Influence of wheel rotation resistance on oscillatory phenomena in steering drive of electric bus with electromechanical amplifier

Abstract

Steering systems with an electromechanical amplifier (EMA) are a modern design solution compared to hydraulic and electro-hydraulic steering systems. Hydraulic steering amplifiers are used in the steering drives of modern trolleybuses and electric buses. If an electric motor powered from the power grid is used to drive the hydraulic pump in trolleybuses, then in electric buses, the source of electrical power is rechargeable batteries. Energy consumption to ensure the operation of the hydraulic power steering reduces the mileage of the electric bus between charging the batteries. Therefore, conducting research and substantiating the possibility of using EMA in electric buses is relevant and has important practical significance. Considering the design features of the electromechanical steering amplifier and the design of the steering axle of the Electron 19101 electric bus, a dynamic model of the drive for turning the controlled wheels of the electric bus was built on the spot. Based on the dynamic model of the drive for turning the controlled wheels of an electric bus with an electromechanical steering amplifier, a mathematical model of the drive and a stimulation model were developed in the MathLab Simulink environment for the study of oscillatory processes in the drive links when the wheels turn on a horizontal plane. The nature of the change of elastic torques in the links of the steering control drive of an electric bus with an electromechanical steering amplifier, the frequency of rotation of the rotor of the electric motor, the current strength in the windings of the rotor and stator of the electric motor, the angle of rotation of the steered wheels as a function of time was studied. It was found that the change in the moment of resistance to the rotation of the steered wheels increases smoothly, and the load on the drive links of the electromechanical power steering depends on the total gear ratio of the drive and its distribution between the gearbox and the steering rack. A decrease in the total transmission ratio of the drive leads to an increase in the speed of rotation of the driven wheels and an increase in elastic moments in the drive links. Transient processes in the electric part of the drive correspond to the characteristics of such electric motors in terms of the nature of the change and do not exceed the permissible values in terms of magnitude. It was established that the power characteristics of the electromechanical steering amplifier with the selected parameters and the electric motor can ensure the control of the wheels of the electric bus following the established requirements.