Patent ID: 12187361

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following description of examples or embodiments of the present disclosure, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which it is shown by way of illustration specific examples or embodiments that can be implemented, and in which the same reference numerals and signs can be used to designate the same or like components even when they are shown in different accompanying drawings from one another. Further, in the following description of examples or embodiments of the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and components incorporated herein will be omitted when it is determined that the description may make the subject matter in some embodiments of the present disclosure rather unclear. The terms such as “including”, “having”, “containing”, “constituting” “make up of”, and “formed of” used herein are generally intended to allow other components to be added unless the terms are used with the term “only”. As used herein, singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Terms, such as “first”, “second”, “A”, “B”, “(A)”, or “(B)” may be used herein to describe elements of the disclosure. Each of these terms is not used to define essence, order, sequence, or number of elements etc., but is used merely to distinguish the corresponding element from other elements.

When it is mentioned that a first element “is connected or coupled to”, “contacts or overlaps” etc. a second element, it should be interpreted that, not only can the first element “be directly connected or coupled to” or “directly contact or overlap” the second element, but a third element can also be “interposed” between the first and second elements, or the first and second elements can “be connected or coupled to”, “contact or overlap”, etc. each other via a fourth element. Here, the second element may be included in at least one of two or more elements that “are connected or coupled to”, “contact or overlap”, etc. each other.

When time relative terms, such as “after,” “subsequent to,” “next,” “before,” and the like, are used to describe processes or operations of elements or configurations, or flows or steps in operating, processing, manufacturing methods, these terms may be used to describe non-consecutive or non-sequential processes or operations unless the term “directly” or “immediately” is used together.

In addition, when any dimensions, relative sizes etc. are mentioned, it should be considered that numerical values for an elements or features, or corresponding information (e.g., level, range, etc.) include a tolerance or error range that may be caused by various factors (e.g., process factors, internal or external impact, noise, etc.) even when a relevant description is not specified. Further, the term “may” fully encompasses all the meanings of the term “can”.

FIG.1is an exploded perspective view of a steer-by-wire steering apparatus according to aspects of the present disclosure.FIG.2is a partial cross-sectional view of the steer-by-wire steering apparatus according to aspects of the present disclosure.FIG.3is a partial side view of the steer-by-wire steering apparatus according to aspects of the present disclosure.FIGS.4and7are partial perspective views of the steer-by-wire steering apparatus according to aspects of the present disclosure.FIGS.8and11are partial cross-sectional views of the steer-by-wire steering apparatus according to aspects of the present disclosure.FIGS.12and13are partial perspective views of the steer-by-wire steering apparatus according to aspects of the present disclosure.

The steer-by-wire steering apparatus100according to aspects of the present disclosure includes: a housing101accommodating a sliding bar102being axially slidable, and including a sensor holder105including a long hole106formed to penetrate inner and outer surfaces and axially extend; a rotation preventer110including a supporter111that is inserted into the long hole106, coupled to the sliding bar102, and supported widthwise by the housing101, the supporter111being divided widthwise into two cut portions301such as a first supporter111aand a second supporter111b, and further including an elastic member112located between the first supporter100aand the second supporter111b; and a sensor assembly140including a magnet holder120that is coupled with the rotation preventer110, is slidable together with the rotation preventer110, and accommodates a magnet121, and a sensor130that is coupled to the sensor holder105and detects a position of the magnet121.

Referring toFIG.1, the sliding bar102of the steer-by-wire steering apparatus100according to aspects of the present disclosure can receive a torque from a motor103and axially slide inside of the housing101. Both edges of the sliding bar102are connected to front wheels or rear wheels, and the front wheels or the rear wheels can be steered as the sliding bar102axially slides.

For convenience of description,FIG.1illustrates an embodiment in which a connector connected to a knuckle is coupled to only one of both ends of the sliding bar102.

The torque of the motor103is converted by a power transmitter104so that the sliding bar102can axially slide.

