Steering Sensor Unit With Split Rotors for Inductive Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering devices lack stability and robustness, leading to increased friction, wear, and noise interference, with potential improvements needed in service life and cost efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A steering device design featuring a steering sensor unit with two rotor elements, one connected to the input shaft and one to the output shaft, each with fastening lugs and leadthrough openings, enhancing stability and robustness through reduced tilting and friction, and incorporating an inductive sensor element for detecting steering information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional steering sensors with single rotor element are used, then device complexity is reduced, but stability and robustness deteriorate due to tilting and increased friction
Solution Approach 1:
The steering sensor unit is divided into two separate rotor elements: a first rotor element connected to the input shaft and a second rotor element connected to the output shaft. Each rotor element has its own fastening structure (first rotor element has leadthrough openings, second rotor element has fastening lugs), allowing independent positioning and stabilization. This segmentation resolves the technical contradiction by improving stability through separate fastening mechanisms while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
2Reliability
If additional fastening components are added to prevent tilting, then stability improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is merged into the rotor elements themselves: the first rotor element incorporates leadthrough openings directly in its structure, and the second rotor element incorporates fastening lugs that extend through these openings. This integration eliminates the need for separate fastening components, resolving the contradiction by achieving stability through built-in fastening features while simplifying manufacturing and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening lugs of the second rotor element are designed to extend through the leadthrough openings of the first rotor element, creating a nested arrangement where the fastening structure is integrated within the existing rotor element geometry. This nesting approach achieves stable fastening without adding external components, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of manufacture.
3Duration of action of moving object
If rotor elements are securely fastened to prevent tilting, then wear and noise are reduced, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor elements are designed to be self-fastening: the leadthrough openings in the first rotor element and the fastening lugs on the second rotor element work together automatically when the rotor elements are assembled. The fastening lugs naturally align with and pass through the leadthrough openings, creating a self-aligning, self-fastening mechanism that prevents tilting without requiring complex external fastening systems, thus extending service life while maintaining simple assembly.
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
The design improves stability and robustness, minimizes wear and noise, extends service life, and reduces costs by ensuring precise detection of steering information while simplifying assembly and eliminating the need for additional sensor housings.
Implementation Method 1
steering sensor unit for the inductive detection of at least one item of steering information
Data Source
AI summary
A steering device with a rotatably mounted steering shaft includes an input shaft and a separately formed output shaft, and a steering sensor unit for inductive detection of at least one item of steering information, which steering sensor unit comprises at least one sensor element and at least two rotor elements interacting with the sensor element. A first rotor element is connected for conjoint rotation to the input shaft and has a first portion associated with the sensor element and extending perpendicularly with respect to the steering shaft. A second rotor element is connected for conjoint rotation to the output shaft and has a second portion associated with the sensor element and extending perpendicularly with respect to the steering shaft. The second rotor element has a plurality of fastening lugs for fastening to the output shaft which extend through leadthrough openings of the first rotor in the axial direction.