Nsk Corporation

Osamu Tatewaki

Hiroshi Eda

Toshihiro Fukuda

Jun Okada

Kiyoshi Sadakata

Minao Umeda

Takahiro Minamigata

Takeshi Fujiwara

Toru Segawa

Osamu Saito

Shuji Endo

Nobuyuki Hagiwara

Takahiro Tsubaki

Kazuo Chikaraishi

Kenichi Hayakawa

Nobuyuki Nishimura

Hirotaka Hatano

Kaname Yasuda

Tadashi Hibino

Hiroki Mizuno

Masaharu Igarashi

Masahiro Inoue

Kazuho Chikaraishi

Mineki Okamoto

There is provided a control device for an electric power steering device, which determines an estimate of a steering angle instead of using an angle sensor when any abnormality is detected in the angle sensor to perform steering angle control using the determined estimate of the steering angle. When it is determined that the detected steering angle is normal based on a steering angle abnormality determination signal Flg_&#x3b8;h, a steering angle calculating sectionoutputs a steering-wheel angle &#x3b8;h as an actual steering angle &#x3b8;r, while when it is determined that the detected steering angle is abnormal, the steering angle calculating sectiondetermines and outputs an estimate &#x3b8;r of an actual steering angle using a past value Z&#x3b8;r of the actual steering angle under normal conditions, a motor relative angle &#x394;&#x3b8;m, and a relative twist angle &#x394;&#x3b8; of a torsion bar.

Control device for electric power steering device

Provided is construction of a steering apparatus for an automobile that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement in the forward direction of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, and preventing damage to the component members of the section that supports a bracketon the column side with respect to the bracketon the vehicle side. In construction where the bracket on the vehicle sideand the bracketon the column side are connected at only one location in the center section in the width direction of the both brackets by a locking capsule, the top edges of a pair of protruding sectionsthat protrude to both the left and right sides of the bracketon the column side closely face the bottom edge of a bent sectionof the bracketon the vehicle side. The bracketon the column side is prevented from inclining excessively even when a large moment is applied to the bracketon the column side when an attempt is made to rotate the steering wheel with a steering lock apparatus in the locked state.

Steering apparatus for an automobile

Structure of a cross universal joint is achieved in which the fact that an excessive torque was applied to a universal joint due to a collision accident or mishandling can be easily determined afterwards. Protrusions, which are straight lines as seen from the outside surface sides of linking arm sectionsof a yoke, are formed on the outside surfaces of the linking arm sections. When an excessive torque acts and the linking arm sectionsare plastically deformed, the protrusionschange from a straight line to a non-straight line. From this change it is possible to easily confirm that an excessive torque has been applied to a cross universal joint that includes this yoke. Moreover, when the space between the inside surfaces of the linking arm sectionsis taken to be D, and the length in the axial direction of the linking arm sectionsis taken to be L, the dimensions of the parts of the yokeare regulated so that the relation 3&#x3c;L/D&#x2266;4 is satisfied.

Cross universal joint and manufacturing method thereof

The present invention provides construction that keeps the load required for a locking capsulethat is supported by the steering column to come out in the forward direction from a locking holethat is formed in a fastening bracketon the vehicle side low. Small through holesare formed in a flange sectionof the locking capsule. Small notch sectionsthat are each open toward the inside of the locking holeare formed in portions of the fastening bracketon the vehicle side around the locking holethat are aligned with each of the small through holes. Injection molding is performed to inject synthetic resinsuch that the synthetic resinspans between these small through holesand small notch sections, and connects the locking capsuleand the fastening bracketon the vehicle side. Moreover, part of the synthetic resinpenetrates into and solidifies in a small spacebetween the inside surfaces of the locking holeand the outside surfaces of the locking capsule

Steering column support apparatus

Provided is a steering column support apparatus that simplifies tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, and suppresses the absolute value and variation of the break away load without strong rubbing between the bracketon the vehicle side and the bracketon the column side. By forming an extending sectionon the top plate sectionof the bracketon the column side, and a convex curved surfaceon the top surface of the front end section of that extending section, a rise in contact pressure at the area of contact that occurs when the edge on the front end of the top surface of the top plate sectionis pressed against the bottom surface of the bracketon the vehicle side by a moment that is applied from the steering columnto the bracketon the column side during a secondary collision is suppressed.

