METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPERATING A STEERING MECHANISM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND CONTROL UNIT AND STEERING MECHANISM

Abstract

A method for operating a steering mechanism (12) of a motor vehicle, wherein a steering rod (27) can be held or displaced along its longitudinal axis (a) by an electric motor (22) so that the wheel steering angle (8, 9) of at least one wheel (5, 6) on at least one vehicle axle (1) can be maintained or changed. When a force (F.sub.ext) acts essentially axially on the steering rod (27), displacement of the steering rod (27) is at least inhibited by a detent torque (RM) of the electric motor (22) and/or by a self-induced torque (M.sub.sip) of the electric motor. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method and to a steering mechanism, which is preferably in the form of a steer-by-wire steering system. A control unit is provided for carrying out the method.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A method for operating a steering mechanism (12) of a motor vehicle, wherein a steering rod (27) can be held at rest or is displaced along a longitudinal axis (a) by an electric motor (22), so that the wheel steering angle (8, 9) of at least one wheel (5, 6), on at least one vehicle axle (1), can be maintained or changed, the method comprising: coupling the electric motor (22) to the steering rod (27) at least by a movement thread (20), designing the movement thread (20), at least in a retro-drive direction, to have an efficiency that corresponds to slight inhibition, and when a force (F.sub.ext) acts substantially axially on the steering rod (27), at least inhibiting displacement of the steering rod (27) by a detent torque (RM) of the electric motor (22) and/or by a self-induced torque (M.sub.sip) of the electric motor.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising bringing about the self-induced torque (M.sub.sip) by an at least temporary phase short-circuit of phases of the electric motor.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising connecting the phases of the electric motor in such a manner that the phase short-circuit of the phases of the electric motor occurs if there is a fault in the steering mechanism (12) so that the displacement of the steering rod (27) is at least inhibited.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising only switching on the phase short-circuit if a tolerated displacement of the steering rod (27) is exceeded.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising, after permitting a tolerated displacement with initial inhibition, blocking further displacement of the steering rod (27).

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising carrying out the method with a control unit (SG) as a function of parameters of the steering mechanism (12), wherein the parameters include at least one of: the detent torque (RM) of the electric motor (22), the self-induced torque (M.sub.sip) of the electric motor (22) when there is a phase short-circuit, an efficiency of the movement thread (20), the torque produced due to the substantially axial force (F.sub.ext) acting on the steering rod (27), or an instantaneous axial displacement of the steering rod (27).

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising carrying out individual steps, or all the steps of the method, by program code on a computer unit which is part of the control unit (SG), wherein the parameters are determined by suitable sensors and stored by the control unit (SG).

21. A control unit for carrying out a method for operating an actuator (10) or a steering mechanism (12) according to claim 14.

22. A device for operating a steering mechanism (12) of at least one wheel (5, 6) on at least one vehicle axle (1) of a motor vehicle, the device comprising: a steering rod (27), wherein an electric motor (22) is coupled, by way of a movement thread (20), to the steering rod (27) in order to move the steering rod (27) along a longitudinal axis (a), the movement thread has an efficiency that corresponds to at least slight inhibition, when a force (F.sub.ext) acts substantially axially on the steering rod (27), at least an inhibition of displacement of the steering rod (27) is caused by at least one of a detent torque (RM) of the electric motor (22), or by a self-induced torque (M.sub.sip) of the electric motor (22).

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein the steering rod (27) is in a form of a spindle (27g), and a spindle nut (25) is fitted in a fixed position in the device and is coupled to the electric motor (22) so that when the spindle nut (25) rotates, the spindle (27g) is displaced along its longitudinal axis (a).

24. The device according to claim 22, wherein the steering rod (27) is in a form of a rack-bar with which a gearwheel engages, the gearwheel is coupled to the electric motor (22) so that when the gearwheel rotates, the rack-bar is displaced along its longitudinal axis (a).

25. A steering mechanism (12) including the device according to claim 22.

26. A steering mechanism (12) including the device according to claim 23.

27. A steering mechanism (12) including the device according to claim 24.

28. The steering mechanism (12) according to claim 25, wherein the steering mechanism (12) is in a form of a steer-by-wire steering system on a rear axle.

29. The steering mechanism (12) according to claim 26, wherein the steering mechanism (12) is in a form of a steer-by-wire steering system on a rear axle.

30. The steering mechanism (12) according to claim 27, wherein the steering mechanism (12) is in a form of a steer-by-wire steering system on a rear axle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Below, the invention will be described with reference to preferred embodiments relating to the drawings, which show:

