Apparatus for introducing an auxiliary torque into a steering shaft of an electromechanical power steering system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10449998-B2
Application number	US-201515545877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2015
Priority date	Jan 28, 2015
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus for introducing an auxiliary torque and/or an additional steering angle into a steering shaft of an electromechanical power steering system may comprise a gearwheel that is attached fixedly on the steering shaft so as to rotate with the steering shaft and that is operatively connected to a drive element of a drive motor for driving the gearwheel. The apparatus may further include a sensor that is connected fixedly to the steering shaft so as to rotate with the steering shaft. So that the attachment of the sensor can take place with less complexity and use less installation space as far as possible, the sensor and the gearwheel may be connected to one another at contact faces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for introducing at least one of an auxiliary torque or a steering angle into a steering shaft of an electromechanical power steering system, the apparatus comprising:
a gearwheel that is fixedly attached on the steering shaft so as to rotate with the steering shaft, wherein the gearwheel is operatively connected to a drive element of a drive motor configured to rotationally drive the gearwheel;
a sensor that is fixedly connected to the steering shaft so as to rotate with the steering shaft, wherein the sensor and the gearwheel are connected to one another at contact faces, wherein the sensor is integrally connected to the gearwheel; and
positively locking elements that engage the sensor and the gearwheel in a positively locking manner, wherein the positively locking elements maintain the sensor in a position relative to the gearwheel at least prior to the sensor being fixedly and integrally connected to the gearwheel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gearwheel is welded to the sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gearwheel is adhesively bonded to the sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gearwheel and the sensor comprise plastic at least in regions of the contact faces.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the gearwheel is configured as a plastic injection-molded part that is molded onto the steering shaft.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor is annular and is disposed coaxially on the steering shaft, wherein the contact face of the sensor extends substantially annularly.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gearwheel and the sensor bear axially against one another in a region of the contact faces.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor and the gearwheel comprise positively locking elements that can engage with one another in a positively locking manner.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gearwheel and the sensor are disposed in a housing on which an assembly of a sensor arrangement is positioned in a manner that is fixed relative to the sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor is connected to the gearwheel such that disconnection of the sensor from the gearwheel would require destruction of at least one of the sensor or the gearwheel.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor is connected to the gearwheel such that disconnection of the sensor from the gearwheel would require destruction of both the sensor and the gearwheel.

12. A method for producing an apparatus for introducing at least one of an auxiliary torque or a steering angle into a steering shaft of an electromechanical power steering system, the method comprising:
providing a gearwheel for the electromechanical power steering system by molding the gearwheel as a plastic injection-molded part onto the steering shaft in a positive locking manner at least in part by filling ribs or grooves on the steering shaft with plastic of the gearwheel;
providing a sensor for a sensor arrangement;
positioning the sensor at or on the gearwheel in a predefined arrangement position; and
producing a non-releasable connection between the sensor and the gearwheel.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising molding the gearwheel as a plastic injection-molded part onto the steering shaft.

14. The method of claim 12 comprising molding the gearwheel as a plastic injection-molded part onto the steering shaft by at least one of continuous casting or diaphragm gating.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein producing the non-releasable connection comprises welding the sensor to the gearwheel.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein producing the non-releasable connection comprises ultrasonic welding the sensor to the gearwheel.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein producing the non-releasable connection comprises friction welding the sensor to the gearwheel.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein producing the non-releasable connection comprises laser welding the sensor to the gearwheel.

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp Presta Ag
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Knoll Peter
• Ernstson Gernot

Classifications

• B62D6/10

  characterised by means for sensing {or determining} torque · CPC title

• B62D5/0409 Primary

  Electric motor acting on the steering column · CPC title

• G01L3/104

  involving permanent magnets · CPC title

• G01D11/245

  Housings for sensors · CPC title

• B62D5/0415 Primary

  the axes being coaxial · CPC title