Steering hand feeling simulator assembly and automobile steer-by-wire system

Abstract

A steering hand feeling simulator assembly and an automobile steer-by-wire system, the steering hand feeling simulator assembly comprises a main shell and an aligning device, magnetorheological fluid is arranged in the main shell, a steering wheel assembly is partially immersed in the magnetorheological fluid and is in transmission connection with the aligning device, the aligning device is used for aligning the steering wheel assembly, and the magnetorheological fluid is arranged in the main shell. The magnetorheological fluid is used for providing different damping forces for the steering wheel assembly when the steering wheel assembly rotates. According to the steering hand feeling simulator assembly, damping force and steering hand feeling which are fast in response, fine, smooth and controllable are provided for the steering wheel assembly immersed in the main shell through the magnetorheological fluid and the return device, complex transmission structures are prevented from being arranged in a cockpit and an engine compartment, and space is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of steer-by-wire system technology, and in particular to a steering feel simulator assembly and a steer-by-wire system for automobiles having the same. Background Technology

[0002] In existing steer-by-wire or power steering systems, the steering feel is primarily provided by a motor and related transmission mechanisms. For example, the motor outputs different amounts of force according to vehicle speed and road conditions to transmission mechanisms such as racks and pinions or crankshafts. These transmission mechanisms then transmit the force to the steering wheel, providing the user with the corresponding steering feel. This type of steer-by-wire system relies on the physical transmission of the transmission mechanism, resulting in a relatively slow response to information such as vehicle speed and road conditions, a rather stiff steering feel, and a larger footprint. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This utility model provides a steering feel simulator assembly with delicate and controllable steering feel and space saving. It includes a main housing and a return-to-center device. The main housing is filled with magnetorheological fluid. The steering wheel assembly is partially immersed in the magnetorheological fluid and is connected to the return-to-center device. The return-to-center device is used to return the steering wheel assembly to the center. The magnetorheological fluid is used to provide different damping forces to the steering wheel assembly when the steering wheel assembly rotates.

[0004] Furthermore, the return-to-center device is located inside the main housing and connected to the steering wheel assembly.

[0005] Furthermore, the steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel body and a steering column, the steering wheel body and the steering column are integrated, and one end of the steering column is disposed in the main housing and immersed in the magnetorheological fluid.

[0006] Furthermore, the return-to-center device is a variable stiffness torsion bar spring, and one end of the return-to-center device is connected to the end of the steering column located inside the main housing, while the other end is connected to the main housing.

[0007] Furthermore, the steering wheel assembly also includes damping blades, which are disposed outside the steering column and immersed in the magnetorheological fluid.

[0008] Furthermore, the return-to-center device is an elastic element, and one end of the return-to-center device is connected to the damping blade, while the other end is connected to the main housing.

[0009] Furthermore, this utility model also includes a vehicle steer-by-wire system, which includes the aforementioned steering feel simulator assembly.

[0010] Furthermore, it also includes a control unit and a power supply, the power supply being used to adjust the strength of the magnetic field within the main housing, and the control unit adjusting the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid by adjusting the strength of the magnetic field within the main housing.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes a first sensor, which is used to detect the rotation angle and / or angular velocity of the steering wheel assembly, and the first sensor is electrically connected to the control unit.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes a second sensor for detecting vehicle speed, and the second sensor is electrically connected to the control unit.

[0013] The steering feel simulator assembly provided by this utility model provides a responsive and delicately controllable damping force and steering feel for the steering wheel assembly immersed in the main housing through magnetorheological fluid and a return device. It also avoids setting up a complex transmission structure in the cockpit and engine compartment, saving space. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the steering feel simulator assembly provided by this utility model.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the steering feel simulator assembly provided by this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0016] To further illustrate the technical means and effects adopted by this utility model in order to achieve the intended purpose of the invention, the present utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.

