Search Results

A hydraulic-assisted power steering system on a vehicle has a steering pump which is directly driven from the engine continuously. In real world, the assistance from the steering pump is useful only while maneuvering. During a typical highway drive, assistance from this power steering pump remains unused for majority (76%) of the time; although the continuously rotating power steering pump keeps consuming energy from the engine. An electronic controller has been provided for the electro-magnetic pairing device of the power steering pump in order to provide assistance for steering based on driver demand only. The electromagnetic pairing device integrated on the steering pump can be made to engage/disengage based on the driver demand through the electronic controller.

In today's competitive scenario in automotive industry, the customer expectations about refinement levels are becoming independent of the class & cost of the car. Customers directly co-relate the quality of the vehicle to the overall refinement levels. At the same time there are ever increasing & hard pressing demands to achieve refinement targets in minimum possible cost. One of the parameter for vehicle refinement is reduction of BSR (Buzz, Squeak & Rattle). It is observed that after suppressing the mechanical rattles, fluid borne noise surface out. In all fluid borne noise, hydraulic power steering system rattle noise is one of the critical refinement issues, having high ranking on customer irritant list. Noise attenuation cables [1] in power steering hydraulic hose assemblies in pressure & return line is a proven solution to this problem but not a cost effective one.