Methods and systems for evaluating vehicle steering systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9574972-B2
Application number	US-98504311-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2011
Priority date	Jan 5, 2011
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for evaluating a steering system of a vehicle, in which the steering system includes a steering column, steering rack, and pinion. The rack is manipulated as the steering system is mounted to a testing system. The steering column is also manipulated as the steering system is mounted to the testing system. Data is collected from the manipulating of the rack and the dithering of the steering column for use in evaluating the steering system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for evaluating a steering system of a vehicle using a testing system, the steering system comprising a steering column, steering wheel mass, steering rack, and pinion, the method comprising the steps of:
manipulating the rack on the testing system;
manipulating the steering column on the testing system;
collecting data while the rack and the steering column are being manipulated for evaluating the steering system, wherein the step of collecting data comprises the step of measuring an acceleration of steering when the steering column is being manipulated; and
calculating a value pertaining to the steering system using the data, the value selected from the group consisting of a gear sensitivity, a gear stiffness, a gear impedance, and a motor ratio of the steering system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the steering system includes a steering wheel mass;
the testing system includes an actuator; and
the step of manipulating the steering column comprises the step of dithering the steering wheel mass on the testing system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of collecting data comprises the step of:
measuring a force applied to the rack when the rack is being manipulated.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the step of collecting data further comprises the step of measuring an acceleration of the rack when the rack is being manipulated.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of collecting data further comprises the step of measuring a steering angle when the steering column is being manipulated.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating the value comprises the step of:
calculating a gear sensitivity of the steering system using the data.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating the value comprises the step of:
calculating a gear stiffness of the steering system using the data.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating the value comprises the step of:
calculating a gear impedance of the steering system using the data.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
calculating a gear ratio of the steering system using the data.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating the value comprises the step of:
calculating a motor ratio of the steering system using the data.

11. A method for evaluating a steering system of a vehicle using a testing system, the steering system comprising a steering column, steering rack, and pinion, the method comprising:
manipulating the rack on the testing system;
manipulating the steering column on the testing system;
collecting data when the rack and the steering column are being manipulated for evaluating the steering system;
determining a maximum angular acceleration time for the data; and
calculating a value pertaining to the steering system using a portion of the data corresponding to a window corresponding to the maximum angular acceleration time.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
measuring a force applied to the rack when the rack is being manipulated; and
measuring an acceleration of the rack when the rack is being manipulated.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the steering system includes a steering wheel mass, and the method further comprises:
measuring an acceleration of the steering wheel mass when the steering column is being manipulated; and
measuring a steering angle when the steering column is being manipulated.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of calculating a value comprises:
calculating a value pertaining to the steering system using a portion of the data corresponding to a window corresponding to the maximum angular acceleration time, the value selected from the group consisting of: a gear stiffness of the steering system, a gear impedance of the steering system using the data, a gear sensitivity of the steering system using the data, and a motor ratio of the steering system.

15. A system for evaluating a steering unit for a vehicle, the steering unit comprising a steering column, steering wheel mass, steering rack, and pinion, the system comprising:
a first actuator configured to manipulate the rack on the system;
a second actuator configured to manipulate the steering column on the system;
a sensor unit configured to obtain data when the rack and the steering column are being manipulated for use in evaluating the steering unit, wherein the data comprises a measured acceleration of steering when the steering column is being manipulated; and
a processor coupled to the sensor unit and configured to calculate one or more of the following, using the data: a gear stiffness, a gear impedance, a gear sensitivity, and a motor ratio of the steering unit.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the sensor unit comprises:
a first sensor configured to measure a force applied to the rack when the rack is being manipulated; and
a second sensor configured to measure an acceleration of the rack when the rack is being manipulated.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the steering unit includes a steering wheel mass, and the second actuator is configured to manipulate the steering column by dithering the steering wheel mass on the testing system.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the steering unit includes a steering wheel mass, and the sensor unit comprises:
a first sensor configured to measure an acceleration of the steering wheel mass when the steering column is being manipulated; and
a second sensor configured to measure a steering angle when the steering column is being manipulated.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to calculate, using the data: a motor ratio of the steering unit.

Assignees

• Oblizajek Kenneth L
• Sopoci John D
• Adams William Keith
• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Oblizajek Kenneth L
• Sopoci John D
• Adams William Keith

Classifications

• B60W2710/205

  Steering speed · CPC title

• G01L5/221

  to steering wheels, e.g. for power assisted steering · CPC title

• B60W2710/20

  Steering systems · CPC title

• G01M17/06 Primary

  Steering behaviour; Rolling behaviour · CPC title

• B62D5/0481

  monitoring the steering system, e.g. failures · CPC title