Steering device and method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11548552-B2
Application number	US-201916724601-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2019
Priority date	Nov 22, 2019
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A steering device includes a steering power unit, a transmission unit, an upper control arm, a steering element, an eccentric bolt and a steering knuckle. The steering power unit has at least one torque-output end. The transmission unit is connected with the torque-output end. The steering element is connected with the transmission unit. The eccentric bolt, installed at the upper control arm, is connected with the steering power unit. The steering knuckle, mounted to a wheel disc, is connected with the steering element and the upper control arm, and used for controlling the wheel disc. The steering power unit drives the steering element to push or pull the steering knuckle for controlling a turning angle, and simultaneously drives the eccentric bolt to have the upper control arm to push or pull the steering knuckle for varying a camber angle of the wheel disc. In addition, a steering method is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steering device, comprising:
a steering power unit, having at least one torque-output end, wherein the at least one torque-output end includes a first torque-output end and a second torque-output end;
a transmission unit, connected with the torque-output end;
an upper control arm;
a steering element, connected with the transmission unit;
an eccentric bolt, installed at the upper control arm, connected with the steering power unit;
a steering knuckle, mounted to a wheel disc, connected with the steering element and the upper control arm, used for controlling the wheel disc;
wherein the steering power unit is electrically connected with a human-machine interface controller, and the steering power unit receives a steering signal via the human-machine interface controller;
wherein the steering power unit drives the steering element to push or pull the steering knuckle for controlling a turning angle;
wherein the steering power unit simultaneously drives the eccentric bolt to have the upper control arm to push or pull the steering knuckle for varying a camber angle of the wheel disc.

2. The steering device of claim 1 , wherein the transmission unit further includes a transmission member and a screw bar unit, the transmission member is connected with the first torque-output end of the steering power unit, and the screw bar unit drives the steering element.

3. The steering device of claim 2 , wherein the eccentric bolt further includes a power-transmitting member and a cam, the power-transmitting member is a gear to transform rotational motion of the torque-output end into linear motion.

4. The steering device of claim 3 , further including a power-driving screw, connected with the second torque-output end and the power-transmitting member, used for rotating the cam to move the upper control arm and the steering knuckle for adjusting the camber angle.

5. The steering device of claim 2 , wherein the transmission member is one of a chain, a belt and a gear rack for speed modulation.

6. The steering device of claim 1 , wherein the transmission unit includes a transmission member and a gear rack unit, the transmission member is connected with the torque-output end, the transmission member drives the gear rack unit, and the gear rack unit is connected with the steering element.

7. The steering device of claim 6 , wherein the eccentric bolt includes a transmission shaft and a cam, the transmission shaft, connected with the torque-output end, rotates the cam to move the upper control arm and the steering knuckle for adjusting the camber angle.

8. The steering device of claim 7 , wherein the torque-output end of the steering power unit drives the eccentric bolt via a belt.

9. The steering device of claim 6 , wherein the transmission member is one of a chain, a belt and a gear rack for speed modulation.

10. The steering device of claim 1 , wherein the steering power unit is a motor, and the steering element is a tie rod.

11. A steering method, comprising the steps of:
(1) applying a steering power unit to receive a steering signal issued by a human-machine interface controller;
(2) activating the steering power unit, upon when the steering signal is received;
(3) outputting a torque/rotational speed by the steering power unit to drive a transmission unit and further a steering element;
(4) operating a steering knuckle by the steering element to control a wheel disc to vary a turning angle of a wheel, the steering knuckle being mounted to the wheel disc and connected with an upper control arm and the steering element; and
(5) outputting simultaneously the torque/rotational speed by the steering power unit to rotate an eccentric bolt connected with the upper control arm, through the eccentric bolt to move together the steering knuckle so as to vary the camber angle of the wheel disc;
wherein the eccentric bolt of the step (5) and the steering element of the step (3) are synchronously activated;
wherein when the eccentric bolt reaches a critical point, the steering element is activated to push or pull the steering knuckle;
wherein the eccentric bolt and the steering element are defined with a proportional relationship.

12. The steering method of claim 11 , wherein the human-machine interface controller of the step (1) is electrically connected with the steering power unit.

13. The steering method of claim 11 , wherein the steering power unit is a motor.

14. The steering method of claim 11 , wherein the transmission unit of the step (3) further includes a transmission member and a screw bar unit, the transmission unit drives the steering element via the screw bar unit, and the steering element is a tie rod.

15. The steering method of claim 14 , wherein the transmission member is one of a chain, a belt and a gear rack for speed modulation.

16. The steering method of claim 13 , wherein the steering knuckle of the step (4) is mounted to the wheel disc, and connected with the upper control arm and the steering element.

Assignees

• Ind Tech Res Inst

Inventors

• Chen Peng-Yu
• TSAO Chia
• Ho Cheng-Han
• Hsiao Yu-Chun
• Lee Fang-Ming

Classifications

• B62D7/18

  Steering knuckles; King pins · CPC title

• B62D17/00 Primary

  Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in · CPC title

• B62D3/02

  mechanical · CPC title

• B62D7/166

  substantially perpendicular, e.g. between tie-rod and steering knuckle · CPC title

• B60G2200/144

  with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram · CPC title