Handwheel actuator modular interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11673601-B2
Application number	US-202117194709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2021
Priority date	Mar 8, 2021
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system may include a feedback actuator and a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator. The column includes a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column. The feedback actuator is operably coupled to the second end of the column and provides tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel. The feedback actuator includes a torsion bar coaxial with the column shaft. The column shaft is supported relative to a housing of the column by a first column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the first end of the column and a second column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the second end of the column. The torsion bar is operably coupled to a sleeve element that is operably coupled to the column shaft proximate to the second column shaft bearing to facilitate torque transfer between the column shaft and the torsion bar.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system, the handwheel actuator comprising:
a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator, the column comprising a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column; and
a feedback actuator operably coupled to the second end of the column, the feedback actuator providing tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel,
wherein the feedback actuator comprises a torsion bar coaxial with the column shaft,
wherein the column shaft is supported relative to a housing of the column by a first column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the first end of the column and a second column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the second end of the column,
wherein the torsion bar is operably coupled to a sleeve element that is operably coupled to the column shaft proximate to the second column shaft bearing to facilitate torque transfer between the column shaft and the torsion bar,
wherein the second column shaft bearing is retained in a bearing retention plate that is operably coupled to the housing,
wherein the bearing retention plate extends inwardly from the second end of the column to define a coupling chamber formed between the second column shaft bearing and the second end of the column, and
wherein the sleeve element is disposed in the coupling chamber.

2. The handwheel actuator of claim 1 , wherein an access opening is formed in a periphery of the bearing retention plate to provide access to a threaded fastener that operably couples the sleeve element to the column shaft.

3. The handwheel actuator of claim 1 , wherein the feedback actuator comprises a first feedback actuator bearing supporting a first end of the torsion bar and a second feedback actuator bearing supporting a second end of the torsion bar, and wherein the coupling chamber extends between the first and second feedback actuator bearings.

4. The handwheel actuator of claim 3 , wherein a stub shaft extends around a periphery of the torsion bar from a distal end of the torsion bar relative to the column shaft to a portion of the torsion bar that is spaced apart from a proximal end of the torsion bar,
wherein the sleeve element is operably coupled to the column shaft proximate to the second column shaft bearing and operably coupled to the stub shaft proximate to the second feedback actuator bearing.

5. The handwheel actuator of claim 3 , wherein the sleeve element extends from the second column shaft bearing to the second feedback actuator bearing.

6. The handwheel actuator of claim 1 , wherein a compressible adapter is disposed between the sleeve element and the column shaft to operably couple the sleeve element to the column shaft.

7. The handwheel actuator of claim 6 , wherein the compressible adapter is press fit into contact with each of the sleeve element and the column shaft.

8. The handwheel actuator of claim 6 , wherein the compressible adapter is shaped to receive a male protrusion formed at the sleeve element, and shaped to be inserted into a female receiving opening formed at the column shaft.

9. The handwheel actuator of claim 8 ,
wherein the male protrusion comprises a cylindrical protrusion with radially extending ribs,
wherein the female receiving opening comprises a circular opening with radially extending capture slots, and
wherein the compressible adapter is formed to receive the cylindrical protrusion and the radially extending ribs on a first side thereof, and to insert into the circular opening and the radially extending capture slots on a second side thereof.

10. A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system, the handwheel actuator comprising:
a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator, the column comprising a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column; and
a feedback actuator operably coupled to the second end of the column, the feedback actuator providing tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel,
wherein the feedback actuator comprises a torsion bar coaxial with the column shaft,
wherein the column shaft is supported relative to a housing of the column by a first column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the first end of the column and a second column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the second end of the column,
wherein the torsion bar is operably coupled to a sleeve element that is operably coupled to the column shaft proximate to the second column shaft bearing to facilitate torque transfer between the column shaft and the torsion bar,
wherein a compressible adapter is disposed between the sleeve element and the column shaft to operably couple the sleeve element to the column shaft,
wherein the compressible adapter is shaped to receive a male protrusion formed at the column shaft, and shaped to be inserted into a female receiving opening formed at the sleeve element.

11. The handwheel actuator of claim 10 , wherein the male protrusion comprises a plurality of protruding planar faces that taper along a length of the protruding planar faces,
wherein the female receiving opening comprises a corresponding plurality of recessed planar faces that taper along a length of the recessed planar faces, and
wherein the compressible adapter is formed to receive the male protrusion on a first side thereof, and to insert into the female receiving opening on a second side thereof.

12. The handwheel actuator of claim 6 , wherein the compressible adapter comprises hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) having a Durometer 30-95 Shore A.

13. The handwheel actuator of claim 1 , wherein the feedback actuator comprises a stub shaft coaxial with the torsion bar, and
wherein the stub shaft comprises a torque limiting interface formed with the sleeve element to prevent over-application of torque to the torsion bar.

14. A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system, the handwheel actuator comprising:
a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator, the column comprising a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column; and
a feedback actuator operably coupled to the second end of the column, the feedback actuator providing tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel,
wherein the feedback actuator comprises a torsion bar coaxial with the column shaft,
wherein the column shaft is supported relative to a housing of the column by a first column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the first end of the column and a second column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the second end of the column,
wherein the torsion bar is operably coupled to a sleeve element that is operably coupled to the column shaft proximate to the second column shaft bearing to facilitate torque transfer between the column shaft and the torsion bar,
wherein the column shaft includes a shaft extension that operably couples the column shaft to a projection of the sleeve element via a threaded fastener.

15. The handwheel actuator of claim 14 , wherein the shaft extension has a flat top face and a flat bottom face, the top and bottom faces being connected to each other by curved surfaces at lateral ends thereof to define a receiving space,
wherein the projection has a flat top and bottom and curved sides shaped to fit into the receiving space.

16. The handwheel actuator of claim 15 , wherein the threaded fastener extends through the shaft extension via a threaded receiver disposed at one or both of the top face a

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Soderlind Erik William
• Amburgy Steve Bryan
• Palczynski Taras

Classifications

• B62D5/006 Primary

  power actuated · CPC title

• B62D1/16

  Steering columns · CPC title