Electric powered recirculating ball assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11952056-B2
Application number	US-202117219158-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2021
Priority date	Apr 2, 2020
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

An electric powered recirculating ball assembly includes a steering rack. The electric powered recirculating ball assembly also includes a steering gear housing. The electric powered recirculating ball assembly further includes a plurality of rolling elements operatively coupled to the steering rack and in contact with mating geometry of a component operatively coupled to, or integrally formed with, the steering gear housing.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:

1. An electric powered recirculating ball assembly comprising:
a steering rack;
a steering gear housing; and
a plurality of rolling elements operatively coupled to the steering rack and in contact with mating geometry of a component operatively coupled to, or integrally formed with, the steering gear housing, wherein the plurality of rolling elements are operatively coupled to the steering rack with a pin extending through the steering rack.

2. The electric power recirculating ball assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rolling elements is disposed on a first side of the steering rack and at least one of the rolling elements is disposed on a second side of the steering rack.

3. The electric power recirculating ball assembly of claim 2 , wherein the steering rack is slideable along the pin between the rolling element(s) on the first side of the steering rack and the rolling element(s) on the second side of the steering rack.

4. The electric power recirculating ball assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rolling elements are wheels or bearings.

5. The electric power recirculating ball assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a ball nut located adjacent the steering rack, wherein the ball nut is moveable relative to the steering rack.

6. The electric power recirculating ball assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a sector gear in meshed engagement with the steering rack, wherein the ball nut is moveable toward and away from the sector gear.

7. An electric powered recirculating ball assembly comprising:
a steering rack;
a plurality of rolling elements operatively coupled to the steering rack; and
a ball nut located adjacent the steering rack, wherein the ball nut is moveable relative to the steering rack, wherein the plurality of rolling elements are operatively coupled to the steering rack with a pin extending through the steering rack.

8. The electric power recirculating ball assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a sector gear in meshed engagement with the steering rack, wherein the ball nut is moveable toward and away from the sector gear.

9. The electric power recirculating ball assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a steering gear housing, wherein the plurality of rolling elements are in contact with mating geometry of a component operatively coupled to, or integrally formed with, the steering gear housing.

10. The electric power recirculating ball assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the rolling elements is disposed on a first side of the steering rack and at least one of the rolling elements is disposed on a second side of the steering rack.

11. The electric power recirculating ball assembly of claim 7 , wherein the steering rack is slideable along the pin between the rolling element(s) on the first side of the steering rack and the rolling element(s) on the second side of the steering rack.

12. An electric powered recirculating ball assembly comprising:
a steering rack;
a plurality of rolling elements operatively coupled to the steering rack; and
a ball nut located adjacent the steering rack, wherein the ball nut is moveable relative to the steering rack, wherein the plurality of rolling elements are wheels.

13. The electric power recirculating ball assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a sector gear in meshed engagement with the steering rack, wherein the ball nut is moveable toward and away from the sector gear.

14. The electric power recirculating ball assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a steering gear housing, wherein the plurality of rolling elements are in contact with mating geometry of a component operatively coupled to, or integrally formed with, the steering gear housing.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Kern Paul E
• Dutsky Jason A
• Beyerlein Jeffrey E

Classifications

• B62D5/0448 Primary

  Ball nuts · CPC title

• B62D5/0421

  Electric motor acting on or near steering gear · CPC title

• B62D3/08 Primary

  using intermediate balls or the like · CPC title

• B62D5/0442

  Conversion of rotational into longitudinal movement · CPC title