Patent US4739438A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3983953A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3983953A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Servo mechanism
Assignee: Gemmer France SA
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Filing: 1974-11-22
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Granted: 1976-10-05
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Expires: 1994-11-22
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to improved mechanism systems for controlling and assisting the operating effort of a mechanical member and is especially applicable to automatic assisted steering systems for automobile vehicles. The said servo-mechanism comprises essentially a steering shaft including two coaxial sections, the first section being coupled to a steering wheel for its rotation about the common axis of the two sections, while the second section is coupled to the mechanical member to be servo-controlled, this second section being fixed on an end sleeve which is coaxial and surrounds one part of the first, which is provided with a pin mounted in one of its diametral planes, the wings of said pin being identical and projecting over the same length from each side of the common axis, the second section co-operating with the first by means of the wings of said pin and an elastic member interposed between the pin and the second section. An electric servo-motor has its stator fixed with respect to the support of the mechanism and its rotor co-operates with the rotational drive about its axis of the section of the steering shaft on which the sleeve is fixed, either directly or by means of a member transmitting rotation to said section. A device for converting to electric signals, following a pre-determined law, the value of the angle of relative rotation of the section of the steering-shaft carrying the pin with respect to the section carrying the sleeve, cooperates with the section provided with the pin, and is connected by input terminals to a source of electrical energy and has output terminals connected to the supply terminals of the electric servo-motor. The relative rotation of the two sections of the steering-shaft is measured by an angular displacement detector.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Bayle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:17
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D5/00; B62D5/04; B62D5/0457; B62D5/046; B62D5/0463; B62D6/00; B62D6/08; B62D6/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
A power steering assembly which comprises a steering shaft having first and second coaxial sections, a torsion bar connecting said sections, a steering wheel for manually rotating said first section, diametrically opposed wings projecting laterally from said first section, a sleeve fixed to said second section having diametrically opposed recesses receiving said wings, said recesses being wider than said wings to accommodate limited rotation of said first section relative to said second section through twisting of said torsion bar, said wings abutting the side walls of said recesses to couple the first and second sections for corotation detector, to limit the twisting of said torsion bar, an angular displacement electrical detector converting into an electrical signal angular displacement of said first section relative to said second section proportional to torque applied to the steering wheel, a computer receiving said electrical signal froms aid detector an electric motor driving said second shaft section, electrical contacts on said wings, cooperating electrical contacts on said sleeve, an electrical current circuit including said contacts controlling the direction of rotation of said motor, said contacts being arranged so that said second shaft will be rotated by said motor in the same direction as said first shaft, and said computer controlling current flow in said circuit to vary the current input as a function of the torque applied to the steering wheel whereby rotation of the first and second steering shaft sections controls the power input to said second shaft section and the wings and sleeve provide a direct coupling of the first and second shaft sections when angular displacement thereof exceeds a predetermined degree.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
A power steering assembly which comprises a steering shaft having first and second coaxial sections, a torsion bar connecting said sections, a steering wheel for manually rotating said first section, diametrically opposed wings projecting laterally from said first section, a sleeve fixed to said second section having diametrically opposed recesses receiving said wings, said recesses being wider than said wings to accommodate limited rotation of said first section relative to said second section through twisting of said torsion bar, said wings abutting the side walls of said recesses to couple the first and second sections for corotation detector, to limit the twisting of said torsion bar, an angular displacement electrical detector converting into an electrical signal angular displacement of said first section relative to said second section proportional to torque applied to the steering wheel, a computer receiving said electrical signal froms aid detector an electric motor driving said second shaft section, electrical contacts on said wings, cooperating electrical contacts on said sleeve, an electrical current circuit including said contacts controlling the direction of rotation of said motor, said contacts being arranged so that said second shaft will be rotated by said motor in the same direction as said first shaft, and said computer controlling current flow in said circuit to vary the current input as a function of the torque applied to the steering wheel whereby rotation of the first and second steering shaft sections controls the power input to said second shaft section and the wings and sleeve provide a direct coupling of the first and second shaft sections when angular displacement thereof exceeds a predetermined degree.