollow accommodation cavity; a rack, the rack is disposed in the steering gear housing and can move axially along the steering gear housing; a partition plate, the partition plate is disposed on the steering gear housing and is located in the accommodation cavity; an assist piston, fixedly sleeved on the rack and located in the assist cavity; a shock-absorbing piston, fixedly sleeved on the rack and located in the shock-absorbing cavity, and a first flow hole is formed in the shock-absorbing piston; a damping assembly, disposed on the shock-absorbing piston, and the damping assembly is electrically connected to a speed sensor and an angle sensor of the steering gear. The present invention is convenient for arranging in a narrow front engine compartment, and the magnitude of the damping force can be actively adjusted to meet the requirements of safe driving.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of steering gears, and particularly to a hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper. Background Art

[0002] A steering damper is a damping shock absorber installed on an automotive steering gear, and its main functions are as follows: preventing self-excited oscillation or forced oscillation of the vehicle's steering wheels; the steering damper has a strong attenuation effect on the transient oscillation of the steering wheels caused by road impacts; the steering damper has the function of preventing braking deviation.

[0003] Commonly used steering dampers are independent of the steering gear and require additional installation space, which is very inconvenient to arrange in a narrow front engine compartment. Moreover, the damping characteristics of common passive steering system shock absorbers are determined during design and manufacturing, and the damping force magnitude is not adjustable. While preventing the oscillation of the steering wheels, it has some adverse effects on the steering ease of the vehicle. Especially when the vehicle makes a sudden turn to avoid danger during high-speed driving, the steering damper will generate an additional steering resistance, which is not conducive to steering control and the driving safety of the vehicle.

[0004] Therefore, a hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper is needed to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper, which is convenient to arrange in a narrow front engine compartment, and the damping force magnitude can be actively adjusted to meet the requirements of safe driving.

[0006] To achieve this purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] A hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper, comprising:

[0008] A steering gear housing having a hollow accommodation cavity;

[0009] A rack, which is inserted into the steering gear housing and can move axially along the steering gear housing;

[0010] A partition plate, which is arranged on the steering gear housing and located in the accommodation cavity. The partition plate divides the space between the rack and the steering gear housing into a non-communicating power assist cavity and a damping cavity. The power assist cavity is filled with hydraulic power assist oil, and the damping cavity is filled with damping oil;

[0011] A power assist piston, fixedly sleeved on the rack and located in the power assist cavity;

[0012] A damping piston, fixedly sleeved on the rack and located in the damping cavity. The damping piston is provided with a first flow hole;

[0013] A damping assembly is arranged on the damping piston. The damping assembly is electrically connected to a speed sensor and an angle sensor of a steering gear. The damping assembly can actively adjust the opening degree of the first flow hole according to the vehicle speed and the steering angle;

[0014] The damping assembly includes an opening degree adjusting assembly and a position adjusting assembly. The opening degree adjusting assembly is arranged on the damping piston and is located at the first flow hole. The position adjusting assembly is arranged on the steering gear housing. The position adjusting assembly is electrically connected to both the speed sensor and the angle sensor. The position adjusting assembly can adjust the position of the opening degree adjusting assembly, thereby adjusting the opening degree of the first flow hole;

[0015] The opening degree adjusting assembly includes a damping valve and an elastic member. The damping valve is arranged in the damping piston and is located at the first flow hole. One end of the elastic member abuts against the damping valve, and the other end of the elastic member abuts against the damping piston. The elastic member has a tendency to make the first flow hole in the maximum opening degree. The position adjusting assembly can adjust the position of the damping valve;

[0016] The position adjusting assembly includes an electromagnet and a controller. The electromagnet is arranged on the steering gear housing. The controller is electrically connected to the electromagnet. The electromagnet can attract the damping valve to move. The controller is electrically connected to both the speed sensor and the angle sensor. The controller can adjust the magnetic force of the electromagnet.

[0017] Further, an installation member is arranged on the steering gear housing. The installation member has a hollow cavity. The hollow cavity faces the damping cavity. The electromagnet is inserted into the hollow cavity.

[0018] Further, an oil injection hole communicating with the damping cavity is opened on the steering gear housing. A sealing bolt is detachably arranged on the oil injection hole.

[0019] Further, a second flow hole is opened on the damping piston.

[0020] Further, a sealing ring is arranged between the power assist piston and the steering gear housing.

