Ball nut and polymer pulley assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10526006-B2
Application number	US-201715465817-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2017
Priority date	Sep 28, 2012
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

A torque transmitting assembly is provided. The assembly includes a ball nut having an outer diameter and keyway slot therein, and a pulley positioned on the ball nut. The pulley includes a cylindrical outer surface, a bore extending through the pulley such that the pulley includes an inner surface, and at least one torque member formed on the inner surface and projecting radially inward to be received by the keyway slot.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A torque transmitting assembly comprising:
a ball nut having an outer diameter and a keyway slot, the keyway slot being defined by at least two channel portions in an outer surface of the ball nut, the two channel portions being aligned with one another and separate from one another such that the two channel portions do not form a continuous wall; and
a polymer pulley positioned on the ball nut, the pulley having a cylindrical outer surface, a bore extending through the pulley such that the pulley includes an inner surface, a cut-out formed in the inner surface, and at least one torque member formed on the inner surface and projecting radially inward to be received by the keyway slot, wherein the cut-out and the at least one torque member are diametrically opposed on the inner surface; and wherein the ball nut includes a ball guide and a groove at least partially receiving the ball guide, the cut-out providing clearance to and interference and retention of the ball guide when the pulley is coupled to the ball nut, the bore comprising a first section having a first radius and a second section having a second radius, the first radius being greater than the second radius, the pulley pressed onto the ball nut, and the pulley inner surface deforming in the region of the second section when pressed onto the ball nut to present a substantially flat portion along the cylindrical outer surface structured and located to receive a portion of a drive belt thereupon.

2. The torque transmitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pulley is made from glass filled nylon.

3. The torque transmitting assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of teeth circumferentially spaced along the pulley cylindrical outer surface.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Shavrnoch James J
• Strieter Troy P
• Dodak Tony M
• Otto Jeffrey M
• Vorwerck Conrad G

Classifications

• F16H25/2214

  with elements for guiding the circulating balls · CPC title

• B62D5/0448 Primary

  Ball nuts · CPC title

• F16H2025/2081

  Parallel arrangement of drive motor to screw axis · CPC title

• F16H25/2204

  with balls · CPC title

• F16H55/06

  Use of materials; Use of treatments of toothed members or worms to affect their intrinsic material properties · CPC title