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The power steering assembly of 1 wherein the annular displacement electrical detector is a potentiometer with a circular track fixed to said sleeve and a slider riding on said track driven by said first shaft section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The power steering assembly of 1 wherein the annular displacement electrical detector is a potentiometer with a circular track fixed to said sleeve and a slider riding on said track driven by said first shaft section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The power steering assembly of claim 2 wherein the potentiometer is electrically connected to the computer by a rotating contact fixed on the second shaft section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The power steering assembly of claim 2 including an automotive vehicle steered by said assembly, a speedometer on said vehicle, and means supplying a signal from the speedometer to the computer as a function of the speed of the vehicle for decreasing the power input to the motor as the speed of the vehicle increases.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The power steering assembly of claim 1 including a clutch between the motor and the second shaft energized by current supplied to the motor and upcoupling the motor and shaft when the motor is not energized so that manual rotation of the second shaft by the first shaft will not be impeded by the motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
285 words
A power steering apparatus for automotive vehicles and the like which comprises first and second coaxial steering shaft sections, a steering wheel on said first section for manually rotating said first section, a torsion bar connecting said first and second sections, lateral wings on said first section, a sleeve member on said second section having recesses freely receiving said wings, said wings being spaced from the walls of said recesses until rotating torque is applied to the steering wheel whereupon the torsion bar will be twisted until the wings engage the sleeve to drive the second section, a reversible electric motor driving said second section, an electrical circuit energizing said motor, electrical contacts in said circuit between one of said wings and opposite sides of the recess receiving said wing to control the direction of current flow to the motor, a potentiometer converting into an electrical signal angular displacement of the first section relative to the second section proportional to torque applied to the steering wheel, a computer receiving said electrical signals from said potentiometer controlling current input to said motor, a second potentiometer driven by the vehicle as a function of the speed of the vehicle and electrically connected to said computer to combine its signal with the signal from the first potentiometer to control the current feed to the motor as a combined function of torque applied to the steering wheel and the speed of the vehicle, an electrical magnetic clutch energized by current supplied to the motor coupling the motor of the second section whereby termination of current supplied to the motor will de-energize the clutch and the first shaft section will rotate the second shaft section without resistance from the motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
285 words
A power steering apparatus for automotive vehicles and the like which comprises first and second coaxial steering shaft sections, a steering wheel on said first section for manually rotating said first section, a torsion bar connecting said first and second sections, lateral wings on said first section, a sleeve member on said second section having recesses freely receiving said wings, said wings being spaced from the walls of said recesses until rotating torque is applied to the steering wheel whereupon the torsion bar will be twisted until the wings engage the sleeve to drive the second section, a reversible electric motor driving said second section, an electrical circuit energizing said motor, electrical contacts in said circuit between one of said wings and opposite sides of the recess receiving said wing to control the direction of current flow to the motor, a potentiometer converting into an electrical signal angular displacement of the first section relative to the second section proportional to torque applied to the steering wheel, a computer receiving said electrical signals from said potentiometer controlling current input to said motor, a second potentiometer driven by the vehicle as a function of the speed of the vehicle and electrically connected to said computer to combine its signal with the signal from the first potentiometer to control the current feed to the motor as a combined function of torque applied to the steering wheel and the speed of the vehicle, an electrical magnetic clutch energized by current supplied to the motor coupling the motor of the second section whereby termination of current supplied to the motor will de-energize the clutch and the first shaft section will rotate the second shaft section without resistance from the motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
134 words
A power steering assembly for a steerable vehicle having a manually operated steering wheel and a dirigible wheel which assembly comprises a rotatable steering shaft located between the manually operated steering wheel and the dirigible wheel, means operatively associated with said shaft for translating a manually applied rotary input into steering motion of said dirigible wheel, electrical motive means operatively associated with said rotatable shaft for applying an assisting torque thereto, means responsive to rotation of said rotatable shaft for actuating said electrical motive means, and further means responsive to vehicle velocity for controlling the magnitude of the assisting torque of said electrical motive means as a continuous function of vehicle velocity so as to decrease the magnitude of the assisting torque supplied by said electrical motive means as velocity of the vehicle increases.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
134 words
