Vehicle Steering Drive Unit With Epicyclic Differential
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle steering systems are not modular or adaptable to different vehicles, and their drive characteristics are not easily configurable to suit specific conditions or vehicle properties, such as muddy terrain or varying wheel dimensions, limiting their effectiveness and controllability.
Innovation Solution
A drive unit with an integrated control unit and epicyclic gearing system, including an angular position sensor, a brushless direct current electric motor, and a steering rod adapter, allowing for adjustable drive characteristics and improved controllability, which can be mounted on various vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional mechanical steering assembly is built deep into the vehicle interior and fixed permanently, then the steering system provides stable mechanical connection and reliable operation, but it cannot be withdrawn or mounted into other vehicles, reducing adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The steering system is divided into separate modular components: a drive unit with motor and differential, a steering assembly with steering wheel and column, and an interface system. This segmentation allows the steering assembly to be detached and transferred between vehicles while maintaining reliable mechanical connections through standardized mounting interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive unit is designed with universal mounting capabilities that enable it to be installed in different vehicle types and configurations. The modular architecture with standardized interfaces allows the same steering system to serve multiple vehicle platforms, enhancing adaptability while maintaining reliable operation through consistent mechanical connection standards.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single motor configuration is used in a portable steering system, then the system remains simple and easy to install in different vehicles, but it cannot be configured to satisfy specific steering requirements under unfavorable circumstances such as muddy terrain or special vehicle properties
Solution Approach 1:
The motor configuration is made dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed. The system allows modification of motor parameters and characteristics to adapt to different steering requirements, whether for muddy terrain conditions or special vehicle properties, while maintaining a relatively simple base structure that remains easy to manufacture and install.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor's operational parameters can be changed and configured to match specific steering requirements. This includes adjusting torque characteristics, speed ranges, and power delivery profiles to suit different terrain conditions and vehicle properties, allowing a single motor configuration to serve multiple applications through parameter adjustment rather than requiring entirely different motors.
3Device complexity
If the drive unit directly drives the steering rod without a differential, then the mechanical transmission is simple and direct, but the angular speed of the output element must exactly match the rotor speed, reducing controllability and adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
A differential mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the motor rotor and the steering rod output. This differential allows the output element to rotate at a different angular speed than the rotor, providing speed differentiation capability that enhances steering controllability while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical transmission structure through the use of a compact differential 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
Enables flexible adaptation to diverse steering assemblies and conditions, enhancing the steering system's performance and usability across different vehicles and environments.
Implementation Method 1
a brushless direct current electric motor (13) having a stator (13.1) and a rotor (12)
Implementation Method 2
the differential providing an angular speed for the output element being different from the angular speed of the rotor
Implementation Method 3
an angular position sensor (4) for providing an actual angle for the output element (11)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a Drive unit (1) as part of a vehicle steering comprising a housing (3), mechanically connectable to the vehicle through an anti-rotation system, a rotatory output element, an interface (5) for interfacing the motor control, including powering coils and measuring feedback to external control unit, and a motor (6) comprising an angular position sensor, a stator (13) and a rotor (12), the stator being fixedly mounted in the housing, and the rotor being rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein the output element, the stator (13) and the rotor (12) are coaxially arranged, wherein the motor (6) is mechanically coupled to the output element by a differential (7) providing an angular speed for the output element which is different from the angular speed of the rotor (12).