Steering apparatus
US5732791A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 1995 |
| Grant date | Mar 31, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16D2037/005
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An improved vehicle steering apparatus (10) includes an electric motor (28) which is continuously energized during operation of the vehicle. A pair of clutch assemblies (42 and 44) are connected with a steering shaft (48) which extends from the vehicle steering wheel (12) to steering gear (14) connected with steerable vehicle wheels (16 and 18). A drive assembly (38) continuously transmits force from the motor (28) to the clutch assemblies (42 and 44) during operation of the vehicle. Upon turning of the steering wheel (12), a control unit (56) provides an output to an electromagnet (102) in one of the clutch assemblies (42 or 44) to energize the electromagnet. Energizing the electromagnet (102) increases the resistance of a rheological fluid (98) in the clutch assembly (42 and 44) to shear. As the shear strength of the rheological fluid (98) increases, the force transmitted by the drive assembly (38 to the clutch assemblies (42 or 44) from the continuously operating motor (28) increases to assist in rotating the steering shaft (48) and turning of the steerable vehicle wheels (16 and 18).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.