Electro-hydraulic power steering apparatus for environment-friendly vehicle and method of controlling the same

摘要

An electro-hydraulic power steering apparatus for an environment-friendly vehicle and a method of controlling the same is provided. In particular, a gear box assists in a steering force of a steering wheel, and a reservoir tank stores hydraulic oil therein. An electro-hydraulic power pump pumps the hydraulic oil via an electric motor to supply the hydraulic oil to the gear box. A first valve is mounted to a hydraulic line through which the hydraulic oil flows from the electro-hydraulic power pump to the gear box, and a second valve is mounted to a hydraulic line through which the hydraulic oil returns from the gear box to the reservoir tank.

主权项

1. A method of controlling an electro-hydraulic power steering apparatus for an environment-friendly vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
determining, by a controller, whether a steering angle of a steering wheel has been turned at or beyond a particular angle; in response to determining that the steering angle is at or beyond the particular angle, determining, by the controller, whether the steering angle has changed within a particular time period; controlling, by the controller, a first valve mounted within a hydraulic oil line through which hydraulic oil flows from an electro-hydraulic power pump to a gear box and a second valve mounted to a hydraulic line through which the hydraulic oil returns from the gear box to a reservoir tank to be closed, when the steering angle has not changed within the particular time period; turning off, by the controller, the electro-hydraulic power pump together with controlling the first valve and the second valve to be closed; and controlling the first valve and the second valve to be opened when the steering angle has changed.