Motor-driven power steering apparatus and method

Details Motor-driven power steering apparatus and method Motor-driven power steering apparatus and method

1992-09-18

1994-08-30

Hill, Mitchell J.

Motor vehicles

Compensating devices

180143, 318434, 388831, 36442405, B62D 500

Patent

active

053418913

ABSTRACT:
A motor-driven power steering apparatus and method for a vehicle are able to avoid frequent on-off operations of an electromagnetic clutch 14 as much as possible, which connects or disconnects a motor 13 with or from a steering system, thus improving the durability of the clutch 14 and suppressing the generation of undesirable noise and shocks upon connection and disconnection of the clutch 14. A clutch controller 191 controls a clutch current Ic supplied to the clutch 14 based on the vehicle speed V in such a manner that it sets the clutch current Ic to a first predetermined clutch current level I(V) so as to place the clutch into a substantially engaged state when the vehicle speed V is less than a first predetermined vehicle speed Vo, and to a second predetermined clutch current level Icr which is less than the first predetermined clutch current level I(V) so as to place the clutch into a partially engaged state when the vehicle speed V is equal to or greater than the first predetermined vehicle speed Vo. Preferably, the clutch current Ic is set to a third predetermined clutch current level Ico which is less than the second predetermined clutch current level Icr so as to substantially disengage said electromagnetic clutch when a steering torque T is equal to or greater than a predetermined value To when the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value Vo.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4573545 (1986-03-01), Kalns
patent: 4849889 (1989-07-01), Morishita et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Motor-driven power steering apparatus and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Motor-driven power steering apparatus and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Motor-driven power steering apparatus and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-24855