Power steering assembly mounts with tapered protrusions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10322750-B2
Application number	US-201715470406-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2017
Priority date	Mar 27, 2017
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

Example power steering assembly mounts with tapered protrusions apparatus disclosed herein include a power steering assembly. The power steering assembly includes a housing. The housing includes a flexible mount and a rigid mount to attach the power steering assembly to a subframe. The rigid mount includes a tapered protrusion to deform the subframe to reduce movement of the rigid mount relative to the subframe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a power steering assembly including a housing, the housing including an internally-threaded flexible mount and an internally-threaded rigid mount, the flexible and rigid mounts configured to attach the power steering assembly to a subframe, the rigid mount including a tapered protrusion configured to deform the subframe to reduce movement of the rigid mount relative to the subframe.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rigid mount includes:
a lobe having an opening;
a first insert positioned in the opening, the first insert including the tapered protrusion; and
a second insert positioned in the opening opposite the first insert.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second insert is spaced apart from the first insert.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second insert is unitary with the lobe.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible mount includes:
a lobe having an opening;
a first insert positioned in the opening;
a first bushing positioned in the opening and around the first insert;
a second insert positioned in the opening opposite the first insert; and
a second bushing positioned in the opening and around the second insert.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the opening has an ovular shape.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tapered protrusion is a first tapered protrusion, and wherein the flexible mount includes a second tapered protrusion.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible mount is located at an end of the power steering assembly adjacent an engine location, the flexible mount configured to reduce engine vibration transmission through the power steering assembly to a driver.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rigid mount is located at an end of the power steering assembly adjacent a steering input location, the flexible mount configured to provide tactile feedback to a driver through the power steering assembly.

10. An apparatus comprising:
a housing of a power steering assembly including an internally-threaded flexible mount located at a first end of the power steering assembly and an internally-threaded rigid mount located at a second end of the power steering assembly opposite the first end, the flexible and rigid mounts configured to attach the power steering assembly to a subframe, the rigid mount including a tapered protrusion configured to enlarge a first opening in the subframe to fix the rigid mount relative to the subframe.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the rigid mount is configured to engage with the subframe via a threaded fastener inserted through the first opening and threaded into the rigid mount, the tapered protrusion configured to deform the subframe when the threaded fastener is tightened.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the flexible mount is configured to engage with the subframe via a threaded fastener inserted through a second opening in the subframe and threaded into the flexible mount.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first opening has a circular shape and the second opening has an ovular shape.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the tapered protrusion is a first tapered protrusion, and wherein the flexible mount includes a second tapered protrusion configured to deform a portion of the subframe surrounding the second opening when the threaded fastener is tightened.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the flexible mount includes:
a lobe having a second opening;
opposing first and second elastomeric bushings positioned in the second opening;
a first insert positioned in the first elastomeric bushing; and
a second insert positioned in the second elastomeric bushing.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the flexible mount is configured to flex relative to the housing to accommodate a manufacturing tolerance of the subframe to reduce stress on the housing.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the rigid mount includes:
a lobe having a second opening; and
opposing first and second inserts positioned in the second opening.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first insert is unitary with the lobe.

19. An apparatus comprising:
a housing of a power steering assembly including:
a steering input end;
an internally-threaded rigid mount located adjacent the steering input end and configured to attach the housing to a vehicle subframe, the rigid mount including a tapered protrusion configured to deform the subframe to reduce sliding movement of the rigid mount relative to the subframe; and
an internally-threaded flexible mount configured to attach the housing to the vehicle subframe.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the flexible mount includes an elastomeric bushing to reduce engine vibration transmission through the housing.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Offerle Timothy
• Dalpiaz John
• Snider Timothy
• Mattern Donald
• Brimmer Matthew

Classifications

• B62D5/00

  Power-assisted or power-driven steering (for non-deflectable wheels B62D11/00; fluid-pressure servomotors in general F15B) · CPC title

• B62D7/226 Primary

  acting on the steering gear · CPC title

• B62D25/00

  Superstructure {or monocoque structure} sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for {(having impact absorbing means B62D21/15; running-boards, steps, or the like as superstructure sub-unit B60R3/00)} · CPC title

• B62D3/12 Primary

  of rack-and-pinion type · CPC title

• B60R2011/0042

  characterised by mounting means · CPC title