KR102485023B1 - Torque sensor, torque angle sensor and steering apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a housing; A torque sensor including a torque sensor module disposed inside the housing and including a spherical surface that protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the housing and includes a spherical surface that makes point contact with an external fixture is provided, thereby improving the coupling between the sensor module and the column housing. It provides an advantageous effect to secure liquidity while securing.

Description

Torque sensor, torque angle sensor and steering apparatus including the same {Torque sensor, torque angle sensor and steering apparatus having the same}

The embodiment relates to a torque sensor, a torque angle sensor, and a steering device including the same.

In general, a vehicle controls a driving direction by manipulating a steering wheel connected to a wheel. However, there are cases in which rapid operation is difficult due to a weakening of the operating force when resistance between the wheels and the road surface is high or obstacles to steering occur. To solve this problem, a power steering system (EPS) is used. Such a power steering device is a device that reduces the force of manipulation by intervening a power device in manipulating a steering wheel.

This power steering system (EPS) drives the motor in the electronic control unit according to the operating conditions detected by the vehicle speed sensor, torque angle sensor, and torque sensor to ensure stability in turning and provide quick restoring force to help the driver enable safe driving.

The torque angle sensor can be divided into a torque sensing module and an angle (steering angle) sensing module in terms of function. These sensing modules are included inside the housing. The housing containing the sensing module is installed inside the column housing. At this time, the housing is fixed so as not to rotate inside the color housing. A fixing structure coupled to each other may be provided on an outer circumferential surface of the housing and an inner wall of the column housing. However, the general fixed structure is to secure stability. It is implemented in a form that completely restricts the flow of the housing.

however. When the housing is completely constrained to the column housing, there is a problem in that the assembly with the housing and the column housing is greatly deteriorated, and the performance of the sensor is greatly deteriorated because it is vulnerable to vibration.

Accordingly, an object of the embodiment is to provide a torque sensor, a torque angle sensor, and a steering device including the same that can secure flexibility while securing coupling between a sensor module and a column housing.

The problems to be solved by the embodiments are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

The present invention to be achieved by the above embodiment includes a housing, a torque sensor module disposed inside the housing, and a torque sensor including a fixing portion protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the housing and including a curved surface contacting an external fixture at a point. can provide.

Preferably, the fixing part may include a first clip and a second clip protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the housing so as to face each other to form an accommodation space for the external fixture therebetween.

Preferably, each of the first clip and the second clip may include a tip portion formed at an outer circumferential surface of the housing and a tip portion formed at a front end of the column portion and including the curved surface.

Preferably, the pillar part is elastically deformable, and the first distance, which is the shortest distance between the tip part of the first clip and the tip part of the second clip, is between the pillar part of the first clip and the pillar part of the second clip. It may be smaller than the second distance, which is the shortest distance.

Preferably, the first distance may be smaller than the thickness of the external fixture.

Preferably, the pillar portion may be formed to be inclined with respect to a radial reference line passing through the center of the center hole.

Another invention to be achieved by the above embodiment includes a housing including a center hole, an angle sensor module and a torque sensor module disposed inside the housing, and a curved surface protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the housing and making point contact with an external fixture. It may include a fixing unit that includes.

Preferably, the fixing part may include a first clip and a second clip protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the housing so as to face each other to form an accommodation space for the external fixture therebetween.

Preferably, each of the first clip and the second clip may include a tip portion formed at an outer circumferential surface of the housing and a tip portion formed at a front end of the column portion and including the curved surface.

Preferably, the pillar part is elastically deformable, and the first distance, which is the shortest distance between the tip part of the first clip and the tip part of the second clip, is between the pillar part of the first clip and the pillar part of the second clip. It may be smaller than the second distance, which is the shortest distance.

Preferably, the first distance may be smaller than the thickness of the external fixture.

Preferably, the pillar portion may be formed to be inclined with respect to a radial reference line passing through the center of the center hole.

Another invention to be achieved by the above embodiment includes a column housing including a fixing rib protruding from the inner surface of the inner wall and a housing including a center hole, a torque sensor module and an angle sensor module disposed inside the housing, , It is possible to provide a steering device including a torque angle sensor including a fixing portion protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the housing and including a curved surface that makes point contact with the fixing rib.

Preferably. The fixing rib may include a contact plane contacting the curved surface.

According to the embodiment, a fixing part including a curved surface contacting a fixing rib of the column housing at a point is provided, thereby providing an advantageous effect of securing fluidity while securing coupling between the sensor module and the column housing.

