Offset Link Electric Power Steering Unit with Interference-Free Cable Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles with hydraulic power steering units face issues such as fluid leakage and maintenance challenges, while electric power steering units require careful arrangement to avoid interference with the operation system, and connector devices lack effective protection against heat and water without increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle incorporates an electric power steering unit with a link mechanism, assist device, control lever, and control cable arrangement to avoid interference, and a connector device with a heat-resistant, flexible protective member to cover the connector portion, using adhesive tape for easy replacement and cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electric power steering unit is employed instead of a hydraulic power steering unit, then fluid leakage and maintenance issues are eliminated, but the basic structure is very different and interference with the operation system may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control cable is routed through the third dimension (vertical space) by passing it through a passage formed in the rack housing, allowing the cable to bypass the horizontal space occupied by the assist device and link mechanism, thus eliminating interference while maintaining a compact overall structure
2Ease of manufacture
If the control cable base end portion is arranged directly under the control lever, then the control cable routing is simplified, but interference with the assist device occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The rack housing serves as an intermediary structure that provides a dedicated passage for the control cable, allowing the cable to route through the housing rather than directly under the control lever, thus avoiding interference with the assist device while maintaining organized and protected cable routing
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a specially molded cover is used to protect the connector portion, then protection against heat and water is achieved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack housing serves multiple functions: it houses the rack and pinion mechanism, provides structural support, and simultaneously acts as a protective enclosure for the control cable and connector portions through its integrated passage design, eliminating the need for separate protective covers and reducing production costs
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a vehicle including a steering wheel arranged offset toward one side in a vehicle body right/left direction, and an electric power steering unit. The electric power steering unit includes a link mechanism operably connected to the steering wheel and extending from a right/left center side of the steering wheel toward a vehicle body right/left center side to be operably connected to a wheel side, an assist device for the link mechanism, a control lever arranged adjacent the vehicle body right/left center in the vicinity of the steering wheel, a rotation shaft operably connected to the control lever to be rotated about a right/left axis that extends in the vehicle body right/left direction, and a control cable operably connected to the rotation shaft. A base end portion of the control cable is more offset toward the one side than the assist device.