Power steering apparatus for vehicle and method of producing the same

摘要

A power steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a column shaft, a column pipe rotatably supporting the column shaft through a plurality of bearings, and a torque sensor for detecting torque generated on the column shaft by using magnetism. The column pipe is composed of a steel pipe. The torque sensor includes a magnetically variable portion and a magnetic change detector. The magnetically variable portion is disposed on the column shaft and has a magnetic permeability that varies with the torque generated on the column shaft. The magnetic change detector is configured to detect a change in the magnetism of the magnetically variable portion. The magnetic change detector is attached to the column pipe by being inserted in an axial direction through an opening at an axial end of the column pipe.

主权项

1. A power steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
a steering wheel; a column shaft connected to the steering wheel; a column pipe having an opening at a lower axial end thereof and rotatably supporting the column shaft through a plurality of bearings at locations axially apart from one another, the column pipe being a steel pipe; and a torque sensor which comprises,
a magnetostrictive portion disposed on the column shaft in such a manner that a magnetic permeability of the magnetostrictive portion varies in response to a torque generated on the column shaft, anda detector configured to detect a change in the magnetic permeability of the magnetostrictive portion, the detector being provided to an inside of the column pipe by being inserted into the opening of the column pipe at the lower axial end thereof, the detector being located between the plurality of bearings such that at least one of the bearings is provided at a side of the opening of the column pipe, wherein the first shaft is a cylindrical hollow shaft, and the second shaft is a solid shaft.