[0021] Further, an installation ring groove is opened on the outer peripheral surface of the power assist piston. The sealing ring is embedded in the installation ring groove, and one end of the sealing ring extends out relative to the installation ring groove and abuts against the wall surface of the power assist cavity.

[0022] Further, a first sealing member and a second sealing member are sleeved on both ends of the rack. The first sealing member and the second sealing member abut against the wall surface of the accommodation cavity.

[0023] Advantages of the present invention:

[0024] A hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper provided by the present invention. A rack is disposed through a receiving cavity of a steering gear housing. A partition is provided inside the steering gear housing to divide the space between the rack and the steering gear housing into a non-communicating boosting cavity and a damping cavity. A boosting piston and a damping piston are fixedly sleeved on the rack. A damping assembly is provided on the damping piston and is electrically connected to a speed sensor and an angle sensor of the steering gear. Since during the steering of the steering gear, the rack will move along the axial direction of the steering gear housing. During the movement of the rack, the damping piston will move accordingly, and the damping oil located in the damping cavity will flow through the first flow hole. During the driving of the vehicle, when the driver steers, the angle sensor transmits the rotation angle to the damping assembly, and the speed sensor transmits the vehicle speed to the damping assembly. The damping assembly controls the opening degree of the first flow hole on the damping piston according to the vehicle speed and the rotation angle, thereby adjusting the damping force applied to the rack and adjusting the movement damping of the rack. By integrating the steering damper in series on the hydraulic steering gear, it is convenient to arrange in a narrow front engine compartment, and the magnitude of the damping force can be actively adjusted to meet the requirements of safe driving. Description of the Drawings

[0025] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper according to the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the steering gear housing of a hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper according to the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first flow hole on the damping piston of a hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper according to the present invention in the maximum opening state;

[0028] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first flow hole on the damping piston of a hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper according to the present invention in the intermediate opening state;

[0029] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first flow hole on the damping piston of a hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper according to the present invention in the closed state.

[0030] In the figure:

[0031] 1. Steering gear housing; 11. First seal; 12. Second seal; 13. Boost cavity; 14. Shock-absorbing cavity; 15. Partition; 16. Rack; 2. Boost piston; 21. Sealing ring; 3. Shock-absorbing piston; 31. Second flow hole; 4. Position adjustment assembly; 41. Electromagnet; 411. Mounting part; 42. Controller; 5. Opening adjustment assembly; 51. Damper valve; 52. Elastic part. Detailed implementation mode

[0032] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and implementation modes. It can be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, rather than limiting the present invention. In addition, it should be noted that for the sake of description, only parts related to the present invention are shown in the drawings, rather than all of them.

[0033] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the terms "installation", "connection", and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection or a detachable connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific situations.

[0034] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the first feature being "above" or "below" the second feature may include the direct contact between the first and second features, or may include the situation where the first and second features are not in direct contact but in contact through other features between them. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "above", and "on" the second feature includes that the first feature is directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or only indicates that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The first feature being "below", "below", and "under" the second feature includes that the first feature is directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or only indicates that the horizontal height of the first feature is less than that of the second feature.

[0035] In order to facilitate the arrangement of the steering gear and the steering shock absorber in a narrow front engine compartment, and the damping force of the steering shock absorber can be actively adjusted to meet the requirements of safe driving, as Figures 1 - 5 shown, the present invention provides a hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering shock absorber. The hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering shock absorber includes a steering gear housing 1, a rack 16, a partition 15, a boost piston 2, a shock-absorbing piston 3, and a damping assembly.

[0036] Among them, the steering gear housing 1 has a hollow accommodating cavity; the rack 16 is inserted through the steering gear housing 1, and the rack 16 can move along the axial direction of the steering gear housing 1; the partition plate 15 is fixedly arranged on the steering gear housing 1 and is located in the accommodating cavity. The partition plate 15 divides the space between the rack 16 and the steering gear housing 1 into a non-communicating boosting cavity 13 and a damping cavity 14. The boosting cavity 13 is filled with hydraulic boosting oil, and the damping cavity 14 is filled with damping oil. The boosting piston 2 is fixedly sleeved on the rack 16, and the boosting piston 2 is located in the boosting cavity 13. The damping piston 3 is fixedly sleeved on the rack 16, and the damping piston 3 is located in the damping cavity 14. A first flow hole is formed in the damping piston 3; the damping component is arranged on the damping piston 3, and the damping component is electrically connected to the speed sensor and the angle sensor of the steering gear. The damping component can actively adjust the opening degree of the first flow hole according to the vehicle speed and the steering angle.

