Motor vehicles – Surface effect vehicles – Dynamic seal or fluid curtain
Patent
1990-06-01
1992-09-15
Hill, Mitchell J.
Motor vehicles
Surface effect vehicles
Dynamic seal or fluid curtain
180148, 280 91, B62D 506
Patent
active
051470071
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present present invention relates to a hydraulic power steering system for automotive vehicles including a power cylinder coupled to a mechanical steering assembly, a pump and a control valve.
A hydraulic power steering system of this type is known from published German patent application No. 28 39 121. This known power steering system is comprised of a measured variable transmitter depending on the angle of rotation. The transmitter serves as a sensor for the hand power applied to the steering wheel. The output signal is transmitted to an electronic control module which controls the solenoid valves which are located between the pump and the power cylinder. In addition to their sophisticated and cost-intensive arrangements, these known power steering systems have the disadvantage that the steering assembly may become locked in the event of a defect of the electronic control module. Although this risk could be avoided by the redundant design of the electronic control system, the resulting increased sophistication would nevertheless result in a further disadvantage.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic power steering system for automotive vehicles of the type described above which is distinguished by a simple arrangement and which ensures safety in operation. In particular, the hydraulic power assistance dependent on demand is controlled without sophisticated electronic modules.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is envisaged that one of two valve elements slidable relative to each other is secured to the slidable component, while the other valve element is pivoted on the vehicle body. In this way, the control valve is actuated directly starting from a steering power determined by the prestressing power. The power flux is transmitted through a very restricted number of components.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering gear of the mechanical steering assembly is elastically slidably supported at the vehicle. The hydraulic unit, with at least one of two valve elements being slidable relative to each other, is rigidly secured to the steering gear. The other valve element is coupled to the vehicle body. This embodiment allows for the arrangement of an element generating the prestressing power both between the vehicle body and one valve element and between the two valve elements A highly effective silencing is attained by an elastic connection between the vehicle body and the steering gear, the hydraulic unit being rigidly coupled to the steering gear.
In order to obtain an integrated hydraulic unit as compact as possible and comprising any components required for control, it is advantageous when the steering gear is supported at the vehicle body so as to be slidable in the transverse axis of the vehicle. This is particularly advantageous when the housing of the control valve is rigidly coupled to the steering gear and when the control element is coupled to the vehicle and is slidable within the housing of the control valve and is elastically prestressed in both sliding directions against the housing of the control valve or against a component being rigidly coupled to the latter. By this embodiment, a completely preassembled, oil-filled and functionally tested hydraulic unit is provided which is ready for operation and does not require measures other than to be mounted a the vehicle with simple assembly operations and to be connected thereto.
One embodiment of the present invention which provides for the steering gear to be rigidly coupled to the vehicle body entails that one section of the steering axle is slidably supported and that the slide actuates the control valves in response to a force component which results from the steering power. Steering gears particularly suited to generate components of force of reaction of this kind are either designed as helical rack-and-pinion gears or as ball-type planetary gearings. In both designs, a component of the force of rea
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patent: 4646868 (1987-03-01), Rosell
patent: 4694925 (1987-09-01), Roberts
patent: 4823898 (1989-04-01), Ogura et al.
patent: 4856608 (1989-08-01), Adams
patent: 4981189 (1991-01-01), Wilder
Baier Joachim
Beer Wilhelm
Kahrs Manfred
Krines Hans-G.
Kunz Gerhard
Alfred Teves GmbH
Hill Mitchell J.
Lewis J. Gordon
Seitter Robert P.
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