Back-drivable steer-by-wire system with positive scrub radius

US6786296B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft · DE
• Delphi Technologies · US

Inventors

• Jurgen Guldner · Munich, DE
• Markus Krug · Munich, DE
• Slawomir Bakaus · Munich, DE
• Kai-Uwe Balszuweit · Grasbrunn, DE
• Hendrikus Smakman · Munich, DE
• Christian Ebner · Munich, DE
• Michael Gräf · Gräfelfing, DE
• Schedl Anton · Munich, DE
• Patrick A. Mescher · Centerville, US
• Robert J. Disser · Dayton, US
• Jeffrey Heinrichs · Dayton, US
• Scott A. Millsap · Saginaw, US
• Brian Murray · Durban, ZA
• Detlef Krukenkamp · Unterschleißheim, DE
• Michael Byers · Ypsilanti, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 30, 2002
• Grant date: Sep 7, 2004
• Expiry date: May 30, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60T2260/02
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for steering a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a back-drivable steer-by-wire system including a road wheel actuator assembly coupled to a wheel of the vehicle. The road wheel actuator assembly defines a steering axis and the steering axis is off-set from a longitudinal axis of the wheel by a positive scrub radius. In an embodiment for a method in accordance with the present invention, a method to steer a vehicle after failure of a road wheel actuator assembly in a back-drivable steer-by-wire steering system is disclosed. The method includes the acts of applying a braking force to the wheel and generating a torque on the road wheel actuator assembly by the applied braking force acting through a positive scrub radius.