A power steering assembly for a steerable vehicle having a manually operated steering wheel and a dirigible wheel which assembly comprises a rotatable steering shaft located between the manually operated steering wheel and the dirigible wheel, means operatively associated with said shaft for translating a manually applied rotary input into steering motion of said dirigible wheel, electrical motive means operatively associated with said rotatable shaft for applying an assisting torque thereto, means responsive to rotation of said rotatable shaft for actuating said electrical motive means, and further means responsive to vehicle velocity for controlling the magnitude of the assisting torque of said electrical motive means as a continuous function of vehicle velocity so as to decrease the magnitude of the assisting torque supplied by said electrical motive means as velocity of the vehicle increases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
150 words
A power steering assembly for a steerable vehicle having a manually operated steering wheel and a dirigible wheel which assembly comprises a rotatable steering shaft located between the manually operated steering wheel and the dirigible wheel, means operatively associated with said shaft for translating a manually applied rotary input into steering motion of said dirigible wheel, electrical motive means operatively associated with said rotatable shaft for applying an assisting torque thereto, and control means responsive to vehicle velocity and to torque applied to said rotatable shaft for controlling the magnitude of the assisting torque of said electrical motive means as a continuous function of said vehicle velocity and said torque applied to said rotatable shaft wherein said control means operated continuously when the vehicle is moving and further wherein said control means serves, for any selected torque input, to decrease the magnitude of the assisting torque as vehicle velocity increases.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
150 words
A power steering assembly for a steerable vehicle having a manually operated steering wheel and a dirigible wheel which assembly comprises a rotatable steering shaft located between the manually operated steering wheel and the dirigible wheel, means operatively associated with said shaft for translating a manually applied rotary input into steering motion of said dirigible wheel, electrical motive means operatively associated with said rotatable shaft for applying an assisting torque thereto, and control means responsive to vehicle velocity and to torque applied to said rotatable shaft for controlling the magnitude of the assisting torque of said electrical motive means as a continuous function of said vehicle velocity and said torque applied to said rotatable shaft wherein said control means operated continuously when the vehicle is moving and further wherein said control means serves, for any selected torque input, to decrease the magnitude of the assisting torque as vehicle velocity increases.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
159 words
A power steering assembly for a steerable vehicle having a manually operated steering wheel and a dirigible wheel which assembly comprises a rotatable steering shaft located between the manually operated steering wheel and the dirigible wheel, means operatively associated with said shaft for translating a manually applied rotary input into steering motion of said dirigible wheel, electrical motive means operatively associated with said rotatable shaft for applying an assisting torque thereto, means responsive to rotation of said rotatable shaft for actuating said electrical motive means, a computer, means feeding a signal to the computer as a function of vehicle velocity, means feeding a singal to the computer as a function of torque applied to the steering wheel, and wherein said computer controls electrical input to the electrical motive means as a function of both said torque applied to said steering wheel and said vehicle velocity so as to thereby control the magnitude of said assisting torque in accordance therewith.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
159 words
A power steering assembly for a steerable vehicle having a manually operated steering wheel and a dirigible wheel which assembly comprises a rotatable steering shaft located between the manually operated steering wheel and the dirigible wheel, means operatively associated with said shaft for translating a manually applied rotary input into steering motion of said dirigible wheel, electrical motive means operatively associated with said rotatable shaft for applying an assisting torque thereto, means responsive to rotation of said rotatable shaft for actuating said electrical motive means, a computer, means feeding a signal to the computer as a function of vehicle velocity, means feeding a singal to the computer as a function of torque applied to the steering wheel, and wherein said computer controls electrical input to the electrical motive means as a function of both said torque applied to said steering wheel and said vehicle velocity so as to thereby control the magnitude of said assisting torque in accordance therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
196 words
A power steering assembly for a steerable vehicle having a manually operated steering wheel and a dirigible wheel which comprises a rotatable steering shaft located between the manually operated steering wheel and the dirigivle wheel, means operatively associated with said shaft for translating a manually applied rotary input into steering motion of said dirigible wheel, electrical motive means operatively associated with said rotatable shaft for applying an assisting torque thereto, further means responsive to vehicle velocity for controlling the magnitude of the assisting torque of said electrical motive means as a function of vehicle velocity including a computer, means responsive to rotation of said rotatable shaft for actuating said electrical motive means, means feeding a signal to the computer as a function of vehicle velocity, and means feeding a singal to the computer as a function of torque applied to the steering wheel wherein said computer controls electrical input to the electrical motive means to maintain a firm variable torque input requirement to the steering wheel, and wherein the computer transmits a reversed signal adding a predetermined resistive torque to the rotatable shaft at high vehicle velocities to provide a firmness of steering at high velocities.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
196 words
