Electrically controlled steering assistance actuator

US10005488B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ford Global Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Bradley G. Hochrein · Dexter, US
• Jack E. Barry · Dearborn, US
• James Philip Cooper · Milford, US
• Alex Parker · Lod, IL
• Joseph Washnock · Canton, US
• Salvador Toledo · Ypsilanti, US
• Timothy Patrick Diez · Dearborn, US
• Thomas P. Flanagan · Green Brook, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 3, 2016
• Grant date: Jun 26, 2018
• Expiry date: Jul 26, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B62D25/082
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A steering assistance actuator for a vehicle includes a actuator shaft, a torque sensor, a motor, a drive mechanism and a drive housing. The actuator shaft is rotatable about a first axis. The actuator shaft includes an integral torque sensor. The motor has an output shaft rotatable about a second axis. The second axis is substantially parallel to the first axis. The drive mechanism is disposed between and drivingly connects the motor and the steering column. The drive mechanism provides a speed reduction from the motor to the actuator shaft. The drive housing encloses the torque sensor and the drive mechanism and is separate from a steering gear. The drive housing also has a mounting feature to which a housing of the motor is fixed. The drive housing also has a first bearing and a second bearing rotatably supporting the actuator shaft in the drive housing.