Reducer of electric power steering apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148712-B2
Application number	US-201816037409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2018
Priority date	Dec 19, 2017
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a reducer of an electric power steering apparatus. The present embodiments provide a reducer of an electric power steering apparatus, comprising: a first bearing configured to be coupled to one end of the worm shaft on one side where a motor shaft is connected, among both ends of the worm shaft; a second bearing configured to be coupled to the opposite end of the worm shaft; a plug bolt configured to have a seating groove formed on a support surface for axially supporting the first bearing and configured to have an outer circumferential surface coupled to a gear housing; and a damper configured to support an end of the first bearing and configured to be coupled to the seating groove of the plug bolt.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reducer of an electric power steering apparatus, comprising:
a first bearing configured to be coupled to one end of a worm shaft on one side where a motor shaft is connected, among both ends of the worm shaft;
a second bearing configured to be coupled to the opposite end of the worm shaft;
a plug bolt having a seating groove on a support surface for axially supporting the first bearing, the plug bolt having an outer circumferential surface coupled to a gear housing; and
a damper configured to support an end of the first bearing and configured to be coupled to the seating groove of the plug bolt,
wherein the damper includes:
a first support portion for supporting an outer wheel of the first bearing and having a protrusion protruding so as to extend through and supported by the second support portion;
a second support portion extending in an axial direction from an end of the first support portion so as to be inserted into the seating groove; and
a support protrusion protruding from an end of the second support portion in the axial direction.

2. The reducer of claim 1 , wherein the second support portion has a radial thickness increasing from an end of the second support portion to the first support portion.

3. The reducer of claim 1 , wherein the seating groove has:
a first seating groove in which an end of the first support portion is seated; and
a second seating groove into which the second support portion and the support protrusion extend.

4. The reducer of claim 3 , wherein the second seating groove has a tapered portion in which the width in a radial direction increases from an inner end of the second seating groove to the first seating groove.

5. The reducer of claim 3 , wherein the first support portion and the first seating groove are spaced apart from each other by a gap of 0.3 mm to 1 mm in the state in which the damper is assembled.

6. The reducer of claim 1 , wherein the damper is disposed at a position spaced from an inner circumferential surface of the gear housing in the axial and radial directions.

7. The reducer of claim 1 , wherein the gear housing has a first step portion on an inner surface of the gear housing near the one end of the worm shaft, and
wherein the outer wheel of the first bearing and the first step portion are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction.

8. The reducer of claim 7 , wherein the gear housing has a second step portion provided on an inner surface of the gear housing near the opposite end of the worm shaft, and
wherein the outer wheel of the second bearing and the second step portion are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction.

9. The reducer of claim 1 , wherein the first support portion includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyacetal (POM), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

10. The reducer of claim 1 , wherein the second support portion and the support protrusion include at least one material selected from the group consisting of NR (Natural Rubber), BR (Butadiene Rubber), NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber), CR (Chloroprene Rubber), EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber), SBR (Styrene Butadine Rubber), CSM (Chlorosulphonated Polyethylene), fluorine rubber, silicone, urethane, and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

Assignees

• Mando Corp

Inventors

• Oh Jin Seok

Classifications

• F16F1/445

  the spring material being contained in a generally closed space (F16F1/393 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D5/0409 Primary

  Electric motor acting on the steering column · CPC title

• B62D7/224 Primary

  acting between the steering wheel and the steering gear, e.g. on the steering column · CPC title

• B62D5/0454 Primary

  Worm gears · CPC title