Hydraulic-Assisted Steering Malfunction Detection via Torque Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic controlled hydraulic assistance steering systems in vehicles face malfunctions due to hydraulic pressure loss, which are difficult to detect without adding cost and complexity with oil pressure sensors.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a torque sensor to measure steering torque, determining if it exceeds a threshold for a predetermined time, and generating a malfunction signal when this condition is met, without requiring hydraulic pressure sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an oil pressure sensor switch is used to detect hydraulic malfunction, then the detection capability is improved, but the cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the malfunction detection function from a dedicated pressure sensor and relocates it to the existing torque sensor. By analyzing torque characteristics instead of directly measuring pressure, the system achieves hydraulic malfunction detection without adding pressure sensing components, thus resolving the contradiction between detection capability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The torque sensor is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both its original steering torque measurement function and the additional hydraulic pressure monitoring function. This allows the same component to serve multiple purposes, eliminating the need for a separate pressure sensor and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining detection reliability
2Reliability
If an oil pressure sensor switch is used to detect hydraulic malfunction, then the detection capability is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function is extracted from a costly dedicated pressure sensor and implemented through software algorithms processing data from the existing torque sensor. This eliminates the need to purchase and install expensive pressure sensing hardware, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to detect hydraulic malfunctions
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a physical pressure sensor, the system creates a virtual pressure measurement by copying and analyzing the relationship between torque and hydraulic pressure that already exists in the system. This software-based approach avoids the cost of physical pressure sensing components while achieving the same detection objective
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting a malfunction in a hydraulic-assisted steering system for a vehicle includes: measuring a steering torque; determining the steering torque exceeding a threshold torque for a predetermined length of time; and generating a malfunction signal in response to the determining the steering torque exceeding the threshold torque for the predetermined length of time. A system for detecting a malfunction in a hydraulic-assisted steering system for a vehicle includes a torque sensor configured to measure a steering torque, and a controller configured to: determine the steering torque exceeding a threshold torque for a predetermined length of time; and generate a malfunction signal in response to determining the steering torque exceeding the threshold torque for the predetermined length of time.