1 is a view showing a torque angle sensor according to an embodiment;
2 is an exploded view of the torque angle sensor shown in FIG. 1;
3 is a view showing a fixing part of a housing;
4 is a view showing a fixing rib of a column housing;
5 is a side view of the housing, showing a fixing part coupled to a fixing rib of the column housing;
6 is a view showing a coupled state of a fixing rib and a fixing part;
7 is a view showing a fixing part.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Objects, specific advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. And the terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to ordinary or dictionary meanings, and the inventor appropriately defines the concept of terms in order to explain his/her invention in the best way. Based on the principle that it can be done, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention. And, in describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related known technologies that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

Terms including ordinal numbers such as second and first may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. These terms are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, a second element may be termed a first element, and similarly, a first element may be termed a second element, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The terms and/or include any combination of a plurality of related recited items or any of a plurality of related recited items.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a torque angle sensor according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the torque angle sensor shown in FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the torque angle sensor according to the embodiment may include a housing 100 , a torque sensor module 200 and an angle sensor module 300 .

The housing 100 may include an upper housing 100A and a lower housing 100B. The angle sensor module 200 and the torque sensor module 300 may be accommodated between the upper housing 100A and the lower housing 100B.

One of the first axis and the second axis defined in the embodiment may be an input shaft connected to a steering wheel of a vehicle, and the other may be an output shaft connected to a wheel of a vehicle.

The torque sensor module 200 detects a magnetic field generated according to the twist of the first axis and the second axis.

The torque sensor module 200 may include a rotor unit 210 connected to the first shaft and a stator unit 220 connected to the second shaft. In the rotor unit 210, a rotor core may be coupled to a first shaft, and a magnet may be attached to an outer circumferential surface of the rotor core. The rotor unit 210 may be rotatably disposed inside the stator unit 200 . The stator unit 220 may be disposed in a form in which two stator rings face each other, and the two stator rings may be accommodated in a holder. Also. The torque sensor module 200 may include a magnetic element for measuring a magnetic field generated between the rotor unit 210 and the stator unit 220 and a collector disposed between the magnetic element and the stator unit.

The angle sensor module 300 may include a main gear 310 that rotates in conjunction with the first shaft or the second shaft, and two sub gears 320 gear-coupled with the main gear 310 . The main gear 310 may rotate integrally with the second shaft. The sub gear 320 rotates according to the rotation of the main gear 310 . At this time, magnets may be mounted on the two sub gears 320 . Devices capable of measuring a magnetic field generated by the rotation of a magnet mounted on a sub-gear may be provided on the printed circuit board, and these devices may be any one of a magnetoresistive element (AMRIC) and a Hall element (Hall IC). there is.

3 is a view showing a fixing part of the housing.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the housing 100 may have a center hole A through which the first shaft and the second shaft are inserted. Also, the fixing part 110 may be provided in a protruding shape on the outer circumferential surface of the housing 100 . The fixing part 110 is a component for coupling with the column housing.

4 is a view showing a fixing rib of a column housing.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 , a fixing rib 21 may protrude from an inner wall of the column housing 20 toward the inside. The fixing rib 21 is fitted into the fixing part 110 . The fixing rib 21 may include a contact plane on the side. Furthermore, the cross section may be implemented in a rectangular shape.

The fixing part 110 may include a first clip 111 and a second clip 112 . The first clip 111 and the second clip 112 are formed to protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the housing 100, respectively. An accommodation space for the fixing rib 21 is formed between the first clip 111 and the second clip 112 . The first clip 111 and the second clip 112 may be formed to be elastically deformable in response to an external force.

5 is a side view of the housing, showing a fixing part coupled to a fixing rib of the column housing.

Referring to FIG. 5, by inserting the fixing rib 21 into the receiving space between the first clip 111 and the second clip 112. The housing 100 may be fixed to the column housing (20 in FIG. 4).

6 is a view showing a coupled state of the fixing rib and the fixing part, and FIG. 7 is a view showing the fixing part.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the fixing rib 21 is fitted into the fixing part 110 . That is, the fixing rib 21 is inserted between the first clip 111 and the second clip 112 . The first clip 111 and the second clip 112 may include actuating parts 111a and 112a and tip parts 111b and 112b, respectively.

The actuating parts 111a and 112a protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the housing 100 . In addition, the tip portions 111b and 112b may be formed at the front ends of the actuating portions 111a and 112a. The actuating parts 111a and 112a may be formed to be elastically deformable. The tip portions 111b and 112b may include a curved surface that makes point contact with the fixing rib 21 . For example, the tip portions 111b and 112b may be spherical or hemispherical in shape to include a spherical surface.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 7 , the shortest distance between the tip portion 111b of the first clip 111 and the tip portion 112b of the second clip 112 is referred to as L1. The shortest distance between the pillar part 111a of the first clip 111 and the pillar part 112 of the second clip 112 is referred to as L2.

At this time, L1 may be formed smaller than the thickness (W in FIG. 5) of the fixing rib 21. And L1 may be formed smaller than L2.

In a state where the fixing rib 21 is sandwiched between the first clip 111 and the second clip 112, the tip portions 111b and 112b come into point contact with the side surface of the fixing rib 21. This is because the tip portions 111b and 112b include a spherical surface.

And since L1 is smaller than the thickness W of the fixed rib 21, the tip portions 111b and 112b elastically press the fixed rib 21.