[0037] During the steering of the steering gear, the rack 16 will move along the axial direction of the steering gear housing 1. During the movement of the rack 16, the damping piston 3 will move along with it, and the damping oil located in the damping cavity 14 will flow through the first flow hole. During the driving of the vehicle, when the driver steers, the angle sensor transmits the rotation angle to the damping component. The damping component controls the opening degree of the first flow hole on the damping piston 3 according to the vehicle speed and the rotation angle, thereby adjusting the flow rate of the damping oil. The resistance applied to the damping piston 3 is transmitted to the rack 16 to form a damping force for the movement of the rack 16, and the movement damping of the rack 16 is adjusted. By integrating the steering damper in series on the hydraulic steering gear, it is convenient to arrange in the narrow front engine compartment, and the magnitude of the damping force can be actively adjusted, which can take into account both the steering damping effect and the steering lightness, meeting the requirements of safe driving.

[0038] Furthermore, the damping component includes an opening degree adjusting component 5 and a position adjusting component 4. The opening degree adjusting component 5 is arranged on the damping piston 3 and is located at the first flow hole. The position adjusting component 4 is arranged on the steering gear housing 1. The position adjusting component 4 is electrically connected to both the speed sensor and the angle sensor. The position adjusting component 4 can adjust the position of the opening degree adjusting component 5, thereby adjusting the opening degree of the first flow hole. The position adjusting component 4 adjusts the opening degree of the first flow hole through the opening degree adjusting component 5 according to the speed sensor and the angle sensor, thereby achieving the effect of adjusting the steering damping.

[0039] Furthermore, the opening degree adjusting component 5 includes a damping valve 51 and an elastic member 52. The damping valve 51 is movably arranged in the damping piston 3 and is located at the first flow hole. One end of the elastic member 52 abuts against the damping valve 51, and the other end of the elastic member 52 abuts against the damping piston 3. The elastic member 52 has a tendency to keep the first flow hole at the maximum opening degree, and the position adjusting component 4 can adjust the position of the damping valve 51. When the position of the damping valve 51 is not adjusted, such as Figure 3As shown, the first flow hole is at its maximum opening, and during the steering process, the applied damping is minimized. When the position adjustment assembly 4 adjusts the position of the damping valve 51 of the opening adjustment assembly 5, the elastic member 52 is compressed, the opening of the first flow hole becomes smaller, and the damping applied to the rack 16 through the vibration damping piston 3 becomes larger, thus taking into account both the vibration damping effect and the steering lightness. In other embodiments, the opening adjustment assembly 5 may adopt an electro-hydraulic proportional flow valve to directly control the opening of the first flow hole according to actual needs, and no further limitation is imposed here.

[0040] Further, the position adjustment assembly 4 includes an electromagnet 41 and a controller 42. The electromagnet 41 is arranged on the steering gear housing 1, and the controller 42 is electrically connected to the electromagnet 41. The electromagnet 41 can attract the damping valve 51 to move. The controller 42 is electrically connected to both the speed sensor and the angle sensor, and the controller 42 can adjust the magnetic force of the electromagnet 41. The controller 42 collects the information of the speed sensor and the angle sensor, and then controls the current of the electromagnet 41 to achieve the purpose of adjusting the magnetic force of the electromagnet 41. By adjusting the attractive force applied by the electromagnet 41 on the damping valve 51, the effect of controlling the opening is achieved.

[0041] Further, a mounting member 411 is fixedly arranged on the steering gear housing 1. The mounting member 411 has a hollow cavity, and the hollow cavity faces the vibration damping cavity 14. The electromagnet 41 is inserted into the hollow cavity. By providing the mounting member 411, it is convenient for the installation and fixation of the electromagnet 41. Specifically, a wire passing hole is provided on the mounting member 411, and the wire of the electromagnet 41 is electrically connected to the controller 42 through the wire passing hole. The controller 42 controls the magnitude of the current to achieve the effect of controlling the suction force of the electromagnet 41.

[0042] Further, an oil injection hole communicating with the vibration damping cavity 14 is provided on the steering gear housing 1, and a sealing bolt is detachably arranged on the oil injection hole. By providing the oil injection hole, it is convenient to inject vibration damping oil into the vibration damping cavity 14. After injecting the vibration damping oil, the oil injection hole is blocked by the sealing bolt to prevent the vibration damping oil from flowing out.

