Contents
Power steering System introduction?
In this article, we will discuss what is Power steering system, its important components, types, works, and advantages.
Before we know about the Power steering system, we will share some information about Steering System.
A steering system is a very important part of any automotive vehicle. Without a steering system driving the vehicle is impossible. Steering systems help to control vehicles in extreme road conditions.
What is the Power Steering System?
The Power Steering System minimizes the effort for the driver to turn the steering wheel. Through power steering, you can easily operate the steering wheel and safely drive a vehicle.
Without steering, driving the car is very hard especially for parking, turning in a 90-degree corner in the city, and in a crowded gas station.
The first time this system installed in the Chrysler Imperial car in 1951.
Important Components
There are different parts to the steering system.
Steering Mechanism
There is Rack and Pinion in the steering mechanism. The rotation of the steering wheel provides transverse motion of wheels via a set of constantly meshed worm gears called rack and it provides transverse motion, and the pinion provides rotational motion.
The rack and pinion generate the movement to the front wheel for turning.
Power Device
The device is connected with the pinion of the rack and the pinion mechanism. It is used to multiple steering wheel forces in order to minimize steering efforts. There are three types of power devices hydraulic, hybrid, and electric.
Steering Wheel
The steering wheel is one of the most important parts of the steering system. It primarily controls the direction of the vehicle. When the driver moves the steering wheel, it makes a swiveling movement to the vehicle’s front wheels.
Power Steering Pump
It provides high pressures hydraulic fluid which helps turn the steering wheel easily for the driver.
Linkages
Linkages are mechanical constraints that provide relative motion between parts and used in this steering system. It is the tie-roads that connect the rack to the knuckle of the wheel for transfer the transverse motion of the rack to the wheels.
Types of Power Steering System
This system has 3 types
1. Hydraulic Power Steering System
The hydraulic power steering system has a hydraulic pump driven by the engine and hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic system used to multiply the steering wheel input force which minimizes the efforts required to drive the front wheel of the vehicle.
2. Electronic power steering system
It is the latest type of power system and today almost all car has electronic power steering system.
In this system, the hydraulic power steering system is changing with new electric motors and sensors, driven by the vehicle battery.
It is work to apply force on the steering gear and the torque is provided by the motor. The torque generated through the motor is controlled by the sensors which detect the position of the steering column.
3. Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering System (Hybrid)
The Electro-Hydraulic power steering system has hydraulic and electrical types of the power steering system.
How does Power Steering System work?
1. Hydraulic Power Steering System
The high pressurized hydraulic fluid is used in this hydraulic cylinder which applied pressure on the steering gear.
This hydraulic force is generated by a series of parts includes a hydraulic cylinder, compressed fluid, rotator hydraulic pump, hydraulic lines, highly and coupling mechanism. This couple the hydraulic system with a rack of the steering system.
- When the driver moves the steering wheel, the hydraulic pump driven by the engine starts to pumping and highly pressurized fluid passes through the lines
- The hydraulic pressure generated through the pump enters into a hydraulic cylinder, which applies pressure to the cylinder piston
- Then the high-pressure piston moves from one and to another which pushes further fluid through lines.
- The high-pressure fluid applies pressure on the pinion by a coupling mechanism. This applies high-pressure to rack gear made by the movement of the steering.
2. Electronic power steering system
This is the latest steering system. There are electric motors and sensors, which get power from the vehicle’s battery.
- When the driver moves the steering wheel, which is observed by the steering column. That connects with the electric sensors and this sends to the electric control unit of the vehicles.
- The ECU analyzes these inputs and forwards the command to the electric motor. Which is at the end of a steering column and its gear connects with the pinion gear.
- When the voltage signals sent by ECU, the motor starts and it provides particular torque according to voltage signals.
- After that gear is starting to connect with the pinion gear which transmits the torque to the pinion gear. And this applies the torque to the rack.
- This torque applied through pinion over the rack, then rack moves which in turn steer the front wheels as per requirement.
3. Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering System (Hybrid)
We will already discuss the Electro-Hydraulic power steering system. It is a combination of hydraulic and electrical types of steering systems.
The system has a hydraulic pump that is drive by an engine. But here it is drive by an electric pump that makes it more reliable. This is the only difference. Also, the hybrid system works the same as a hydraulic power steering system.
Advantages
- It is easy to operate and reduces the effort for the driver to turn the steering wheel.
- This steering system has a better return ability, also, it reduces steering wheel vibration
- This steering system has a quick response which minimizes the accidents
- Without power steering, turn car steering below the speed of 40km/hr is very hard, but through this system, it is very easy and reduces driver fatigue while the long drive
Also, we will discuss the power steering system important components, its types, and advantage.