Meanwhile, the start units 111a and 112a may be inclined so that L1 is smaller than L2. That is, the reference line (P1) representing the longitudinal direction of the moving part (111a) of the first clip (111) is housing 100 to form an inclination angle (R1) with the center line (CL) passing through the center (C) of the housing (100). It may be disposed inclined on the outer circumferential surface of. In addition, the reference line P2 indicating the length direction of the moving part 112a of the second clip 112 is the housing 100 to form an inclination angle R2 with the center line CL passing through the center C of the housing 100. It may be disposed inclined on the outer circumferential surface of.

The starting parts 111a and 112a are configured to be mutually collected toward the tip parts 111b and 112b. When the fixing rib 21 is inserted, the tip portions 111b and 112b open. The configuration of the start parts 111a and 112a has an advantage of increasing resistance to internal stress of the start parts 111a and 112a.

In order to increase structural stability, each of the moving parts 111a and 112a may be formed such that the cross-sectional area increases toward the housing 100 side.

The length of the actuating part (111a) of the first clip (111) and the length of (112a) of the second clip (112) may be formed to be the same. The size of the tip portion 111b of the first clip 111 and the size of the tip portion 112b of the second clip 112 may be formed to be the same. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the length of the movable part 111a of the first clip 111 and the length of the second clip 112 (112a) are changed to correspond to the shape of the fixing rib 21. can be carried out. In addition, the size of the tip portion 111b of the first clip 111 and the size of the tip portion 112b of the second clip 112 may be different.

Since the tips 111b and 112b come into point contact with the fixing rib 21, in a state where the housing 100 is fixed to the fixing rib 21, the housing 100 can move up and down as well as left and right movement. Therefore, the flow direction of the housing 100 has various advantages. The configuration of the fixing part 110 has an advantage of easily absorbing external vibration or shock transmitted to the housing 100 .

The housing 100 has very good assembly with the column housing 20 . Even if the position of the fixing rib 21 formed on the column housing 20 and the position of the fixing part 110 of the housing 100 are not precisely aligned, there is an advantage in assembly.

The above description is merely an example of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications, changes, and substitutions without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. will be. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the accompanying drawings are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention, but to explain, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments and the accompanying drawings. . The protection scope of the present invention should be construed according to the claims below, and all technical ideas within the equivalent range should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

20: column housing
21: fixed rib
100: housing
110: fixing part
111: first clip
112: second clip
200: angle sensor module
210: rotor part
220: stator unit
300: torque sensor module
310: main gear
320: sub gear

Claims (14)

housing;
Including a torque sensor module disposed inside the housing,
A torque sensor comprising a fixing portion protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the housing and including a spherical surface contacting an external fixture at a point. According to claim 1,
The fixing part includes a first clip and a second clip protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the housing so as to face each other to form a receiving space for the external fixture therebetween, and the first clip and the second clip are respectively of the housing. A torque sensor comprising a pillar part on an outer circumferential surface and a tip part formed at a front end of the pillar part and including the spherical surface. According to claim 2,
The tip of the first clip is in point contact with one surface of the external fixture in the form of a protrusion,
The tip of the second clip is in contact with the other surface of the external fixture in the form of a protrusion. According to claim 2,
The column part can be elastically deformed,
The first distance, which is the shortest distance between the tip of the first clip and the tip of the second clip, is smaller than the second distance, which is the shortest distance between the pillar of the first clip and the pillar of the second clip. . According to claim 4,
The first distance is smaller than the thickness of the external fixture. According to claim 3,
The pillar portion is formed to be inclined with respect to a radial reference line passing through the center of the center hole of the housing. A housing including a center hole;
An angle sensor module and a torque sensor module disposed inside the housing,
A torque angle sensor comprising a fixing portion protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the housing and including a spherical surface contacting an external fixture at a point. According to claim 7,
The fixing part includes a first clip and a second clip protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the housing so as to face each other and forming an accommodation space for the external fixture therebetween, the first clip and the second clip, respectively, of the housing. A torque angle sensor comprising a pillar portion on an outer circumferential surface and a tip portion formed at a front end of the pillar portion and including the spherical surface. According to claim 8,
The tip of the first clip is in point contact with one surface of the external fixture in the form of a protrusion,
The tip of the second clip contacts the other surface of the external fixture in the form of a protrusion. According to claim 8,
The column part can be elastically deformed,
A first distance, which is the shortest distance between the tip of the first clip and the tip of the second clip, is a torque angle smaller than the second distance, which is the shortest distance between the pillar of the first clip and the pillar of the second clip. sensor. According to claim 10,
The first distance is formed smaller than the thickness of the external fixture torque angle sensor. According to claim 10,
The pillar portion is formed to be inclined with respect to a radial reference line passing through the center of the center hole. A column housing including a fixing rib protruding from an inner surface of an inner wall; And
A torque angle including a housing including a center hole, a torque sensor module and an angle sensor module disposed inside the housing, and a fixing part including a spherical surface protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the housing and making point contact with the fixing rib. sensor
Steering device comprising a. According to claim 13,
The fixing rib includes a contact plane contacting the spherical surface.

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