Spherical Washer Assembly for EPS Mounting Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing mounting interfaces between Electric Power Steering (EPS) housing and vehicles often result in alignment sensitivity, affecting responsiveness and steering feel, especially when a flush mounting is not possible due to vehicle configuration.
Innovation Solution
A spherical washer assembly is used to couple the EPS housing to the vehicle, comprising a first spherical washer interfaced with the EPS and a second interfaced with the vehicle, with a relative angle formed between them, and retained via a ring retainer, allowing for secure and flush mounting even with angular differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional rigid mounting interface is used between EPS housing and vehicle, then structural strength is ensured, but alignment sensitivity increases and steering feel deteriorates when flush mounting is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spherical washers with curved surfaces instead of flat rigid mounting surfaces. The spherical geometry allows the mounting interface to accommodate angular misalignments and configuration variations between the EPS housing and vehicle mounting points, reducing alignment sensitivity while maintaining secure attachment. This curvature enables the mounting to absorb angular differences without compromising structural reliability or steering responsiveness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vehicle configuration prevents flush mounting, then mounting flexibility is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates affecting steering feel
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical washer assembly provides dynamic adaptability to angular variations in mounting configuration. The spherical geometry allows the mounting interface to naturally adjust to different angles between the EPS housing and vehicle mounting points, accommodating non-flush mounting scenarios while maintaining adequate alignment precision for proper steering feel.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the mounting interface from flat rigid surfaces to spherical curved surfaces. This parameter change allows the mounting to accommodate a range of angular positions and configuration variations, providing adaptability to different vehicle configurations while maintaining sufficient alignment precision through the spherical geometry's inherent alignment properties.
3Adaptability or versatility
If angular difference exists between EPS housing and vehicle, then mounting versatility is improved, but alignment sensitivity increases reducing steering responsiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical washers with curved surfaces enable the mounting interface to accommodate angular differences between the EPS housing and vehicle mounting points. The spherical geometry reduces alignment sensitivity by allowing natural adjustment to angular variations, thereby maintaining steering responsiveness even when mounting surfaces are not perfectly aligned.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of coupling a rack and pinion steering mechanism to a vehicle includes interfacing a first spherical washer with the rack and pinion steering mechanism and interfacing a second spherical washer with the vehicle. The second spherical washer is interfaced with the first spherical washer. A relative angle is formed between the rack and pinion steering mechanism and the vehicle via the first spherical washer and the second spherical washer. The first spherical washer is retained with the second spherical washer via a ring retainer.