Power Steering Serration Alignment via Decimal Tooth Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
In power steering driving devices with serrated input and output shafts, the deviation from the neutral position of the steering handle and vehicle wheel is significant due to the varying number of teeth on the serrations, especially in vehicles with bar handles where the rotary angle is small, leading to misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A power steering driving device connects the input and output shafts via a torsion bar, restricting relative rotation about a central axis, with serrations on the input and output shafts having a decimal ratio of teeth, allowing for specific reference teeth with a deviation angle equal to or smaller than an allowable value to maintain alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the serration of the input shaft is formed with a larger number of teeth to reduce deviation of the steering handle, then the steering handle deviation is reduced, but the output shaft requires strength to receive a large load from the vehicle wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different numbers of teeth to the serrations of the input shaft and output shaft according to their specific functional requirements. The input shaft has a larger number of teeth to reduce steering handle deviation, while the output shaft has a smaller number of teeth to maintain strength for receiving large loads from the vehicle wheel. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each component independently rather than using uniform tooth counts throughout the system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ratio between the numbers of teeth on the serrations of the input shaft and output shaft is a decimal, then the relative positions can be defined, but the deviation angle between the teeth is small in certain angular positions while large in other angular positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary selection of reference teeth with specifically small deviation angles before assembling the input shaft and output shaft. By pre-identifying and selecting tooth pairs that have the smallest deviation angles, the system ensures that when the shafts are connected, the neutral positions of the steering handle and vehicle wheel are properly aligned, preventing large deviation angles from affecting the system's precision.
3Ease of operation
If the input mechanism and output mechanism deviate from the neutral position, then the relative positions are determined, but the neutral position of the steering handle and vehicle wheel is greatly affected in vehicles with bar handles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism by selecting reference teeth with specifically small deviation angles to define the neutral position. This feedback ensures that when the input shaft and output shaft are connected, the system automatically compensates for potential misalignments, maintaining proper neutral position alignment between the steering handle and vehicle wheel even when decimal tooth ratios are used.
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 solution reduces the deviation of the steering handle and vehicle wheel from the neutral position, ensuring accurate alignment and preventing excessive deviation, thereby enhancing the stability and precision of the steering mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion bar that connects the input shaft and the output shaft coaxially and restricts relative rotation between the input shaft and the output shaft about an identical central axis
Data Source
AI summary
A power steering driving device 100 includes an input shaft 6 provided with a serration 8 and connected to an input mechanism 3 linked to a steering handle 2, an output shaft 7 provided with a serration 10 and connected to an output mechanism 5 linked to a vehicle wheel 4, and a torsion bar 15 that connects the input shaft 6 and the output shaft 7 coaxially. The serration 8 of the input shaft 6 and the serration 10 of the output shaft 7 are formed such that a ratio between the respective numbers of teeth thereof is a decimal, and to specify a relative rotation position of the input shaft 6 and the output shaft 7 relative to the input mechanism 3 and the output mechanism 5, a tooth on the serration 8 of the input shaft 6 and a tooth on the serration 10 of the output shaft 7 having a relative position deviation angle about an identical central axis which is equal to or smaller than an allowable value are selected as reference teeth.