Referring toFIG.2, the power transmitter104may include a motor pulley, a belt, a nut pulley, a ball nut, and the like. Since these components are widely used, discussions on them will be omitted.

That is, if steering related information detected by a torque sensor, an angle sensor, or the like coupled to a steering shaft is transmitted to the motor103, the torque of the motor103can be converted by the power transmitter104to enable the sliding bar102to axially slide.

The sensor assembly140may include the sensor130and the magnet holder120. As the magnet holder120can be guided by a guide portion131of the sensor130and be located to slide together with the sliding bar102, the sensor130can detect a position of the sliding bar102based on a position of the magnet121, and thereby, determine whether the sliding bar102has moved to a set target position by the manipulation of a steering wheel by a driver. Discussions thereon will be conducted in further detail below.

Meanwhile, in order for the sliding bar102to axially slide, it is desired to provide a configuration capable of preventing rotation of the sliding bar102so that the sliding bar102can be circumferentially fixed.

Referring toFIGS.1and3, the housing101may be provided with the sensor holder105including the long hole106formed to penetrate inner and outer surfaces and axially extend. In this case, the rotation preventer110may be coupled to the sliding bar102with being inserted into the long hole106, and include the supporter111supported widthwise by the housing101.

That is, as the supporter111is axially movable in the long hole106with being inserted into the long hole106, and both widthwise side surfaces of the supporter111are supported by the housing101, thereby, the rotation of the sliding bar102coupled with the supporter111can be prevented.

There may be present a gap between the supporter111and the housing101due to assembly tolerance, abrasion of the supporter111, etc. If such a gap is not compensated, there may be generated noises as the supporter111collides with the housing101due to road impact, etc., and in turn, such noises lead the steering feel of the driver to become poor.

As will be described in further detail below, as the magnet holder120is slidable together with the rotation preventer110with being coupled to the rotation preventer110, and the sensor130determines a position of the sliding bar102by detecting a position of the magnet121accommodated in the magnet holder120, if there is present a gap between the supporter111and the housing101, there may arise a problem in which a widthwise movement caused in the supporter111is transmitted to the magnet121, and thereby, the accuracy of the sensor130is degraded.

Therefore, to solve the above problems by compensating for the gap between the supporter111and the housing101, the supporter111may be divided widthwise into two cut portions301, such as the first supporter100aand the second supporter111b, and the rotation preventer110may include an elastic member112located between the first supporter100aand the second supporter111b.

That is, as the elastic member112may be located between the first supporter100aand the second supporter111b, and can elastically support each of the first supporter100aand the second supporter111bwidthwise and outwardly, thereby, such a gap between the supporter111and the housing101can be compensated for.

Referring toFIGS.4to7, the rotation preventer110may further include a coupling member113that is inserted into a first coupling hole401formed in the supporter111and divided into two cut portions301, and a second coupling hole402formed in the sliding bar102. The elastic member112may be located between an outer surface of the coupling member113and an inner surface of the first coupling hole401.

As shown in the figures, the first supporter100aand the second supporter111bmay be formed symmetrically. In this case, the first coupling hole401may be divided into two cut portions301, and the two cut portions301of the first coupling hole401may be formed in the first supporter100aand the second supporter111b, respectively.

The elastic member112may be located inside of the first coupling hole401to be located between the first supporter100aand the second supporter111b, and the coupling member113may be inserted into the first coupling hole401and the second coupling hole402in a situation where the supporter100aand the second supporter111bhave been inserted into the long hole106.

The sliding bar102may be provided with a chamfered portion412for supporting the supporter111, and thereby, the second coupling hole402may be formed in the chamfered portion412.

The coupling member113may be screwed to the second coupling hole402, and the first coupling hole401may include a step portion601in which a head portion of the coupling member113is supported. Thereby, the first supporter100aand the second supporter111bcan be fixed to the sliding bar102in the long hole106.

As shown in the figures, the elastic member112may be located to be supported on an outer surface of the head portion of the coupling member113.

