Steering System for a Vehicle, in Particular a Utility Vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering systems for vehicles, particularly utility vehicles, are costly, complex, and require significant installation space, leading to weight issues and potential failures due to their design and component complexity.
Innovation Solution
A structurally and functionally integrated steering system where the steering gear, hydraulic pump, and drive motor are combined as a compact unit, decoupled from the traction drive, with a bidirectional hydraulic pump and direct motor-pump coupling, and hybrid shaft bearing devices to optimize space, weight, and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the steering system uses separate components for steering gear, hydraulic pump, and drive motor, then each component can be optimized independently, but the overall installation space increases and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the steering gear, hydraulic pump, and drive motor into a single integrated unit. The hydraulic pump and drive motor are mounted directly on the steering gear housing, forming a compact assembly that reduces installation space while maintaining independent optimizability of each component through modular design interfaces.
2Ease of repair
If the steering system uses separate components with extensive hydraulic line connections, then component replacement is easier, but the system complexity increases and potential fault sources increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the hydraulic pump and drive motor directly onto the steering gear, the patent eliminates extensive hydraulic line connections and reduces the number of connection points. This integration reduces system complexity and potential fault sources while maintaining ease of repair through modular unit replacement.
3Weight of moving object
If the steering system uses a compact integrated design, then installation space is reduced and weight is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves weight reduction by integrating the hydraulic pump and drive motor into a single compact unit mounted on the steering gear. The manufacturing complexity is managed through standardized mounting interfaces and modular assembly procedures that allow each component to be manufactured independently using existing processes.
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 design reduces weight, installation space, and complexity, enhances precision and dynamic steering, and reduces heat and flow losses, making the system more reliable and less susceptible to faults while supporting advanced vehicle automation features.
Implementation Method 1
electronic power steering (EPS) based on an electrohydraulic principle. The EPS steering system has a discontinuous operating behavior, i.e. the hydraulic fluid present in the hydraulic circuit of the steering system is conveyed by a hydraulic pump
Implementation Method 2
The drive for the hydraulic pump is a motor, e.g. a drive motor independent of the vehicle drive or traction drive (e.g. an electric motor in the form of an electric BLCD radial flux motor)
Data Source
AI summary
A steering system for a vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, has at least one steering transmission, in particular a ball nut hydraulic steering transmission; at least one steering mechanism for steering at least one first vehicle wheel and for steering at least one second vehicle wheel, wherein the steering transmission is coupled to the steering mechanism; at least one hydraulic pump for supplying the steering transmission with hydraulic fluid; and at least one drive motor which is provided independently and/or separately from the traction drive of the vehicle and which is coupled to the hydraulic pump in order to drive same. In the assembled state, the steering transmission, the hydraulic pump, and the drive motor are designed as a unit.