[0043] Further, a second flow hole 31 is provided on the vibration damping piston 3. Specifically, the second flow hole 31 is an open through hole. By adjusting the size of the second flow hole 31, the damping when the opening on the vibration damping piston 3 is minimized can be adjusted. By designing the flow cross-sectional areas of the first flow hole and the second flow hole 31 and the damping magnitude of the steering vibration damper, it can be matched according to different vehicle models to meet the needs of different vehicle models.

[0044] Further, a sealing ring 21 is provided between the power assist piston 2 and the steering gear housing 1. By providing the sealing ring 21, a sealing effect can be achieved to prevent the hydraulic power assist oil from flowing through the gap between the power assist piston 2 and the steering gear housing 1.

[0045] Further, an installation ring groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the boosting piston 2. The sealing ring 21 is embedded in the installation ring groove, and one end of the sealing ring 21 extends out relative to the installation ring groove and abuts against the wall surface of the boosting cavity 13. By providing the installation ring groove, the installation and positioning of the sealing ring 21 are facilitated.

[0046] Further, first sealing member 11 and second sealing member 12 are sleeved on both ends of the rack 16, and the first sealing member 11 and the second sealing member 12 abut against the wall surface of the accommodating cavity. By providing the first sealing member 11 and the second sealing member 12, leakage of hydraulic boosting oil and damping oil can be prevented.

[0047] The hydraulic steering gear control method of this integrated active steering damper is as follows:

[0048] Wherein, low speed means 0 Km / h < vehicle speed < 30 Km / h, medium speed means 30 Km / h ≤ vehicle speed ≤ 80 Km / h, and high speed means vehicle speed > 80 Km / h; small steering wheel angle means: 0° < angle < 15°; medium steering wheel angle means: 15° ≤ angle ≤ 90°; large steering wheel angle means: angle > 90°; wherein, the angle represents the angles of clockwise rotation and counterclockwise rotation.

[0049] When the vehicle speed is low and the steering wheel has a large angle, the electromagnet 41 has no magnetism, and the flow cross-section of the first flow hole is the largest, making the steering damping the smallest, so that no obvious additional steering resistance is generated, ensuring the lightness of vehicle steering at low speed.

[0050] When the vehicle speed is low and the steering wheel has a medium angle, the electromagnet 41 has no magnetism, and the flow cross-section of the first flow hole is the largest, making the steering damping the smallest, so that no obvious additional steering resistance is generated, ensuring the lightness of vehicle steering at low speed.

[0051] When the vehicle speed is low and the steering wheel has a small angle, the electromagnet 41 is in the first weak magnetic gear, and the opening of the first flow hole is half, making the steering damping in a medium strength, so that the additional steering resistance is moderate, and the possible oscillation of the steering wheel can be appropriately suppressed, ensuring the stability of vehicle driving and the lightness of steering.

[0052] When the vehicle speed is medium and the steering wheel has a large angle, the electromagnet 41 is in the first weak magnetic gear, and the first flow hole is half open, making the steering damping in a medium strength, so that the additional steering resistance is moderate, and the possible oscillation of the steering wheel can be appropriately suppressed, ensuring the stability of vehicle driving and the lightness of steering.

[0053] When the vehicle speed is medium and the steering wheel turns at a medium angle, the electromagnet 41 is magnetized at the weak first gear, and the first flow hole is half open, so that the steering damping is at a medium level, thus making the additional steering resistance moderate, and the possible oscillation of the steering wheel can be appropriately suppressed, ensuring the driving stability of the vehicle and the maneuverability of steering.

[0054] When the vehicle speed is medium and the steering wheel turns at a small angle, the electromagnet 41 is magnetized at the weak first gear, and the first flow hole is half open, so that the steering damping is at a medium level, thus making the additional steering resistance moderate, and the possible oscillation of the steering wheel can be appropriately suppressed, ensuring the driving stability of the vehicle and the maneuverability of steering.

[0055] When the vehicle speed is high and the steering wheel turns at a large angle, the electromagnet 41 is magnetized at the weak first gear, and the first flow hole is half open, so that the steering damping is at a medium level, thus making the additional steering resistance moderate, and the possible oscillation of the steering wheel can be appropriately suppressed, ensuring the driving stability of the vehicle and the maneuverability of steering.