[0017] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," etc., in the specification and claims of this utility model are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0018] This utility model discloses a steering feel simulator assembly installed in the driver's cabin and engine compartment of a car. It is connected to the steering wheel and provides different steering feels when the user turns the steering wheel by outputting different damping forces. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figures 1 to 2The steering feel simulator assembly of this utility model includes a main housing 1, within which a magnetorheological fluid 2 and a return-to-center device 3 are disposed. A portion of the steering wheel assembly 4 is immersed in the magnetorheological fluid 2, and the steering wheel assembly 4 is connected to the return-to-center device 3 via a transmission connection. The return-to-center device 3 is used to return the steering wheel assembly 4 to the center, and the magnetorheological fluid 2 is used to provide different damping forces to the steering wheel assembly 4 when it rotates. Specifically, magnetorheological fluid 2 is a fluid with different viscosities under different magnetic fields, typically composed of a base fluid, magnetic particles, and additives. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the steering wheel assembly 4 is partially immersed in the magnetorheological fluid 2 within the main housing 1. When the magnetic field strength within the main housing 1 is low or there is no magnetic field, the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 2 is low, resulting in less resistance to the steering wheel assembly 4 when it rotates or returns to center, and thus less damping force for the user. Conversely, when the magnetic field strength within the main housing 1 is high, the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 2 is high, resulting in greater resistance to the steering wheel assembly 4 when it rotates or returns to center, and thus a greater damping force felt by the user when rotating the steering wheel assembly 4. This invention provides a delicate and controllable damping force and steering feel for the steering wheel assembly 4 immersed in the main housing 1 through the magnetorheological fluid 2 and the return-to-center device 3, while also avoiding the need for a complex transmission structure in the cockpit, saving space.

[0019] Furthermore, the steering wheel assembly 4 of this utility model includes a steering wheel body 41, a steering column 42, and damping blades 43. The steering wheel body 41 and the steering column 42 are integrated. One end of the steering column 42 is disposed within the main housing 1 and immersed in the magnetorheological fluid 2. The damping blades 43 are disposed on the end of the steering column 42 located within the main housing 1, used to increase the contact area between the steering wheel assembly 4 and the magnetorheological fluid 2. In a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the upper end of the steering column 42 extends outside the instrument panel and is fixedly connected to the steering wheel body 41. The lower end of the steering column 42 extends into the main housing 1 and is immersed in the magnetorheological fluid 2. The damping blades 43 extend radially from the periphery of the steering column 42. Please refer to the following for more details. Figure 1 Two damping blades 43 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the steering column 42 along the central axis of the steering column 42. The damping blades 43 are rectangular. The steering wheel assembly 4 effectively expands the contact area between itself and the magnetorheological fluid 2 through the damping blades 43, so as to more sensitively transmit changes in damping force when the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 2 changes. It is easy to understand that in some other embodiments of this utility model, the number of damping blades 43 may not be two, and the shape of the damping blades 43 may be set as a fan shape or other polygons, which can be set according to the shape of the main housing 1, as long as they can be submerged in the magnetorheological fluid 2 and expand the contact area between the steering wheel assembly 4 and the magnetorheological fluid 2.

[0020] Furthermore, in this invention, one end of the return-to-center device 3 is mounted on the main housing 1, and the other end is connected to the steering wheel assembly 4. For details, please refer to [link / reference needed]. Figure 1 In the first embodiment of this utility model, the return-centering device 3 is a variable stiffness torsion bar spring with torsional elasticity. One end of the return-centering device 3 connected to the main housing 1 is located on the extension line of the steering column 42 within the main housing 1. Specifically, the return-centering device 3 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the steering column 42 and is located on the same straight line as the central axis of the steering column 42. When the user rotates the steering wheel body 41, the steering column 42 rotates accordingly, and the return-centering device 3 stores torsional force accordingly. The greater the angle of rotation of the steering wheel body 41, the greater the torsional force that the variable stiffness torsion bar spring can store, and the greater the return-centering torsional force applied to the steering wheel.

[0021] Please refer to this carefully. Figure 2 In the second embodiment of this utility model, the return-centering device 3 is an elastic element with tensile elasticity. Two return-centering devices 3 are respectively located between two damping blades 43 and the main housing 1. Specifically, one end of the return-centering device 3 is fixedly connected to the damping blade 43, and the other end is located on the intersection line of the extension line of the damping blade 43 and the main housing 1, and is fixedly connected to the main housing 1 at the middle of the intersection line. When the user rotates the steering wheel body 41, the damping blades 43 rotate accordingly, the return-centering device 3 is pulled and correspondingly stores rebound force. The greater the angle of rotation of the steering wheel body 41, the greater the rebound force that the elastic element can store, and the greater the return-centering torsional force applied to the steering wheel. However, regardless of the structure and form of the return-centering device 3, the magnetorheological fluid 2 in this utility model can provide variable and controllable resistance to the steering column 42 and the damping blades 43 thereon when the steering wheel assembly 4 returns to center, so as to provide corresponding damping force and steering feel when the steering wheel assembly 4 returns to center.

