A method is provided for detecting a reciprocal position between a cylinder and a piston of a piston-cylinder unit of a vehicle. The method includes measuring, by means of an optical sensor, a value of an indicative parameter of a color of a reference mark positioned on a portion of the piston. The method also includes comparing the measured value with at least a predetermined threshold value thereof different to a minimum detected threshold of the indicative parameter by the optical sensor; and emitting an alarm signal perceptible by a driver of a vehicle if the measured value is comprised between the threshold value and the minimum value.

An object of the present invention is to provide a steering apparatus capable of improving a function of a bearing that supports a steering shaft. A steering apparatus includes a steering shaft, a first housing member, a second housing member, and a bearing. The steering shaft rotates according to a rotation of a steering wheel. The first housing member is located on one side in a rotational axial direction of the steering shaft, and includes a cylindrical portion and a flange portion. The cylindrical portion surrounds the steering shaft. The flange portion extends in a radial direction with respect to a rotational axis of the steering shaft to an outer side of the cylindrical portion in the radial direction. The second housing member is provided on the other side in the rotational axial direction, and forms a housing together with the first housing member. The second housing member includes a connection portion and a containing portion. The connection portion is connected to the flange portion of the first housing member. The containing portion contains a part of the steering shaft. The bearing is provided at a position that overlaps the flange portion in the rotational axial direction on an inner peripheral side of the cylindrical portion of the first housing member, and supports the steering shaft.

The present invention relates to a rotary sensor assembly and a rear wheel steering system including the same. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a rotary sensor assembly includes: a rotary sensor subassembly configured to sense a stroke of a driving shaft configured to receive rotating power to move linearly; a sensing guide configured to be moved by receiving a moving force when the driving shaft moves such that the rotary sensor subassembly senses movement of the driving shaft; and fasteners which couple the sensing guide to the driving shaft, wherein the rotary sensor subassembly senses movement of the sensing guide to sense the stroke of the driving shaft when the driving shaft moves.

A steering system for a vehicle includes a steering gear, two knuckles of two steerable wheels, a steering actuator, a plurality of sensors, and a processing unit. The steering gear is connected to a first knuckle of the two knuckles and the steering gear is connected to a second knuckle of the two knuckles. The steering gear is connected to the steering actuator. The sensors are mounted at locations associated with the steering gear. Each of the plurality of sensors is configured to acquire steering system position information. Each of the plurality of sensors are configured to provide acquired steering system information to the processing unit.

Described is a steer-by-wire system with sensor devices, which is an electric power steering system in which a steering assist motor is disposed such that the axis of the steering assist motor is parallel to a rack bar. The system uses an angle sensor in the gear housing to monitor the ball nut angle which provides accurate steer angle information and the required redundancy when used in conjunction with the MPS information. Thus, removing the necessity for the pinion shaft which, in turn, removes the necessity for rack bar preload because there is no interface or required mesh between a pinion shaft and rack bar teeth. Other components within a steer-by-wire system, otherwise necessary, may be similarly removed while utilizing the concepts as described herein.

A steering gear for a steer-by-wire steering system of a motor vehicle has a slide rod which extends in an axial direction (Z) and which has a recirculating ball spindle and a rack with a toothing system, a drive portion which has a belt drive and a ball nut which is coupled to the recirculating ball spindle, a rotary supporting part which is configured to support a torque of the rack, and a sensor device which has a steering angle sensor and a sensor pinion which is coupled to the steering angle sensor. The sensor pinion is in toothed engagement with the toothing system in a portion which is arranged in the axial direction (Z) between a first axial end of the rotary supporting part and an opposite second axial end of the rotary supporting part.

An actuator (1) for a rear axle steering system of a vehicle includes a thrust rod (2) which is longitudinally displaceable within a housing (3). The thrust rod (2) has a rotation lock (4) having a guide element (5) which is guided in the axial direction in a single-part or multi-part slide rail (6) arranged on the housing (3). An elastomer ring (7) is arranged between the slide rail (6) and the housing (3).

A steering system of a motor vehicle comprises a sensor device comprising a rotational angle sensor, which is connected to a toothed wheel and detects a rotation of the toothed wheel is disclosed. The toothed wheel is fitted on a steering tie rod such that it meshes with a spindle thread on the steering tie rod which is part of a ball screw drive of a servo drive of the steering system.

A steering gear apparatus for a steer-by-wire steering system of a motor vehicle has a sliding rod, which has a rack with a toothing, a gear section, which has a worm gear with a worm wheel and a drive pinion extending in an axial direction (A), a motor and a steering angle sensor. The motor is connected here to the drive pinion via the worm gear so as to transmit torque, and the drive pinion is in toothed engagement with the toothing. The steering angle sensor is coupled here to the drive pinion, in particular so as to transmit torque.

A vehicle steering device includes a reaction force device, a drive device, a first ECU configured to control the reaction force device, a second ECU configured to control the drive device, a first rudder angle sensor and a second rudder angle sensor each configured to detect a steering angle of a wheel and output the detected steering angle to the second ECU, and a communication line that transmits at least one of steering angles of the wheel as detected values of the first rudder angle sensor and the second rudder angle sensor from the second ECU to the first ECU.