Reversible Pump Steering Gear Eliminates Ductwork
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power steering systems require extensive duct systems and multiple seals due to rotary slide valves, leading to a bulky design and increased space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A compact steering gear design utilizing a worm with a ball screw, a reversible pump, and a torque sensor with a magnetic ring, along with a high-pressure seal and needle bearings, eliminates the need for extensive duct systems and multiple seals by using a reversible pump and a single level of high-pressure sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a rotary slide valve is used to distribute pressure medium, then steering force assistance is achieved, but an extensive duct system with multiple seals is required, increasing space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the rotary slide valve and its associated extensive duct system from the steering gear. By using a reversible pump directly integrated into the ball nut assembly, the complex external ductwork and multiple seals are removed, achieving steering force assistance with a compact design that requires minimal space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the pump function directly into the ball nut assembly, combining multiple functions (pressure generation, ball recirculation, and steering assistance) into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for separate duct systems and reduces the overall space required for the steering gear.
2Power
If a rotary slide valve is used to distribute pressure medium, then steering force assistance is achieved, but an extensive duct system is necessary, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rotary slide valve and its complex duct system from the design. The reversible pump integrated into the ball nut provides pressure medium distribution through simplified internal passages, dramatically reducing device complexity while maintaining steering force assistance functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotary slide valve system with an electronically controlled reversible pump system. This substitution eliminates the complex mechanical ductwork and slide valve mechanism, reducing device complexity while providing precise control over pressure medium distribution.
3Reliability
If multiple seals are used in the duct system, then pressure medium distribution is achieved, but space requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the pressure medium distribution function directly into the ball nut assembly with minimal sealing interfaces. By combining the pump, ducts, and ball recirculation system into a single integrated unit, the number of seals is reduced to exactly one level, maintaining reliable pressure distribution while minimizing space requirements.
4Measurement precision
If signal transmitter and sensing element are arranged on the steering spindle, then torque sensing is achieved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the signal transmitter (magnetic ring) from the steering spindle to the worm shaft, while the sensing element remains on the steering spindle. This spatial rearrangement in a different dimensional configuration allows torque sensing to be achieved with more compact positioning, reducing overall space requirements while maintaining measurement precision.
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 allows for a more compact and efficient power steering system with improved signal accuracy and reduced space requirements, enabling faster auxiliary force application and secure sealing of pressure chambers.
Implementation Method 1
the signal transmitter is a magnetic ring and the sensing element is a torque sensor
Implementation Method 2
a worm, which is mounted so as to be rotatably and axially non-displaceable, wherein the worm has a ball screw for receiving a row of balls, and a ball nut, which is drivingly connected to the worm by way of the row of balls
Implementation Method 3
the pump can pump a pressure medium, in particular oil, into the first pressure chamber and/or into the second pressure chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A steering gear component for a vehicle, comprising: a worm, which is mounted so as to be rotatably and axially non-displace able, wherein the worm has a ball screw for receiving a row of balls, and a ball nut, which is drivingly connected to the worm by way of the row of balls, and wherein the ball nut acts as a piston of a cylinder for steering force assistance, wherein a signal transmitter for a sensing element is arranged on the steering spindle and the sensing element is arranged on the worm, or wherein the sensing element is arranged on the steering spindle and the signal transmitter for the sensing element is arranged on the worm.