Power-assist assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11820439-B2
Application number	US-202017123638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2020
Priority date	Dec 16, 2020
Publication date	Nov 21, 2023
Grant date	Nov 21, 2023

Abstract

A power-assist assembly comprising a housing including a drive axle portion extending between a pair of extension sleeve connection ends spaced along a first axis and an input gear portion extending along a second axis transverse to the first axis. A gear assist housing is connected to the input gear portion. A boot assembly connected to at least one of the extension sleeve connection ends. The boot assembly includes an extension sleeve connected to the extension sleeve connection end, a boot sleeve connected to the extension sleeve and spaced from the extension sleeve connection end of the housing by at least a portion of a length of the extension sleeve, and a boot retaining ring connected to the boot sleeve opposite the extension tube.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:

1. A power-assist assembly, comprising:
a housing including a drive axle portion extending between a pair of extension sleeve connection ends spaced along an axis for locating a provided steering rack; and
a boot assembly connected to at least one of the extension sleeve connection ends, the boot assembly comprising:
an extension tube connected to the extension sleeve connection end;
a boot sleeve connected to the extension tube and spaced from the extension sleeve connection end of the housing by at least a portion of a length of the extension tube; and
a boot retaining ring connected to the boot sleeve.

2. The power-assist assembly of claim 1 , wherein the boot assembly further includes a retainer sleeve located at least partially within the boot sleeve and the retainer sleeve includes an interior bushing surface for sliding engagement with the provided steering rack.

3. The power-assist assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least one extension sleeve connection end with the boot defines an opening defined at least partially by an abutment surface and wherein the extension sleeve is located in the opening and abuts the abutment surface.

4. The power-assist assembly of claim 3 , wherein the boot sleeve includes an insertion end and a bushing end that extends radially outwardly from the insertion end, wherein the insertion end is located in the opening and an exterior surface of the bushing end defines a first step for abutment with the extension tube opposite the at least one extension sleeve connection end.

5. The power-assist assembly of claim 4 , wherein the retainer sleeve includes a body portion and a flanged portion extending radially outwardly from the body portion, and wherein the flanged portion limits travel of the provided steering rack along the axis.

6. The power-assist assembly of claim 5 , wherein an interior surface of the boot sleeve defines a groove and the flanged portion is at least partially located within the groove to prevent axial travel along the axis thereof.

7. The power-assist assembly of claim 6 , wherein the interior surface of the boot sleeve further defines a second step in abutment with an end of the body portion of the retainer sleeve along the axis.

8. A method of assembling the power-assist assembly of claim 2 , comprising:
determining a desired rack travel limit of the steering rack;
forming the extension tube length to space the boot sleeve from the at least one extension sleeve connection end of the housing; and
connecting the retainer ring to the the at least one extension sleeve connection end of the boot sleeve at the desired rack travel limit.

9. The power-assist assembly of claim 1 , wherein the boot sleeve further includes a retaining ring groove on the exterior surface and wherein the boot retaining ring is at least partially located in the retaining ring groove for connecting a provided boot to the power-assist assembly.

10. A power-assist assembly, comprising:
a housing including a drive axle portion extending between a pair of extension sleeve connection ends spaced along a first axis for locating a provided steering rack and an input gear portion extending along a second axis for locating a provided input gear; and
a boot assembly connected to at least one of the extension sleeve connection ends, the boot assembly comprising:
an extension tube connected to the extension sleeve connection end;
a boot sleeve connected to the extension tube and spaced from the extension sleeve connection end of the housing by at least a portion of a length of the extension sleeve; and
a boot retaining ring connected to the boot sleeve opposite the extension tube.

11. The power-assist assembly of claim 10 , wherein the power-assist assembly further includes a gear assist housing connected to the input gear portion for locating a provided gear assist assembly.

12. The power-assist assembly of claim 11 , wherein the power-assist assembly further includes a motor housing for locating a provided motor that drives the provided gear assist assembly.

13. The power-assist assembly of claim 12 , wherein the motor housing is connected to the gear assist housing with an adapter plate.

14. The power-assist assembly of claim 13 , wherein the adapter plate includes a plurality of elongated slots that are circumferentially aligned and equally spaced around a circumference, and wherein the gear assist housing includes a plurality of fastener apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures are spaced to align with the plurality of elongated slots.

15. A method of assembling the power-assist assembly of claim 14 , comprising:
connecting the motor housing to the adapter plate;
determining a desired motor orientation between a plurality of available motor orientations between the provided motor and the provided gear assist assembly; and
rotating the motor housing and adapter plate towards the determined motor orientation and aligning the plurality of elongated slots with the fastener apertures adjacent to the desired motor orientation.

16. The power-assist assembly of claim 13 , wherein each one of the plurality of elongated slots extends 45° or less around the circumference.

17. The power-assist assembly of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of elongated slots includes at least four elongated slots.

18. A power-assist assembly, comprising:
a housing including a drive axle portion extending between a pair of extension sleeve connection ends spaced along a first axis and an input gear portion extending along a second axis transverse to the first axis;
a gear assist housing connected to the input gear portion;
a steering rack located in the drive axle portion;
an input gear located in the input gear portion;
gear assist assembly located in the gear assist housing; and
a boot assembly connected to at least one of the extension sleeve connection ends, the boot assembly comprising:
an extension tube connected to the extension sleeve connection end;
a boot sleeve connected to the extension tube and spaced from the extension sleeve connection end of the housing by at least a portion of a length of the extension tube; and
a boot retaining ring connected to the boot sleeve opposite the extension tube.

19. The power-assist assembly of claim 18 , wherein the gear assist housing includes an interior surface defining a plurality of mounting features distributed equally about a circumference and wherein the gear assist assembly includes a plurality of connection features distributed around the circumference equally to the mounting features, when the mounting features and the connection features can be connected in multiple orientations about the circumference.

20. A method of assembling the power-assist assembly of claim 19 , comprising:
determining a desired gear assist assembly orientation with respect to the gear assist housing;
rotating the gear assist assembly towards the desired orientation until the mounting features and the connection features are aligned adjacent to the desired gear assist assembly orientation; and
connecting the mounting features and the connection features.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Kinne Troy M
• Sanderson Rodney M
• Fall Christopher A
• Light Rick A

Classifications

• B62D5/0403 Primary

  characterised by constructional features, e.g. common housing for motor and gear box · CPC title

• B62D3/126

  characterised by the rack · CPC title

• F16H57/02

  Gearboxes; Mounting gearing therein · CPC title

• F16H2057/02034

  Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines · CPC title

• F16H2057/02082

  for application in vehicles other than propelling, e.g. adjustment of parts · CPC title