The first coupling hole401may include an inner circumferential groove611into which the elastic member112is inserted, and thereby, the elastic member112can be fixed between the first supporter100aand the second supporter111b.

That is, the inner circumferential groove611may be formed in the portion where the head portion of the coupling member113is supported in the first coupling hole401as shown in the figures. In an embodiment, the elastic member112may include an O-ring.

Further, the first coupling hole401may include two or more first coupling holes401spaced apart from each other, and the second coupling hole402may include two or more second coupling holes402spaced apart from each other. In this case, any of two or more coupling members113may be inserted in any of the two or more first coupling holes401and any of the two or more second coupling holes402, which are aligned. In an embodiment, the two or more first coupling holes401may be axially spaced from each other, and the two or more second coupling holes402may be axially spaced from each other.

In this manner, as each elastic member112elastically supports each first supporter100aand each second supporter111b, which are aligned, widthwise and outwardly, and thereby, leads the supporter111and the housing101to be in close contact, a gap between the supporter111and the housing101caused by assembly tolerance, abrasion, and the like can be compensated for, and the supporter111can be only axially slidable together with the siding bar102without being moved widthwise. Thereby, noises caused by collision, and the like can be reduced, and the accuracy of the sensor130for detecting a position of the magnet holder120coupled to the supporter111can be improved, as shown inFIG.8.

In addition, a first protrusion411may be formed to protrude from a portion or surface of the supporter111supported by, or contacting, the sliding bar102, and the sliding bar102may include a first insertion hole412that is formed to be recessed from a surface thereof and allows the first protrusion411to be inserted, as shown inFIG.9.

In a similar manner to the supporter111, the first protrusion411may also be divided into two cut portions301, and the two cut portions301of the first protrusion411may be formed in the first supporter100aand the second supporter111b, respectively. In this case, as the first supporter100aand the second supporter111bare inserted into the long hole106so that the first protrusion411can be inserted into the first insertion hall412, the assembly of the first supporter100aand the second supporter111bcan be easily performed before the coupling member113attaches the supporter111to the sliding bar102.

Meanwhile, as described above, the sensor assembly140may include the sensor130and the magnet holder120, and the sensor130can detect a position of the sliding bar102. The magnet holder120can accommodate the magnet121and slide together with the rotation preventer110with being coupled to the rotation preventer110, and the sensor130can detect a position of the magnet121with being coupled to the sensor holder105of the housing101.

Referring toFIG.10, the sensor130may be coupled to the sensor holder105and located to face the magnet holder120coupled to the rotation preventer110.

That is, as the sliding bar102axially slides, the rotation preventer110and the magnet holder120can axially slide, and in turn, the sensor130can detect a position of the sliding bar102by detecting a position of the magnet121, and determine whether the sliding of the sliding bar has been accurately performed by the motor103.

A second protrusion901may be formed to protrude from a portion or surface of the magnet holder120facing the rotation preventer110, and the supporter111may include a second insertion hole431that is formed to be recessed from a surface thereof and allows the second protrusion901to be inserted. Thereby, the magnet holder120can be coupled to the rotation preventer110.

An outer surface of the second protrusion901can be formed in a curved surface so that the magnet holder120and the rotation preventer110can rotate relative to each other.

Referring toFIG.11, one surface of the magnet holder120and one surface of the rotation preventer110facing the one surface of the magnet holder120may be spaced apart by a predetermined distance. Thereby, the magnet holder120and the rotation preventer110can rotate relative to each other in a situation where the second protrusion901is inserted into the second insertion hole431.

That is, the sliding bar102may be bent due to road impact or the like, and in order to prevent the accuracy of the sensor130from being degraded due to the movement of the magnet holder120caused by the bending of the sliding bar102, such relative rotation of the magnet holder120and the rotation preventer110can serve to offset the bending of the sliding bar102.

