US 12,065,199 B2
User interface actuator for a pilot-by-wire system
Luca Donetti, Turin (IT); Franco Lambertino, Turin (IT); and Fortunato Pepe, Utrecht (NL)
Assigned to Aktiebolaget SKF, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed by Aktiebolaget SKF, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed on Aug. 7, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/987,882.
Application 16/987,882 is a continuation of application No. 14/951,497, filed on Nov. 25, 2015, abandoned.
Claims priority of application No. TO2014A000995 (IT), filed on Nov. 28, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2021/0009191 A1, Jan. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. B62D 5/00 (2006.01); B62D 5/04 (2006.01); B62D 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 5/006 (2013.01) [B62D 5/049 (2013.01); B62D 15/0215 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A user interface actuator for a pilot-by-wire system, the user interface actuator comprising:
a rotary electric motor having an output shaft suitable to be connected to a rotating user interface;
a first angular sensor configured to detect in direct drive the number of revolutions of the output shaft, the output shaft having an axial end portion;
a second angular sensor, which is redundant with respect to the first angular sensor;
wherein the first angular sensor and the second angular sensor are absolute angular sensors, the second angular sensor being located on the axial end portion of the output shaft of the rotary electric motor;
a casing containing the rotary electric motor, the first angular sensor, and the second angular sensor, the casing comprising a body;
a transmission having a non-unitary gear ratio and connected to the rotary electric motor, the first angular sensor and the second angular sensor being connected to each other by the transmission and coupled according to the non-unitary gear ratio,; the transmission being suitable to connect the rotary electric motor to the rotating user interface in a rotational manner, in that the transmission comprises an endless flexible member;
a steering column engaged with the endless flexible member, the steering column having first and second steering column axial ends which each extend outside of the casing;
a bearing supporting the steering column, the first angular sensor being integrated into the bearing, an outer surface of the bearing abutting the casing; and
an electronic control unit programmed to detect a deviation from the non-unitary gear ratio of the first and second angular sensors and generate a signal when the deviation is above a threshold, and wherein
the first angular sensor is positioned on the steering column at an axial side of the transmission opposite to an end of the steering column configured to engage the user interface.