[0056] When the vehicle speed is high and the steering wheel turns at a medium angle, the electromagnet 41 is magnetized at the strong second gear, and the first flow hole is the smallest, so that the steering damping is large, thus making the additional steering resistance large to suppress the possible oscillation of the vehicle steering wheel and ensuring the driving stability of the vehicle.

[0057] When the vehicle speed is high and the steering wheel turns at a small angle, the electromagnet 41 is magnetized at the strong second gear, and the flow cross-section of the adjustable damping valve 51 is small, so that the steering damping is large, thus making the additional steering resistance large to suppress the possible oscillation of the vehicle steering wheel and ensuring the driving stability of the vehicle. In other embodiments, the electromagnet 41 can also be designed with multiple gears or stepless control to further improve the flexibility of damping adjustment.

[0058] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly explaining the present invention, rather than limiting the implementation manners of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other different forms of changes or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is not necessary and impossible to list all the implementation manners here. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper, characterized in that, Comprising: A steering gear housing (1) having a hollow accommodating cavity; A rack (16) which is inserted through the steering gear housing (1) and can move axially along the steering gear housing (1); A partition plate (15) which is arranged on the steering gear housing (1) and is located in the accommodating cavity. The partition plate (15) divides the space between the rack (16) and the steering gear housing (1) into a non-communicating boosting cavity (13) and a damping cavity (14). The boosting cavity (13) is filled with hydraulic boosting oil, and the damping cavity (14) is filled with damping oil; A boosting piston (2) which is fixedly sleeved on the rack (16) and is located in the boosting cavity (13); A damping piston (3) which is fixedly sleeved on the rack (16) and is located in the damping cavity (14). A first flow hole is formed in the damping piston (3); A damping component which is arranged on the damping piston (3). The damping component is electrically connected to a speed sensor and an angle sensor of the steering gear, and the damping component can actively adjust the opening degree of the first flow hole according to the vehicle speed and the steering angle; The damping component includes an opening degree adjusting component (5) and a position adjusting component (4). The opening degree adjusting component (5) is arranged on the damping piston (3) and is located at the first flow hole. The position adjusting component (4) is arranged on the steering gear housing (1). The position adjusting component (4) is electrically connected to both the speed sensor and the angle sensor, and the position adjusting component (4) can adjust the position of the opening degree adjusting component (5) so as to adjust the opening degree of the first flow hole; The opening degree adjusting component (5) includes a damping valve (51) and an elastic member (52). The damping valve (51) is arranged in the damping piston (3) and is located at the first flow hole. One end of the elastic member (52) abuts against the damping valve (51), and the other end of the elastic member (52) abuts against the damping piston (3). The elastic member (52) has a tendency to make the first flow hole in the maximum opening degree, and the position adjusting component (4) can adjust the position of the damping valve (51); The position adjusting component (4) includes an electromagnet (41) and a controller (42). The electromagnet (41) is arranged on the steering gear housing (1). The controller (42) is electrically connected to the electromagnet (41). The electromagnet (41) can attract the damping valve (51) to move. The controller (42) is electrically connected to both the speed sensor and the angle sensor, and the controller (42) can adjust the magnetic force of the electromagnet (41); 2. The hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper according to claim 1, characterized in that, An installation member (411) is arranged on the steering gear housing (1). The installation member (411) has a hollow cavity which faces the damping cavity (14). The electromagnet (41) is inserted into the hollow cavity; 3. The hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper according to claim 1, characterized in that, An oil injection hole communicating with the damping cavity (14) is formed in the steering gear housing (1). A sealing bolt is detachably arranged on the oil injection hole.

4. The hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper according to claim 1, characterized in that, A second through hole (31) is formed in the damping piston (3).

5. The hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper according to claim 1, characterized in that, A sealing ring (21) is provided between the power assist piston (2) and the steering gear housing (1).

6. The hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper according to claim 5, characterized in that, An installation ring groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the power assist piston (2), the sealing ring (21) is embedded in the installation ring groove, and one end of the sealing ring (21) extends out relative to the installation ring groove and abuts against the wall surface of the power assist chamber (13).

7. The hydraulic steering gear integrated with an active steering damper according to claim 1, characterized in that, First and second sealing members (11) and (12) are sleeved on both ends of the rack (16), and the first and second sealing members (11) and (12) abut against the wall surface of the accommodating chamber.

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