[0022] Furthermore, this utility model also includes a vehicle steer-by-wire system, which includes the aforementioned steering feel simulator assembly. Specifically, in a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the vehicle steer-by-wire system further includes a control unit 6, a power supply, a first sensor 5, and a second sensor. The control unit 6 is used to adjust the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 2 to provide different damping forces for the steering wheel assembly 4; the first sensor 5 is used to detect the rotation angle and / or angular velocity of the steering wheel assembly 4, and the first sensor 5 is electrically connected to the control unit 6; the second sensor is used to detect the vehicle speed, and the second sensor is electrically connected to the control unit 6; the power supply is used to adjust the magnetic field strength within the main housing 1, and the control unit 6 adjusts the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 2 by adjusting the magnetic field strength within the main housing 1. When the control unit 6 controls the adjustment of the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 2, it needs to receive the vehicle speed signal from the second sensor and the steering wheel rotation angle and / or angular velocity signal from the first sensor 5, and calculate the magnitude of the current applied to the magnetorheological fluid 2 accordingly, so as to change the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 2 in real time. For example, the lower the vehicle speed, the smaller the current applied to the magnetorheological fluid 2; the smaller the steering wheel angular velocity, the smaller the current applied to the magnetorheological fluid 2; the closer the steering wheel return rotation angle is to the edge, the smaller the current applied to the magnetorheological fluid 2. In this way, the present invention provides a delicate damping force and steering feel to the steering wheel assembly 4 when the steering wheel body 41 rotates, resulting in a good user experience.

[0023] In summary, the steering feel simulator assembly of this utility model provides the steering wheel assembly, which is immersed in the main housing, with a rapid response and delicate and controllable damping force and steering feel through magnetorheological fluid and return device. It also avoids setting up a complex transmission structure in the cockpit and engine compartment, thus saving space.

[0024] The above are merely specific embodiments of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A steering feel simulator assembly, characterized in that: The system includes a main housing (1) and a return-centering device (3). The main housing (1) contains a magnetorheological fluid (2). The steering wheel assembly (4) is partially immersed in the magnetorheological fluid (2) and is connected to the return-centering device (3). The return-centering device (3) is used to return the steering wheel assembly (4) to center. The magnetorheological fluid (2) is used to provide different damping forces to the steering wheel assembly (4) when it rotates.

2. The steering feel simulator assembly as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The centering device (3) is located inside the main housing (1) and connected to the steering wheel assembly (4).

3. The steering feel simulator assembly as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The steering wheel assembly (4) includes a steering wheel body (41) and a steering column (42). The steering wheel body (41) and the steering column (42) are integrated. One end of the steering column (42) is disposed in the main housing (1) and immersed in the magnetorheological fluid (2).

4. The steering feel simulator assembly as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The return device (3) is a variable stiffness torsion bar spring, and one end of the return device (3) is connected to one end of the steering column (42) located inside the main housing (1), and the other end is connected to the main housing (1).

5. The steering feel simulator assembly as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The steering wheel assembly (4) also includes damping blades (43), which are disposed outside the steering column (42) and immersed in the magnetorheological fluid (2).

6. The steering feel simulator assembly as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The return device (3) is an elastic element, and one end of the return device (3) is connected to the damping blade (43), and the other end is connected to the main housing (1).

7. A steer-by-wire system for automobiles, characterized in that: It includes the steering feel simulator assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The automotive steer-by-wire system as described in claim 7, characterized in that: It also includes a control unit (6) and a power supply, the power supply being used to adjust the strength of the magnetic field inside the main housing (1), and the control unit (6) adjusting the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid (2) by adjusting the strength of the magnetic field inside the main housing (1).

9. The automotive steer-by-wire system as described in claim 8, characterized in that: It also includes a first sensor (5) for detecting the rotation angle and / or angular velocity of the steering wheel assembly (4), and the first sensor (5) is electrically connected to the control unit (6).

10. The automotive steer-by-wire system as described in claim 8, characterized in that: It also includes a second sensor for detecting vehicle speed, which is electrically connected to the control unit (6).

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