摘要:
Output signals from first and second speed sensors are inputted in a control unit to measure a car speed on the basis of the signals. When the measured value is higher than a predetermined value, control unit determines that one of the speed sensors is abnormal, whereby a motor current to be fed to a d.c. motor is interrupted and a voltage applied to a magnetic clutch is removed.
摘要:
A motor-driven type power assisted steering control apparatus has a torque sensor which is provided with first and second displacement-electric signal converting units and a control unit which is adapted to break a motor current and to interrupt application of a voltage to an electromagnetic clutch as soon as abnormality in the torque sensor is detected on the basis of the electric signals of the first and second displacement-electric signal converting units.
摘要:
A motorized power steering apparatus is equipped with a torque sensor including a primary potentiometer for detecting a steering torque applied to the steering wheel by a driver. The torque sensor further includes an auxiliary potentiometer so as to detect variations in the output voltage of a constant voltage power supply to the potentiometers. When there is a difference between the outputs of the primary and auxiliary potentiometers which is greater than a prescribed level, a fail-safe relay is turned off to nullify the power steering operation of a motor. When the output voltage of the power supply for supplying a constant voltage to the primary and auxiliary potentiometers drops below or rises above a predetermined level, the output voltage of the auxiliary potentiometer, which is not used for power steering control, is raised. This increases the difference between the output voltages of the potentiometers to a detectable level, whereby a fail-safe operation is carried out to nullify the power steering operation of the electric motor. Thus, the steering wheel is prevented, in a reliable manner, from being turned spontaneously or unintentionally against the driver's will due to variations in the neutral point of the torque sensor resulting from fluctuations in the voltage supplied thereto.
摘要:
A motor-driven power steering system for front and rear road wheels which is capable of preventing uncontrolled steering resulting from abnormal movement of the rear road wheels in case of a failure in various sensors and/or an electric motor or breakage in the wiring, and enabling vehicle to continuously travel in a safe manner by means of front wheel steering alone after occurrence of such troubles.
摘要:
A steering torque detecting device comprises a steering shaft consisting of an input shaft and an output shaft, a torsion bar provided between the input shaft and the output shaft, a torque detecting unit for converting a quantity of torsion produced in the torsion bar into an electric output, an electricity collecting unit comprising slip rings and brushes which takes the electric output and supplies an electric power from an outer power source, bearings for supporting the input and output shaft on the same axial line, and a housing supporting the bearings, a printed wiring board in a circular plate form which is provided at its one surface with a resistance layer and an output electrode radially spaced apart from the resistance layer, the resistance layer and the output electrode constituting a potentiometer, and a slider having a portion extending in the radial direction of the circular printed wiring board so as to have contacting areas with a small width to the resistance layer and the output electrode.
摘要:
A motor-driven power steering system for a vehicle capable of preventing abrupt change in the steering motion or torque an operator even when the battery has been suddenly depleted or excessively discharged during travel of the vehicle, thereby avoiding any possible panic resulting from sudden loss of power assist. The motor-driven power steering system comprises a motor connected to be energized by the battery for power assisting steering motion of the operator, an electromagnetic sliding clutch connected to continuously change the power-assisting force transmitted from the motor to steerable road wheels in accordance with the intensity of current supplied thereto from the battery, a torque sensor for detecting operator-induced steering torque, a battery sensor for detecting a condition of charge of the battery, and a control unit connected to control both the voltage imposed on the motor and the current supplied to the electromagnetic sliding clutch such that they are made zero if the battery has been depleted, while on the other hand, at least one of the motor voltage and the clutch current is gradually reduced if the battery is insufficiently charged. An electromagnetic switching clutch may be provided to be switched on when the traveling speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined level, but switched off when the travelling speed of the vehicle is above the predetermined level or if the battery has been depleted. An alarm device may also be provided for warning the operator of the depletion or insufficient charge of the battery.