A power steering assembly for a steerable vehicle having a manually operated steering wheel and a dirigible wheel which comprises a rotatable steering shaft located between the manually operated steering wheel and the dirigivle wheel, means operatively associated with said shaft for translating a manually applied rotary input into steering motion of said dirigible wheel, electrical motive means operatively associated with said rotatable shaft for applying an assisting torque thereto, further means responsive to vehicle velocity for controlling the magnitude of the assisting torque of said electrical motive means as a function of vehicle velocity including a computer, means responsive to rotation of said rotatable shaft for actuating said electrical motive means, means feeding a signal to the computer as a function of vehicle velocity, and means feeding a singal to the computer as a function of torque applied to the steering wheel wherein said computer controls electrical input to the electrical motive means to maintain a firm variable torque input requirement to the steering wheel, and wherein the computer transmits a reversed signal adding a predetermined resistive torque to the rotatable shaft at high vehicle velocities to provide a firmness of steering at high velocities.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
The power steering assembly of claim 10 and further comprising a electrical clutch between said electrical motive means and said rotatable shaft, said clutch being electrically connected such that said clutch is engaged when said electrical motive means is actuated and is disengaged when said electrical motive means is not actuated, such that said rotatable shaft may rotate freely of said electrical motive means when said electrical motive means is not actuated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
173 words
A power steering assembly for a steerable vehicle having a manually operated steering wheel and a dirigible wheel which assembly comprises a rotatable steering shaft located between the manually operated steering wheel and the dirgible wheel, means operatively associated with said shaft for translating a manually applied rotary input into steering motion of said dirigible wheel, electrical motive means operatively associated with said rotatable shaft for applying an assisting torque thereto, means responsive to rotation of said rotatable shaft for actuating said electrical motive means, further means responsive to vehicle velocity for controlling the magnitude of the assisting torque of said electrical motive means as a function of vehicle velocity, and an electrical clutch between said electrical motive means and said rotatable shaft, said clutch being electrically connected such that said clutch is engaged when said electrical motive means is actuated and is disengaged when said electrical motive means is not actuated, such that said rotatable shaft may rotate freely of said electrical motive means when said electrical motive means is not actuated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
173 words
A power steering assembly for a steerable vehicle having a manually operated steering wheel and a dirigible wheel which assembly comprises a rotatable steering shaft located between the manually operated steering wheel and the dirgible wheel, means operatively associated with said shaft for translating a manually applied rotary input into steering motion of said dirigible wheel, electrical motive means operatively associated with said rotatable shaft for applying an assisting torque thereto, means responsive to rotation of said rotatable shaft for actuating said electrical motive means, further means responsive to vehicle velocity for controlling the magnitude of the assisting torque of said electrical motive means as a function of vehicle velocity, and an electrical clutch between said electrical motive means and said rotatable shaft, said clutch being electrically connected such that said clutch is engaged when said electrical motive means is actuated and is disengaged when said electrical motive means is not actuated, such that said rotatable shaft may rotate freely of said electrical motive means when said electrical motive means is not actuated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
183 words
A power steering assembly for a steerable vehicle having a manually operated steering wheel and a dirigible wheel which assembly comprises a rotatable steering shaft located between the manually operated steering wheel and the dirigible wheel, means operatively associated with said shaft for translating a manually applied rotary input into steering motion of said dirigible wheel, electrical motive means operatively associated with said rotatable shaft for applying an assisting torque thereto, means responsive to rotation of said rotatable shaft for actuating said electrical motive means, and further means responsive to vehicle velocity for controlling the magnitude of the assisting torque of said electrical motive means as a function of vehicle velocity, wherein said rotatable steering shaft comprises first and second coaxial sections and an elastic member connecting said first and second section, said first section being for connection to the manually operated steering wheel and said second section being mechanically coupled to said electrical motive means and wherein said means responsive to rotation of said rotatable shaft comprises means responsive to a predetermined amount of relative rotation of said first and second sections.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
183 words
A power steering assembly for a steerable vehicle having a manually operated steering wheel and a dirigible wheel which assembly comprises a rotatable steering shaft located between the manually operated steering wheel and the dirigible wheel, means operatively associated with said shaft for translating a manually applied rotary input into steering motion of said dirigible wheel, electrical motive means operatively associated with said rotatable shaft for applying an assisting torque thereto, means responsive to rotation of said rotatable shaft for actuating said electrical motive means, and further means responsive to vehicle velocity for controlling the magnitude of the assisting torque of said electrical motive means as a function of vehicle velocity, wherein said rotatable steering shaft comprises first and second coaxial sections and an elastic member connecting said first and second section, said first section being for connection to the manually operated steering wheel and said second section being mechanically coupled to said electrical motive means and wherein said means responsive to rotation of said rotatable shaft comprises means responsive to a predetermined amount of relative rotation of said first and second sections.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The power steering assembly of claim 13 further comprising means associated with said elastic member for adjusting the elasticity of said elastic member, whereby the magnitude of relative rotation of said first and second sections in response to the predetermined torque applied to said first section is adjustable.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
