Magnetic Power Steering Assist System - MAGNASTEER

All commonly used speed sensitive power steering assist systems for cars are based on hydraulics. These systems change the pressure or modulate the flow of the conventional hydraulic power steering system. They require some means of actuation in the form of an electromagnetic device such as a solenoid actuator working as a flow or pressure regulator or brushless motor driving a hydraulic pump. Usually they are pulse width modulated controlled by a microprocessor. Therefore, these systems can be quite complicated.

This paper describes MAGNASTEER, a novel magnetic speed sensitive system developed at Saginaw Division in cooperation with the NAO Research and Development Center, which is an add on to the basic hydraulic power steering system. The effort variation provided by MAGNASTEER is the result of an electronically controlled electromagnetic torque, which acts as an addition or subtraction to the torsion bar torsional rate, effectively varying the feel of the hydraulic system. Unlike some other variable effort speed-dependent systems based on hydraulics, the MAGNASTEER system doesn't require additional components such as sensors, hydraulic pump controls, or additional hydraulic plumbing. This simple and highly reliable system doesn't interfere with the existing hydraulics, and is fully integrated into the system.