Power Steering

What is Power steering?

A power steering is a system used in almost all vehicles now. The first one was invented in 1876. It came to be used commonly in vehicles in the 1950s. Its main purpose is to assist the driver in turning the front wheels. Although people may be able to turn the wheels of a small car easily without a power steering, but imagine the turning a truck’s or bus’ wheels! They are a lot harder to turn and require a lot of force. The power steering provides most of the force and the driver is required to insert less force.

How a power steering works?

All power steering systems have a way of producing force to turning the wheels. This may be a hydraulic cylinder or an electric motor. The power source is attached to a computer which turns the motor on or off. The system can be programmed to give artificial feedback generated by the forces acting on the wheels.

In the hydraulic system, an engine driven pump is used. When the driver turns the steering wheel the pump is triggered and it presses the liquid through valves. A rotary valve detects the driver exerting force on the wheel. The force generated by the liquid is used to turn the wheels through the steering gear.

In electric power steering systems, a computer module checks the level of steering done by the driver and then controls a motor relatively. The main advantage electric system have over hydraulic is that in hydraulic systems the pump is constantly activated whether or not the driver is steering. The electric motor is only working at steering times. In both systems the mechanical steering can be used in case of a system disorder. In electric power steering the ratio of the steering gets adjusted automatically e.g. low at high speeds and high at slow speeds.