Steering Reducer Arm Layout for Manual Steering After Failure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional steering devices with speed reducers in heavy vehicles, such as five-ton trucks, face difficulties in disengagement when the speed reducer fails, requiring time-consuming and troublesome demounting processes, hindering manual steering capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A steering device configuration that includes a speed reducer connected via a speed reducer arm, allowing disengagement from the steering mechanism, enabling manual operational force steering by disconnecting the speed reducer arm or the steering mechanism, and utilizing a gearbox with a gearbox arm and coupling rods for efficient disengagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the speed reducer is integrated with the steering mechanism in heavy vehicles, then steering assistance force is effectively transmitted, but disengagement becomes time-consuming and troublesome when failure occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesteering assistance reliabilityVSAvoidspeed reducer disengagement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The speed reducer is segmented from the steering mechanism through the introduction of a detachable speed reducer arm. This allows the speed reducer to be divided into separable components (speed reducer body and speed reducer arm) that can be easily disconnected from each other, enabling quick removal without demounting the entire steering mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The speed reducer arm is extracted as a separate, detachable component from the integrated steering mechanism. By making the speed reducer arm removable from both the speed reducer body and the steering mechanism, the patent enables easy extraction of the speed reducer when failure occurs, resolving the difficulty of disengagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Extent of automation

If the speed reducer is permanently connected to the steering mechanism, then steering assistance is continuously available, but manual steering becomes impossible when the speed reducer fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesteering assistance availabilityVSAvoidmanual steering capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the speed reducer and steering mechanism is made dynamic rather than fixed. The speed reducer arm can be selectively connected or disconnected, allowing the system to switch between automated steering assistance mode and manual steering mode, thus providing adaptability to different operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The steering system is designed with multi-functionality through the detachable speed reducer arm. The same steering mechanism can serve dual purposes: receiving assistance from the speed reducer when connected, and operating manually when the speed reducer arm is disconnected, thereby providing versatility in operational modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3486139B1Steering device
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 NABTESCO CORP
  • EP3486139B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3486139B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3486139B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

One object is to provide a steering device that facilitates disengagement of a speed reducer so that, for example, when the speed reducer fails, the speed reducer can be disengaged to enable steering of a vehicle with a manual operational force alone. This application relates to a steering device (1) provided with a steering mechanism (20) and a speed reducer (32). The steering mechanism (20) steers tires (18) of a vehicle under a steering force from a steering wheel (11). The speed reducer (32) is connected to a motor (31) for outputting a steering assistance force corresponding to the steering force. The speed reducer (32) enlarges the steering assistance force and transmits the enlarged steering assistance force to the steering mechanism (20). The speed reducer (32) is connected to the steering mechanism (20) via a speed reducer arm (6).