Camming drive pulley for electric power steering system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11124222-B2
Application number	US-201916582794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2019
Priority date	Sep 25, 2019
Publication date	Sep 21, 2021
Grant date	Sep 21, 2021

Abstract

A power steering system includes a rack housing arranged to receive a longitudinally displaceable rack member. The system also includes an assist cover connected to the rack housing, the rack housing and the assist cover defining a cavity. The system further includes an assist assembly at least partially disposed within the cavity. The assist assembly includes a power pack connected to the rack housing, the power pack having a power pack shaft extending therefrom. The assist assembly also includes a drive pulley coupled to the power pack shaft. The assist assembly further includes a single bearing disposed within a bore defined by the drive pulley. The assist assembly yet further includes a mechanical fastener coupling the drive pulley to the assist cover. The assist assembly also includes a driven pulley disposed about the rack member.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:

1. A power steering system comprising:
a rack housing arranged to receive a longitudinally displaceable rack member;
an assist cover connected to the rack housing, the rack housing and the assist cover defining a cavity; and
an assist assembly at least partially disposed within the cavity, the assist assembly comprising:
a power pack connected to the rack housing, the power pack having a power pack shaft extending therefrom;
a drive pulley coupled to the power pack shaft;
a single bearing disposed within a bore defined by the drive pulley;
a mechanical fastener coupling the drive pulley to the assist cover; and
a driven pulley disposed about the rack member.

2. The power steering system of claim 1 , wherein the bore of the drive pulley includes a central axis and the mechanical fastener includes a fastener axis, wherein the central axis is offset from the fastener axis.

3. The power steering system of claim 2 , wherein the central axis is offset from the fastener axis by at least 0.25 millimeters.

4. The power steering system of claim 1 , wherein the drive pulley is coupled to the power pack shaft with a spline coupling.

5. The power steering system of claim 4 , wherein the drive pulley includes an aperture at an end of the drive pulley with female splines and the power pack shaft includes male splines that engage the female splines of the drive pulley.

6. The power steering system of claim 4 , wherein the drive pulley includes male splines and the power pack shaft includes female splines.

7. The power steering system of claim 1 , wherein the drive pulley is formed of plastic.

8. The power steering system of claim 1 , wherein the drive pulley is formed of metal.

9. A power steering system assist assembly disposed within a cavity defined by a rack housing and an assist cover, the assist assembly comprising:
a power pack connected to the rack housing, the power pack having a power pack shaft extending therefrom;
a drive pulley coupled to the power pack shaft;
a bearing disposed within a bore defined by the drive pulley; and
a mechanical fastener coupling the drive pulley to the assist cover, wherein the bore of the drive pulley includes a central axis and the mechanical fastener includes a fastener axis, wherein the central axis is offset from the fastener axis.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the assembly consists of a single bearing in contact with the drive pulley.

11. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the central axis is offset from the fastener axis by at least 0.25 millimeters.

12. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the drive pulley is coupled to the power pack shaft with a spline coupling.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the drive pulley includes an aperture at an end of the drive pulley with female splines and the power pack shaft includes male splines that engage the female splines of the drive pulley.

14. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the drive pulley includes male splines and the power pack shaft includes female splines.

15. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the drive pulley is formed of plastic.

16. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the drive pulley is formed of metal.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Harris Ryan D

Classifications

• B62D5/0424 Primary

  the axes of motor and final driven element of steering gear, e.g. rack, being parallel · CPC title

• F16H2007/088

  Manual adjustment · CPC title

• B62D3/12

  of rack-and-pinion type · CPC title

• B62D5/0442 Primary

  Conversion of rotational into longitudinal movement · CPC title

• F16H7/10

  by adjusting the axis of a pulley · CPC title