Steering Feedback Actuator Wheelbase Adjustment for Backlash Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steering feedback actuators in steer-by-wire systems face issues such as high production costs, complex structure, noise due to gear backlash, and difficulty in securing backlash setting precision due to limited reduction of the pitch of screw threads.
Innovation Solution
A steering feedback actuator design featuring a housing part, a steering column part, an electric motor part, and a wheelbase variable member, with gear parts made of different materials and a mechanism to adjust the wheelbase between the steering column and motor shaft, allowing precise adjustment of backlash and reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reducer with complicated mechanism (worm reducer, belt type reducer, planet gear reducer) is used, then steering feedback function is achieved, but production cost increases and quality problems may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex reducer mechanism from the steering feedback actuator. Instead of using traditional reducers (worm, belt, or planet gear types), the invention directly couples the motor to the steering column through a simplified transmission structure, removing the problematic intermediate reduction components while maintaining the necessary steering feedback functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical reducer system with a direct-drive motor configuration. The complex mechanical reduction mechanism is substituted by a motor that directly engages with the steering column through a simplified gear or transmission interface, reducing mechanical complexity while achieving the same steering feedback effect.
2Reliability
If a reducer with complicated mechanism is used, then steering feedback function is achieved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive reducer components (worm gears, belts, or planet gears) from the assembly. By extracting these costly mechanical reduction elements and replacing them with a direct-drive motor system, the production cost is significantly reduced while maintaining the essential steering feedback function.
3Reliability
If conventional reducer is used, then steering feedback is provided, but noise due to gear backlash occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical reducer system that generates noise through gear backlash with a direct-drive motor configuration. This substitution eliminates the meshing gears that cause backlash noise, resulting in a quieter steering feedback mechanism while maintaining functional performance.
4Ease of operation
If wheelbase adjustment is made with limited screw thread pitch reduction, then motor position is adjusted, but backlash setting precision is difficult to secure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of transmission ratio from a fixed mechanical reduction (limited screw thread pitch) to an adjustable direct-drive configuration. By modifying the motor position along the steering column axis, the system achieves precise backlash control without being constrained by the limited pitch reduction of screw threads, thereby improving precision while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering feedback actuator including a housing part, a steering column part rotatably accommodated in the housing part, a first gear part coupled to the steering column part, the first gear part being configured to rotate along with the steering column part, an electric motor part including a motor housing, the motor housing being configured to be movably coupled to the housing part and to cover an opening of the housing part and a motor shaft, the motor shaft being configured to be rotatably coupled to the motor housing and including a second gear part, the second gear part configured to engage the first gear part, and a wheelbase variable member coupled to the housing part and the motor housing, the wheelbase variable member being configured to advance and retreat with respect within the housing part and to move the motor housing to vary a wheelbase between the steering column part and the motor shaft.