US-12617453-B2 - Steer by wire type steering apparatus

US12617453B2US 12617453 B2US12617453 B2US 12617453B2US-12617453-B2

Abstract

A steer by wire type steering apparatus according to the present embodiments comprises a rotating shaft that rotates in conjunction with a steering shaft, a housing provided with a ball seating portion at one end and a ball is coupled and supported between the ball seating portion and an inner circumferential surface of the rotating shaft, a support member disposed inside the housing and provided with a protruding support portion for supporting the ball to one side in a circumferential direction while protruding in an axial direction, a ball support elastic member coupled to the housing and elastically supporting the ball to another side in the circumferential direction, and an actuator for moving the support member in the axial direction.

Inventors

Seong Moo Heo

Assignees

HL MANDO CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220926
Priority Date: 20210930

Claims (20)

1 . A steer by wire type steering apparatus comprising: a rotating shaft that rotates in conjunction with a steering shaft; a housing provided with a ball seating portion at one end and a ball is coupled and supported between the ball seating portion and an inner circumferential surface of the rotating shaft; a support member disposed inside the housing and provided with a protruding support portion for supporting the ball to one side in a circumferential direction while protruding in an axial direction; a ball support elastic member coupled to the housing and elastically supporting the ball to another side in the circumferential direction; and an actuator for moving the support member in the axial direction.
2 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protruding support portion is formed in a wedge shape in which a surface supporting the ball is inclined in the axial direction and gradually decreases in thickness toward an end in the axial direction.
3 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protruding support portion is provided with two or more protruding support portions spaced apart in the circumferential direction, each of the two or more protruding support portions supports the ball in the circumferential direction.
4 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ball seating portion comprises: a connection portion connecting one side and another side of an inner circumferential surface opposite to the housing; and a supporting end protruding in both radial directions from a center of the connection portion and spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface of the rotating shaft.
5 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the connection portion and the supporting end protrude in the axial direction from an end of the housing, are formed on a same plane, and are disposed to face the inner circumferential surface of the rotating shaft.
6 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 5 , wherein an opening opened in the axial direction is formed between the inner circumferential surface of the housing and the ball seating portion.
7 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the protruding support portion is disposed between the inner circumferential surface of the rotating shaft and the opening.
8 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the supporting end is formed in an arc shape in which a radius of curvature increases from a center of an outer circumferential surface toward the connection portion on both sides.
9 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a distance from the center of the outer circumferential surface of the supporting end to the inner circumferential surface of the rotating shaft is smaller than a diameter of the ball.
10 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a seating groove is formed in the center of the outer circumferential surface of the supporting end, and the ball support elastic member is coupled to the seating groove so that both ends of the ball support elastic member elastically support the ball on both sides in the circumferential direction to closely contact the protruding support portion.
11 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the seating groove is formed so that a lower side of the supporting end in the axial direction is open and an upper side of the supporting end is blocked.
12 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the ball support elastic member comprises: an insertion portion coupled to the seating groove; a bent portion bent to both sides in the circumferential direction at the insertion portion; and a ball contact portion bent toward an inner circumferential surface of the support member in the bent portion to surround an outer circumferential surface of the ball.
13 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a fixing groove is formed on a lower side of the supporting end, and a fixing member for preventing separation of the ball support elastic member is coupled to the fixing groove.
14 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a guide portion formed in the axial direction is provided below the supporting end, and a through hole through which the guide portion passes is provided in the fixing member.
15 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 14 , wherein an axial support member for elastically supporting between the fixing member and the support member in the axial direction is inserted into the guide portion and coupled thereto.
16 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 14 , wherein an insertion groove into which the guide portion is inserted is provided at a center of the support member.
17 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a cover member coupled to the housing is provided between the support member and the actuator.
18 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the cover member is provided with an insertion end inserted into the housing on a surface opposite to the support member, and a coupling groove into which the actuator is inserted is provided on a surface opposite to the actuator.
19 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the cover member is provided with a communication hole passing through the insertion end and the coupling groove in a central portion, and an operation rod of the actuator supports the support member in the axial direction through the communication hole.
20 . The steer by wire type steering apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: an angle sensor for detecting a rotation angle of the a steering wheel; and an electronic control device for controlling whether to operate the actuator by comparing the rotation angle of the steering wheel transmitted from the angle sensor with a preset angle.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit and priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0129437, filed on Sep. 30, 2021 in the Republic of Korea, the entire contents of all these applications being hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference into the present application. BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a steer by wire type steering apparatus, and more particularly, to a steer by wire type steering apparatus capable of mechanically stopping the steering wheel from rotating further when the rotation of the vehicle wheel reaches its maximum point and to a steer by wire type steering apparatus capable of providing steering reaction force even when an error occurs in a motor or electronic control device. Description of the Related Art In general, power steering has been developed and applied to a vehicle steering apparatus to provide convenience in driving operation by assisting a driver's operating force of a steering wheel. Power steering was developed and applied in hydraulic type using hydraulic pressure, electro-hydraulic type using hydraulic pressure and electric power of the motor at the same time, and electric type using only electric power of the motor. Recently, instead of removing a mechanical connection device such as a steering column or a universal joint or a pinion shaft between the steering wheel and the vehicle wheel, the Steer By Wire (SBW) type steering apparatus for steering a vehicle using an electric motor has been developed and applied. However, in the case of such a steer by wire type steering system, since there is no mechanical connection between the steering shaft and the vehicle wheels, the driver's steering wheel rotation can rotate indefinitely, thereby reducing the driver's steering feeling and steering stability. In addition, in the steer by wire type steering system, when a malfunction or inability of a motor or an electronic control device occurs, a steering reaction force cannot be generated, thereby deteriorating the driver's steering feel and steering stability. Therefore, when the rotation of the vehicle wheel reaches its maximum point (when the steering wheel or the vehicle wheel is in a full-turn state in a general steering system) , there is a need for research to prevent the steering wheel from rotating any more. Even if an error occurs in the motor or electronic control device, the need for research to prevent the driver's steering feeling and steering stability from being deteriorated is emerging. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLSOURE Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a steer by wire type steering apparatus capable of increasing a driver's steering feel and steering stability by preventing the steering wheel from mechanically rotating any more when the rotation of the vehicle wheel reaches the maximum point. And embodiments of the present disclosure provide a steer by wire type steering apparatus capable of increasing a driver's steering feel and steering stability by generating a physical steering reaction force even if a motor or electronic control device malfunctions or fails. In addition, the purpose of the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and other objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. A steer by wire type steering apparatus according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise a rotating shaft that rotates in conjunction with a steering shaft, a housing provided with a ball seating portion at one end and a ball is coupled and supported between the ball seating portion and an inner circumferential surface of the rotating shaft, a support member disposed inside the housing and provided with a protruding support portion for supporting the ball to one side in a circumferential direction while protruding in an axial direction, a ball support elastic member coupled to the housing and elastically supporting the ball to another side in the circumferential direction, and an actuator for moving the support member in the axial direction. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a steer by wire type steering apparatus that increases a driver's steering feel and steering safety by preventing the steering wheel from mechanically rotating any more when the rotation of the vehicle wheel reaches the maximum point. In addition, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a steer by wire type steering apparatus that increases a driver's steering feel and steering stability by generating a physical steering reaction force even if a motor or electronic control device malfunctions or fails. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,