Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

Trw Limited

Landis & Gyr Metering, Inc.

William A Szabela

Daniel E Williams

Philip S Peterson

Juan Redin

Kevin E Boyle

Kenneth A Sherwin

James Johnson

Steven A Peppler

Gordon R Burns

Thomas J Toren

An approved apparatus () for turning steerable wheels () of a vehicle includes a pinion () which is disposed in meshing engagement with a rack portion () of a steering member (). A steering column () is connected with a pinion () and with a vehicle steering wheel (). A ball nut assembly () is connected with an externally threaded portion () of the steering member (). A first motor () is connected with the steering column () at a location between the pinion () and steering wheel (). A second motor () is connected with the ball nut assembly (). A closed loop assembly () may be provided to control operation of the first motor (). An open loop assembly () may be provided to control operation of the second motor ().

Apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels

A steering apparatus () includes a hydraulic power steering gear () for turning the steerable wheels () of a vehicle. The steering gear () includes a closed center valve (). An electric motor () is operatively connected with the steering wheel (). When activated, the motor () resists rotation of the steering wheel () to provide steering feel to the vehicle driver and to modulate force applied to the steering wheel () upon initial opening of the closed center valve ().

Closed center steering system

An apparatus () for helping to turn steerable wheels () of a vehicle comprises a hydraulic power-assisted steering gear (). An electric motor () actuates the steering gear (). A pump () supplies the steering gear () with hydraulic fluid. A vehicle speed sensor () senses vehicle speed and provides a vehicle speed signal. A controller () is responsive to the vehicle speed signal for controlling the pump (). The controller () activates the pump () to supply hydraulic fluid to the steering gear () when the vehicle speed signal indicates a vehicle speed below a predetermined value and the controller () deactivating the pump () when the vehicle speed signal indicates a vehicle speed above the predetermined value.

Apparatus for controlling a power-assisted steering gear in response to vehicle speed

A steering apparatus () for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle having first and second sets (and) of steerable wheels comprises a first steering gear () actuatable, in response to rotation of a handwheel (), to effect turning of the first set () of steerable wheels. The steering apparatus () also comprises second and third steering gears (and), each of which is independently actuatable to effect turning of the second set () of steerable wheels and thereby providing redundancy for turning of the second set () of steerable wheels. A sensor () senses a steering position of the first set () of steerable wheels and provides a steering signal indicative of the sensed steering position. A controller () receives the steering signal and, in response to the steering signal, controls actuation of the second and third steering gears (and).

Steering apparatus for turning multiple sets of steerable vehicle wheels

A steering apparatus () for a vehicle having steerable wheels. The apparatus () comprises a rotatable vehicle steering wheel () and a first assembly () operatively coupled to the steering wheel. The first assembly () includes a sensor () for sensing applied torque and angular position of the steering wheel () and a first electronic control unit () for generating a first signal corresponding to the sensed torque and angular position of the steering wheel. A second assembly () is operatively coupled to the steerable wheels. The second assembly () includes a second electronic control unit () for receiving the first signal, a first electric motor () controlled by the second electronic control unit, and a steering gear () which is actuated by the first electric motor () to turn the steerable wheels of the vehicle. A signal transmitting conductor () transmits the first signal to the second electronic control unit ().

Electric steering apparatus

A vehicle steering apparatus ( ) includes a steering wheel motor ( ) which is connected with a steering wheel ( ) of a vehicle. The steering wheel motor ( ) is energizable by electric current to resist rotation of the steering wheel ( ). A variable resistor ( ) is connected in parallel with the steering wheel motor ( ) and is adjustable to vary the electric current which energizes the steering wheel motor. A road wheel steering motor ( ) is connectable with steerable road engaging wheels of the vehicle. The road wheel steering motor ( ) is energizable by electric current to effect turning movement of steerable road-engaging wheels in response to rotation of the steering wheel ( ). The variable resistor ( ) is connected in parallel with the road wheel steering motor ( ) and is adjustable to vary electric current which energizes the road wheel steering motor.

Vehicle steering apparatus

An electronic demand register includes a microprocessor including a program clock for performing timekeeping functions for the register. A power supply connected across the AC voltage source provides power to the microprocessor through a voltage regulator. The program clock is maintained by the line frequency of the AC source. Electronic circuits are provided for calibrating the program clock to be compatible with either a 50 Hz or a 60 Hz line frequency. A detection signal corresponding to the line frequency is generated by a line frequency detector circuit in the power supply. A reference signal is generated by a quartz crystal clock. A frequency comparator circuit includes a microprocessor program that measures the time period between detection signal pulses. This time period is compared to the known period of a 50 Hz or a 60 Hz signal and respective counters are incremented accordingly. The microprocessor and program clock operating parameters are established for either 50 Hz of 60 Hz operation when one of the counters has reached a value of five, indicating that five zero crossings have been detected at the particular frequency. The electronic demand register also comprises a display including an array of LCD segments for continuous simultaneous display of the time and date. The display also includes an array of LCD segments, arranged in a pattern, that are sequentially illuminated corresponding to the rate of rotation of the shutter disk of the pulse initiator.

Growing community of inventors

Brookston, IN, United States of America

William A Szabela