Electrical generator or motor structure – Dynamoelectric – Rotary
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-08
2004-03-16
Le, Dang (Department: 2834)
Electrical generator or motor structure
Dynamoelectric
Rotary
C310S089000, C310S06800R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06707185
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on Application No. 2002-1265, filed in Japan on Jan. 8, 2002, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power steering apparatus for assisting the steering force of a steering wheel of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 18
is a cross sectional view of a conventional electric power steering apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-258730.
In this electric power steering apparatus, a motor
100
and a control circuit unit
103
for controlling a current flowing through the motor
100
are housed in a bottomed cylindrical casing
101
.
The motor
100
includes a shaft
104
connected with a steering mechanism of a vehicle, a rotor
108
fixedly secured to the shaft
104
, a magnet
107
arranged to surround the rotor
108
, an electromagnetic clutch
105
for controlling torque transmitted to the steering mechanism in an on and off manner, and an angle sensor
106
for detecting the steering angle of a steering wheel or the rotational angle or position of the shaft
104
to generate a corresponding output to the control circuit unit
103
.
In the electric power steering apparatus as constructed above, the shaft
104
is driven to rotate by means of the motor
100
, so that the rotational force of the motor
104
is transmitted to the steering mechanism through the shaft
104
so as to provide torque assistance of the steering mechanism.
With the above-mentioned conventional electric power steering apparatus in which the motor
100
and the control circuit unit
103
are housed in the casing
101
, there are the following problems.
(1) The motor
100
and the control circuit unit
103
can not be easily separated from each other, and hence when either one of the motor
100
and the control circuit unit
103
fails, it is necessary to replace the electric power steering apparatus on the whole.
(2) Assemblability is poor since it is necessary to assemble the motor
100
and the control circuit unit
103
, which are mutually connected with each other through wiring or lead wires, into the bottomed cylindrical casing
101
at the same time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to solve the problems as referred to above, and has for its object to provide an electric power steering apparatus in which upon failure of either one of a motor and a control circuit unit, the failed one alone has to be replaced with a new one, and which is improved in assemblability.
Bearing the above object in mind, an electric power steering apparatus according to the present invention includes: a motor having a housing and a shaft disposed on an axis of the housing and connected with a steering mechanism of a vehicle, the motor being operable to assist a steering force of a steering wheel through the shaft; and a control circuit unit with a power device for driving the motor being disposed in a casing. The housing is formed with a housing opening through which lead wires pass. The casing is also formed with a casing opening through which the lead wires pass. The motor and the control circuit unit are integrated with each other with the housing opening and the casing opening disposed to correspond to each other. With the above arrangement, when either one of the motor and the control circuit unit fails, it is only necessary to replace the failed one alone, thus making it possible to reduce the cost of replacement. In addition, it only has to first assemble the motor and the control circuit unit separately from each other and then integrate the motor and the control circuit unit into a single unit in the final process, thus improving the assemblability thereof.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5491370 (1996-02-01), Schneider et al.
patent: 5770902 (1998-06-01), Batten et al.
patent: 5814909 (1998-09-01), Yamada et al.
patent: 6081056 (2000-06-01), Takagi et al.
patent: 6107716 (2000-08-01), Penketh
patent: 6144137 (2000-11-01), Engelbert
patent: 6198183 (2001-03-01), Baeumel et al.
patent: 6236126 (2001-05-01), Yagi et al.
patent: 6268669 (2001-07-01), Wakao et al.
patent: 6577030 (2003-06-01), Tominaga et al.
patent: 8-258730 (1996-10-01), None
patent: 11-115775 (1999-04-01), None
Akutsu Satoru
Hemmi Shinsuke
Megata Hideki
Nishikawa Masayoshi
Okazaki Masafumi
Le Dang
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
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