As described in further detail below, the magnet holder120may be coupled to the guide portion131. Thereby, the movement of the magnet holder120caused by the bending of the sliding bar102can be prevented or reduced, and the magnet holder120can only axially slide through the guide of the guide portion131.

As shown in the figures, the second protrusion901may be formed in a substantially spherical shape, include an elastic piece formed to be bendable, and be inserted into the second insertion hole431.

Further, the sensor130may include the guide portion131for guiding the sliding of the magnet holder120. Thereby, the relative rotation of the magnet holder120and the rotation preventer110can enable the bending of the sliding bar102to be offset, and the magnet holder120can be guided by the guide portion131and only axially slide.

Referring toFIG.12, two guide portions131spaced apart widthwise from each other may be formed to protrude from a portion or surface of the sensor130supported by, or contacting, the sensor holder105, and the magnet holder120may be inserted between the guide portions131.

That is, the guide portions131may be formed to axially extend and be supported on both widthwise surfaces of the magnet holder120, respectively, leading the sliding of the magnet holder120to be guided, as shown inFIGS.8and9.

Each of the guide portions131may be axially spaced apart from a portion or surface of the sensor130, and include two protrusions1211that are formed to protrude and a connection portion1212that connects the edges of the protrusions1211.

That is, the connection portion1212is spaced apart from the portion or surface of the sensor130and is supported on both widthwise surfaces of the magnet holder120.

Referring toFIG.13, on both widthwise surfaces of the magnet holder120, a first supporter1201supported by the connection portion1212between one surface of the sensor130and the connection portion1212, and a second supporter1202located on the opposite side of the first supporter1201and supported by the connection portion1212are formed to protrude, and the magnet holder120can be therefore coupled to the sensor130.

That is, as the connection portion1212is located between the first supporter1201and the second supporter1202, the magnet holder120can be guided along the connection portion1212and only axially slide.

The first supporter1201and the second supporter1202may be formed to axially extend, or one or more first supporters1201and one or more second supporters1202may be disposed to be axially spaced apart from each other. Thereby, it is possible to prevent or reduce a movement of the magnet holder120.

FIG.13illustrates the embodiment in which the first supporters1201are axially spaced apart, and the second supporter1202axially extends. Accordingly, the areas of the first supporters1201and the second supporter1202supported by the connection portion1212can be increased, and thereby, the movement of the magnet holder120can be effectively prevented.

In addition, the first supporter1201may be formed to be inclined such that a height of a portion of the first supporter1201facing one surface of the sensor130is relatively low, and a height of a portion of the first supporter1201supported by the connection portion1212is relatively high.

That is, the first supporter1201may be formed in a substantially wedge shape, and thereby, the magnet holder120can be easily inserted between the guide portions131.

Using above described structure, as the magnet holder120is guided by the guide portions131of the sensor130, even when the sliding bar102is bent, such bending can be offset and the degradation of the accuracy of the sensor130can be prevented.

In the steer-by-wire steering apparatuses according to the embodiments herein, it is possible to reduce noise by compensating for a gap caused by abrasion on the rotation preventer for preventing the sliding bar from rotating as the sliding bar connected to a vehicle wheel slides, improve the accuracy of the sensor for detecting a position of the sliding bar, and prevent the degradation of the accuracy of the sensor due to movement or bending of the sliding bar.

The above description has been presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the technical idea of the present disclosure, and has been provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications, additions and substitutions to the described embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The above description and the accompanying drawings provide an example of the technical idea of the present disclosure for illustrative purposes only. That is, the disclosed embodiments are intended to illustrate the scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure. Thus, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the claims. The scope of protection of the present disclosure should be construed based on the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents thereof should be construed as being included within the scope of the present disclosure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

If applicable, this application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C § 119(a) of Patent Application No. 10-2019-0089496, filed on Jul. 24, 2019 in Republic of Korea, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, this non-provisional application claims priorities in countries other than the U.S. for the same reason based on the Korean Patent Application, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.