摘要:
A fail safe system for a motor driven power steering apparatus comprises a DC motor for subsidiarily energized said steering apparatus; a handle for receiving steering rotary force to produce a corresponding steering torque; a torque sensor for producing a signal corresponding to said rotary force applied to said handle, said torque sensor comprising a potentiometer having a movable electrode for detecting a torsional angle owing to said steering torque and a torque neutral region sensor arranged to operate together with said movable electrode for detecting a neutral region of said steering torque to produce a signal indicating whether said steering torque is within said torque neutral region or not; a motor current detection circuit for detecting a current flowing in said DC motor; an electromagnetic clutch for coupling/decoupling an output of said DC motor to/from said steering apparatus; a power supply circuit for supplying electric power to said DC motor and said electromagnetic clutch; and a fail safe relay provided with a normally opened contact connected in series in said power supply circuit; said fail safe relay being interrupted to remove said subsidiary steering force when a larger current exceeding said torque neutral region flows in said motor-current detection circuit while said torque neutral region sensor produces the signal indicating that said steering torque is within said torque neutral region.
摘要:
A motor-driven power steering system for a vehicle wherein vehicle speed and operator-induced steering torque are detected for the control of power-assisting steering operation; a vehicle-speed sensor for detecting the vehicle speed to generate an output signal representative of the detected vehicle speed; a motor connected to be energized by a battery to transmit a force to the steerable road wheels for power assisting steering motion caused by the operator through the steering wheel; a first electromagnetic sliding clutch for controlling the power-assisting force transmitted from the motor to the steerable road wheels; a second electromagnetic switching clutch connected to be switched off for interrupting the transmission of the power-assisting force from the motor toward the steerable road wheels when the vehicle speed increases above a prescribed level, and switched on for transmission of the power-steering force therebetween when the vehicle speed decreases below the prescribed level; and a control unit connected to receive output signals from the torque sensor and the vehicle-speed sensor for controlling respective running and switching operations of the motor and the first sliding clutch in such a manner that the power-assisting force transmitted from the motor to the steerable road wheels through the first sliding clutch is gradually decreased before the second switching clutch is switched off, and gradually increased after the second switching clutch is switched on.
摘要:
A device for controlling a motor-driven power steering system for a vehicle comprising: a torque sensor for detecting operator-induced steering force exerted on a steering wheel by an operator and generating a voltage signal representative thereof; a motor operatively connected to power assist the steering motion caused by the operator through the steering wheel; a control unit electrically connected with the torque sensor through a connector interposed therebetween for controlling the power-assisting operation of the motor in response to the operator-induced steering torque detected by the torque sensor; and a converter interposed between the torque sensor and the connector for converting the voltage signal generated by the torque sensor into a proportional current signal to be supplied to the control unit. With the above arrangement, the control unit is input with an electrical signal precisely representing the steering torque measured by the torque sensor without being affected by any voltage drop during transmission of the electrical signal from the torque sensor to the control unit, so that the control unit can control the power assisting operation of the motor in accordance with the measured steering torque in a most precise manner.
摘要:
A motor-driven power steering system for a vehicle capable of preventing a motor-related element such as a motor itself, power elements for controlling power supply to the motor or the like from being damage due to an abnormal temperature rise or overheating thereof, thereby substantially avoiding or reducing resultant unsureness or instability in the operator's steering feeling upon change in steering mode as well as improving safety in steering operation. The motor is operatively connected with a steering rack and energizable by a power source for power assisting the steering motion caused by the operator through a steering wheel. A temperature sensor detects the temperature of the motor-related element. An electromagnetic switching clutch is interposed between the motor and the steering rack for selectively establishing and interrupting the transmission of power assisting force from the motor to the steering rack in accordance with the travelling speed of the vehicle. A control uint is provided for controlling the operation of the motor in such a manner such that when the detected temperature of the motor-related element is higher than a prescribed level, the current supplied to the motor through the motor-related element is gradually reduced to lower the temperature of the motor-related element.