Electric Steering Gear With Ball Screw and Dual Worm Load Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic power assist steering apparatuses consume engine power, require numerous components, and lack advanced features like autonomous parking and steering vibration attenuation due to the absence of an electronic controller.
Innovation Solution
A steering apparatus incorporating a ball screw, ball nut, sector shaft, reducer with worm wheels, and a motor connected via a gearbox, along with an actuator for gear disengagement, which reduces engine power consumption and enables advanced driver assistance features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a hydraulic pump is connected to the engine to provide steering assist force, then steering assistance is achieved, but engine power is consumed and the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic power assist system with an electric power assist system. Instead of using a hydraulic pump connected to the engine, an electric motor is used to drive the ball screw mechanism, which generates the steering assist force. This substitution eliminates the need for hydraulic components and directly uses electrical energy to produce mechanical force for steering assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the hydraulic pump and related hydraulic components from the steering system. By taking out the hydraulic subsystem, the design eliminates engine power consumption for hydraulic operation and reduces the overall component count while maintaining steering assist functionality through the electric motor-driven ball screw mechanism.
2Force
If a hydraulic pump and hydraulic components are used to provide steering assist, then steering assistance is achieved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the hydraulic pump and related hydraulic components from the steering system. By taking out the hydraulic subsystem, the design eliminates engine power consumption for hydraulic operation and reduces the overall component count while maintaining steering assist functionality through the electric motor-driven ball screw mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the hydraulic power assist system with an electric power assist system. Instead of using a hydraulic pump connected to the engine, an electric motor is used to drive the ball screw mechanism, which generates the steering assist force. This substitution eliminates the need for hydraulic components and directly uses electrical energy to produce mechanical force for steering assistance.
3Device complexity
If no electronic controller is used in the steering apparatus, then the structure is simpler, but advanced functions like autonomous parking and lane keeping cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates an electronic controller that enables multiple advanced functions including autonomous parking, lane keeping, and steering vibration attenuation. The controller serves as a universal component that coordinates the electric motor, ball screw mechanism, and steering system to perform both basic steering assistance and advanced driver assistance functions, thereby achieving multi-functionality without significantly increasing structural complexity.
4Device complexity
If pressure is concentrated on single worm wheel, then the structure is simpler, but the strength and durability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the load-bearing function by incorporating multiple worm wheels instead of using a single worm wheel. This segmentation distributes the mechanical pressure and stress across multiple contact points, reducing the load on each individual worm wheel while maintaining overall structural simplicity and enhancing the strength and durability of the steering mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces engine power consumption, minimizes component count, and enhances driver convenience with features like autonomous parking and steering vibration attenuation, while improving worm wheel strength and steering feel.
Implementation Method 1
a ball screw, a ball nut coupled to the ball screw via balls
Implementation Method 2
a reducer including a worm wheel coupled to the output shaft, and first and second worm shafts engaged with the worm wheel
Data Source
AI summary
The present discrete relate to an automobile steering apparatus and, more specifically, to an automobile steering apparatus that is capable of preventing or reducing the consumption of engine power and reducing the number of components, and further capable of enhancing convenience for drivers by using functions for controlling the automobile, such as automatic parking, lane keeping, driving assistance according to road conditions, steering vibration attenuation, autonomous driving control, and the like, and in turn, is advantageous to the strength of worm wheels by causing pressure applied thereto to be distributed and provides drivers with enhanced steering feel.