An assembly method for a steering column support apparatus is achieved that simplifies tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, eliminates space in the engagement section between a bracketon the vehicle side and a locking capsule, and suppresses rocking displacement of the steering column due to that space. Of a plurality of small through holeson the capsule side and a plurality of small notch sections, part of the small through holesand the small notch sectionsare aligned, and pin shaped membersare formed so as to span these small through holes and small notch sections. After that, the locking capsuleand bracketon the vehicle side are put into the final assembled position, shearing the pin shaped membersin the process. The remaining small though holes, the remaining small notch sectionsand small through holesare aligned, and locking pinsthat shear during a secondary collision are formed so as to span these holes.

Steering column support apparatus and assembly method

A steering column support apparatus that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, keeping material costs, processing costs and assembly costs of an energy absorbing member low, and when necessary, preventing the steering wheel from dropping down excessively during a secondary collision. A locking capsulethat is fastened to a bracketon the column side is held inside a locking holeof a bracketon the vehicle side that is fastened to the vehicle body by a plurality of connecting members that shear during a secondary collision. An energy absorbing memberis placed between the locking capsuleand the bracketon the vehicle side. This energy absorbing memberis formed by bending a plastically deformable wire, and allows forward displacement of the locking capsule while absorbing impact energy that is applied to the locking capsule by plastically deforming during a secondary collision.

Provided is construction of a steering column support apparatus that simplifies tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, makes the apparatus more compact and low cost, and lowers and stabilizes the break away load. A bracketon the column and a locking capsulethat are both made of metal plate are connected and fastened together by welding. A pair of left and right eave sectionsare formed on both the left and right end sections of the locking capsuleby way of raised sections. The portion of the metal plate of a bracketon the vehicle side on both sides of a locking holefits between the bottom surfaces of the eave sectionsand the top surface of the bracketon the column side so as to be able to break away during a secondary collision.

An electric power steering apparatus comprises a rotary shaft member connected to a steering wheel, an elongate member, a rack-and-pinion mechanism, a ball screw mechanism constructed of a screw member, a nut member and a multiplicity of balls interposed between the screw member and the nut member, an electric motor unit, and a meshing type rotation decelerating mechanism including a plurality of meshing components. The meshing components include an output shaft pinion gear, a deceleration gear, and an intermediate gear, interposed between the output shaft pinion gear and the deceleration gear, having a contact portion composed of a synthetic resin.

Electric power steering apparatus

An electric power steering apparatus comprises a ball nut rotationally driven by an electric motor through a gear train and having a female thread groove formed in the inner periphery thereof, a rack shaft disposed through the ball nut on the axis thereof and having a male thread groove so formed in its outer periphery as to face to the female thread groove, a ball screw mechanism having a number of circulation balls interposed between the female thread groove and the male thread groove, and a housing for holding the ball nut rotatably through the bearing. An elastic member is interposed between the housing and the ball nut in order to permit the ball nut to make a predetermined displacement.

An electrically driven power steering apparatus is structured such that a large impact on a rack shaft occurs upon an impingement of a steering stopper, and, even when an axial force acting on a ball bearing of a presser member becomes zero, a rotation of the presser member is hindered by caulking c at a thin plate member. Therefore, the presser member does not slacken, and a predetermined axial force can be given again to the ball bearing when the impact dissipates. The thus structured power steering apparatus exhibiting, though the cost is low, an excellent shockproof characteristic and capable of preventing the bearing from coming off a ball screw nut, can be provided.

Motor-operated power steering apparatus

An electric power steering apparatus comprises an electric motor having a motor housing, a ball screw mechanism connected to the electric motor through power transmission means and used for driving a rack shaft, and a steering gear case encasing the rack shaft and the ball screw mechanism. The electric motor is supported by at least two supporting portions with respect to the steering gear case, and is supported by at lest one of the two supporting portions through an elastic member.

An electric power steering apparatus includes a power assist mechanism encased by a steering gear case, an electric motor coupled to the power assist mechanism, a power transmission mechanism, coupled to the electric motor and the power assist mechanism, and a protection cover, separate from the electric motor casing and attached thereto, for covering the electric motor.

Growing community of inventors

Gunma-ken, Japan

Osamu Tatewaki