156 words
A power steering asesmbly comprising a steering shaft having a first section for connection to a manual steering wheel, a second section coaxial with said first section and for coupling to means for translating rotation of said second section into steering motion, and an elastic member connecting said first and second sections, limiting means for limiting the maximum relative rotation of said first and second sections to a predetermined angle and for coupling said first and second sections for corotation upon relative angular displacement of said first and second sections by the predetermined angle, electrical motive means for supplying a torque to said second section, means responsive to relative rotation of said first and second sections by the predetermined angle for actuating said electrical motive means, and further means responsive to vehicle velocity for providing a signal indicative thereof, and means for controlling the torque supplied by said electrical motive means in response to said signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
156 words
A power steering asesmbly comprising a steering shaft having a first section for connection to a manual steering wheel, a second section coaxial with said first section and for coupling to means for translating rotation of said second section into steering motion, and an elastic member connecting said first and second sections, limiting means for limiting the maximum relative rotation of said first and second sections to a predetermined angle and for coupling said first and second sections for corotation upon relative angular displacement of said first and second sections by the predetermined angle, electrical motive means for supplying a torque to said second section, means responsive to relative rotation of said first and second sections by the predetermined angle for actuating said electrical motive means, and further means responsive to vehicle velocity for providing a signal indicative thereof, and means for controlling the torque supplied by said electrical motive means in response to said signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
A power steering system according to claim 15 wherein said means for controlling torque comprising a computer, and further comprising means for prividing a signal to said computer indicataive of torque applied to said first section, such that torque supplied by said electricl motive means is a combined function of torque applied to said first section and vehicle velocity.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
The power steering assembly of claim 15 further comprising means associated with said elastic member for adjusting the elasticity of said elastic member, whereby the magnitude of relative rotation of said first and second sections in response to a predetermined torque applied to said first section is adjustable.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
181 words
A power steering assembly comprising a steering shaft having a first section for connection to a manual steering wheel, a second section coaxial with said first section and for coupling to means for translating rotation of said second section into steering motion, and an elastic member connecting said first and second sections, limiting means for limiting relative rotation of said first and second sections to a predetermined angle and for coupling said first and second sections for corotation upon relative angular displacement of said first and second sections by the predetermined angle, electrical motive means for supplying a torque to said second section, means responsive to relative rotation of said first and second sections by the predetermined angle for actuating said electrical motive means, means responsive to torque applied to said first section for controlling the magnitude of torque supplied by said electrical motive means, and means associated with said elastic member for adjusting the elasticity of said elastic member, such that the level of torque applied to said first section to cause actuation of said electrical motive means is selectable.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
181 words
A power steering assembly comprising a steering shaft having a first section for connection to a manual steering wheel, a second section coaxial with said first section and for coupling to means for translating rotation of said second section into steering motion, and an elastic member connecting said first and second sections, limiting means for limiting relative rotation of said first and second sections to a predetermined angle and for coupling said first and second sections for corotation upon relative angular displacement of said first and second sections by the predetermined angle, electrical motive means for supplying a torque to said second section, means responsive to relative rotation of said first and second sections by the predetermined angle for actuating said electrical motive means, means responsive to torque applied to said first section for controlling the magnitude of torque supplied by said electrical motive means, and means associated with said elastic member for adjusting the elasticity of said elastic member, such that the level of torque applied to said first section to cause actuation of said electrical motive means is selectable.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-10-05 | 1980-04-05 | 1980-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-05 | 1984-04-05 | 1984-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-05 | 1988-04-05 | 1988-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |