Steering Apparatus Dual Motor Facing Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steering apparatuses with electric motors face a challenge in size reduction due to the large size of the electric motor required to rotate the steering shaft directly, leading to increased dimensions of the speed reduction mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The use of a pair of electric motors with speed reduction mechanisms arranged to face each other, allowing for adjacent placement and reducing the size of the speed reduction mechanisms along the rotation axis of the steering shaft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single electric motor directly rotates the steering shaft, then the steering control is simple, but the size of the electric motor becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The single electric motor is divided into two smaller electric motors that face each other. Each motor is connected to the steering shaft through its own speed reduction mechanism, allowing the motors to be more compact while collectively providing the required steering torque.
Solution Approach 2:
The two electric motors are arranged in a facing configuration along the rotational axis of the steering shaft, utilizing the axial dimension to reduce the overall footprint. This arrangement allows the speed reduction mechanisms to be positioned adjacently, compacting the structure in the radial direction.
2Volume of moving object
If the electric motor size is reduced, then the overall apparatus becomes more compact, but the speed reduction mechanisms increase in size along the rotation axial direction
Solution Approach 1:
The two speed reduction mechanisms are positioned adjacently along the rotational axis, merging their spatial occupation into a compact arrangement. This facing configuration allows the mechanisms to share the axial space efficiently, preventing excessive length in any single direction.
3Length of moving object
If a pair of electric motors with speed reduction mechanisms are arranged adjacently, then the axial size is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two electric motors are positioned asymmetrically to face each other rather than being arranged in a conventional linear or radial configuration. This asymmetric facing arrangement optimizes the spatial relationship between the motors and their speed reduction mechanisms, achieving compactness while managing complexity through intentional geometric design.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering apparatus includes first and second electric motors that rotate a steering shaft via speed reduction mechanisms, and the motors being disposed to face each other. The first electric motor, a first motor pulley, a second motor pulley and the second electric motor are arranged in order in a rotation axis direction. When a first system electric actuator (including a first nut and the first electric motor) and a second system electric actuator (including a second nut and the second electric motor) are provided to the common steering shaft, in a first axis direction, the first and second nuts can be arranged close to each other, reducing sizes of the peripheries of the nuts.