Integrated Power Steering Housing With Internal Hydraulic Assist
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering systems for commercial vehicles, particularly those with hydraulic recirculating ball steering gears, require a distributed arrangement of components which increases installation space, complexity, and susceptibility to errors, while also consuming more fuel due to external piping and separate components.
Innovation Solution
A highly integrated steering assistance device with a torque sensor, transmission unit, and drive unit, including a bidirectional pump and motor, arranged within a common housing, eliminating external pipes and reducing component count, featuring a torque sensor instead of a valve and integrating the drive unit directly into the steering housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If components are distributed throughout the vehicle with external piping, then the steering system can be implemented with conventional hydraulic components, but the installation space increases and the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the hydraulic pump, motor, reservoir, and steering gear into a single compact assembly. The pump is positioned within the reservoir, and all components share a common housing with integrated mounting structures, eliminating the need for external piping and separate component mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump is nested within the reservoir space, utilizing the volume that would otherwise be empty. The motor is mounted on the reservoir housing, and the entire drive unit is integrated into the steering gear housing, creating a nested arrangement that maximizes space utilization.
2Ease of manufacture
If components are distributed throughout the vehicle with external piping, then conventional hydraulic components can be used, but the installation space and susceptibility to errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple previously separate components (pump, reservoir, steering gear) are merged into a single integrated assembly that occupies a compact footprint in the vehicle, reducing the overall installation space required.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump is placed inside the reservoir, and the motor is mounted on the reservoir housing, creating a nested configuration that minimizes the external dimensions of the assembly and reduces installation space.
3Ease of manufacture
If external piping and separate components are used, then the steering system can be assembled from standard parts, but the error susceptibility increases and cost savings are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating multiple components into a single assembly with internal fluid passages and pre-assembled connections, the patent eliminates external piping that would be prone to leaks and connection errors, thereby reducing error susceptibility.
4Ease of manufacture
If a distributed arrangement with external piping is used, then the steering system can be implemented with conventional components, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated assembly reduces the total length of hydraulic fluid passages compared to distributed components with external piping, reducing hydraulic resistance and energy losses in the fluid power system.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested arrangement of pump within reservoir and integration into steering gear creates the shortest possible fluid passages, minimizing hydraulic losses and improving overall system efficiency, which translates to reduced fuel consumption.
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
This configuration reduces installation space, simplifies installation, decreases error susceptibility, and achieves cost savings while enabling a compact, efficient steering system that can be easily installed and operated, potentially leading to fuel savings of up to 0.5 liters per 100 kilometers.
Implementation Method 1
a pump (372) for conveying the working medium and a motor (374) for driving the pump (372)
Implementation Method 2
supply the transmission unit (360) with a hydraulic working medium (394) depending on the sensor signal
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a power steering mechanism (220) for a vehicle (200), wherein the power steering mechanism (220) comprises the following features: - an input shaft (330) for introducing a torque from a steering column (214) of the vehicle (200) into the power steering mechanism (220); - a torque sensor (340), wherein the torque sensor (340) is designed to detect the torque introduced via the input shaft (330) and to provide a sensor signal which represents the detected torque; - an output shaft (350) for outputting the torque from the power steering mechanism (220); - a transmission unit (360), wherein the transmission unit (360) is designed to mechanically transmit the torque from the input shaft (330) to the output shaft (350), wherein the transmission unit (360) is arranged inside a steering housing (362); and - a drive unit (370), wherein the drive unit (370) is designed to apply a hydraulic working medium to the transmission unit (360) on the basis of the sensor signal, wherein the drive unit (370) and the torque sensor (340) are arranged so as to be in mechanical contact with the steering housing (362).