[0032] FIG. 1: A schematic view from above, of a rear axle of a vehicle,

[0033] FIG. 2: A schematic view of a device for operating a steering mechanism,

[0034] FIG. 3: A schematic representation of an example embodiment of the invention (method).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] In the schematic representation shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle axle 1 is shown, in this case represented as a rear axle with a subframe 2 which can be fixed to a vehicle body or which forms the latter and is connected to the body of a motor vehicle. However, the invention is not limited to a rear axle. The wheels 5 and 6 are articulated to the subframe 2 by means of control arms 3. The control arms 3 are part of the wheel suspension of the wheels 5, 6. An actuator 10 of a steer-by-wire system 12 is arranged on the subframe 2. The actuator 10 with its housing 21 is attached to the subframe 2. In this embodiment, the actuator 10, as a central actuator, comprises a through-going steering rod 27 which extends through the housing 21 of the actuator 10. The drive motor 22 is arranged axis-parallel to the steering rod 27. To the ends of the steering rod 27 are articulated track-rods 23, which at the ends remote from the actuator 10 are, in each case, articulated to the wheel carriers (not shown) of the wheels 5 and 6. Clearly, an axial displacement of the steering rod 27, i.e., a displacement along the longitudinal axis a in one direction or the other, will result in a change of the wheel steering angle 8, 9, because the track rods form a positive connection between the actuator 10 and the wheel 5, 6 or its wheel carrier. To steer the wheels 5, 6 they are articulated on the wheel suspension 3 about their vertical axis. In other words, the actuator 10 is a device that enables the steering mechanism 12 to be operated.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the actuator 10 already shown in FIG. 1. The actuator 10 comprises a housing 21 on which a drive motor 22 with its parallel axis is arranged. The spindle drive 20, which consists of the spindle nut 25 and the steering rod 27 in the form of a threaded spindle, is arranged in the housing 21. Relative to the housing 21, the spindle nut 25 is arranged in a fixed position but able to rotate by virtue of a roller bearing 29. Passing through the spindle nut 25 and arranged coaxially with it is the threaded spindle 27g. On the side of the side of the spindle nut 25, facing away from the roller bearing 29, a pulley wheel 30 is arranged rotationally fixed on the spindle nut 25. The electric motor 22 has a drive pinion 32. A drive belt 34, in the form of a toothed belt, passes around both the drive pinion 32 and the pulley wheel 30, so that when the electric motor or drive motor 22 rotates, the spindle nut 25 also rotates without slip about its longitudinal axis a. The drive pinion 32, the pulley wheel 30 and the drive belt 34 form an intermediate transmission. Depending on the rotation direction of the spindle nut 25, a linear displacement of the steering rod 27 takes place in one direction or the other along the longitudinal axis a. With a force F.sub.ext acting essentially axially on the steering rod 27, the spindle nut 25 will rotate so that, owing to the said force F.sub.ext, a torque is produced. Thus the electric motor too will rotate with it, and an axial displacement of the steering rod 27 in the retro-drive direction can take place unless measures, according to the invention, oppose that. This is particularly undesirable in the event of a fault, for example when the actuator is de-energized, and that condition can result in uncontrolled wheel steering angle changes.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a possible embodiment of the method for operating a steering mechanism. An electric motor 22 has a detent torque RM and a self-induced torque M.sub.sip. The electric motor or its phases are controlled or switched by a control unit SG. In the control unit, the properties of the electric motor, among other things, are stored in the form of the detent torque RM and the self-induced torque M.sub.sip. If now an external force F.sub.ext acts upon the steering rod 27, then, depending on the efficiency of the movement thread 20 in the retro-drive direction, a torque is produced. This torque acts upon the electric motor 22 directly, or indirectly if an intermediate transmission ZG in the form of a belt transmission is used. If the movement thread 20 consists of a steering rod 27 in the form of a rack-bar and a gearwheel that engages in the rack-bar, which gearwheel is connected to the axle of the electric motor 22, then the torque acts directly on the electric motor 22. This is also the case when the movement thread consists of a threaded spindle 27g surrounded by a spindle nut 25 if the spindle nut 25 is coupled to the axle of the electric motor 22, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0038] Alternatively, the electric motor 22 can be designed as a hollow-shaft motor instead of a coaxial motor, so that in the hollow-shaft motor case the rotor of the electric motor 22 forms the spindle nut 25, such that when it rotates, the spindle 27g moves axially in one direction or the other. If necessary, an anti-rotation device is used so that the spindle itself does not rotate relative to the housing 21. Here an indirect connection, when mentioned, means that the gearwheel or the spindle nut 25 is coupled to the electric motor 22 by way of an intermediate transmission ZG.

[0039] The detent torque of the electric motor 22 provides a counter-torque to the torque produced by the external force F.sub.ext and the movement thread 20, if necessary with interposition of the intermediate transmission. So long as the torque produced by the movement thread is higher than the detent torque of the electric motor 22, a displacement of the steering rod is inhibited or blocked. If there is a phase short-circuit in the phases of the electric motor, for example, switched in by the control unit SG in the event of a fault, then when the detent torque RM is exceeded the axle of the electric motor 22 begins to rotate and a self-induced torque M.sub.sip is produced. Thus, if the detent torque RM is overcome by the counter-torque in the retro-drive direction produced by the movement thread 20 owing to the external force F.sub.ext, then as soon as the axle of the electric motor begins to rotate, the self-induced torque M.sub.sip builds up and inhibits or blocks the displacement of the steering rod 27. Advantageously therefore, when the external force F.sub.ext is exerted, the axial displacement of the steering rod 27 is immediately inhibited or blocked. In this, the manner or extent of the inhibition can be controlled by the control unit by temporarily switching in the phase short-circuit or by means of resistances (FET).

INDEXES

[0040] 1 Vehicle axle [0041] 2 Subframe, vehicle body [0042] 3 Control arm, wheel suspension [0043] 5 Wheel [0044] 6 Wheel [0045] 8 Wheel steering angle [0046] 9 Wheel steering angle [0047] 10 Actuator [0048] 12 Steering mechanism [0049] 20 Movement thread [0050] 21 Housing [0051] 22 Drive motor, electric motor [0052] 23 Track rod [0053] 25 Spindle nut [0054] 26 Internal thread [0055] 27 Steering rod [0056] 27g Threaded spindle, spindle [0057] 29 Roller bearing [0058] 30 Pulley wheel [0059] 32 Drive pinion [0060] 34 (Toothed) belt [0061] a Longitudinal axis [0062] SG Control unit