Electric steering actuator
US5988311A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 30, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62D5/0427
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In an electric steering actuator comprising an electric motor having a hollow output shaft, a steering shaft passed through the hollow center of the output shaft of the electric motor, and a ball-screw mechanism provided between the output shaft and the steering shaft for converting the rotary movement of the output shaft into a longitudinal movement of the steering shaft. The ball-screw mechanism comprises a threaded section of the steering shaft, and a nut member which threadably engages with the threaded section of the steering shaft via steel balls, and is secured to the output shaft of the electric motor via a serration coupling or the like which achieves an axially free but rotatively fast coupling between the two parts. Thus, the overall axial dimension of the actuator can be reduced, and the step of joining these two parts is significantly simplified in terms of both effort and time while the number of component parts is also reduced. In particular, by installing the ball-screw mechanism in the first casing section in an axially immobile manner, removal of the rotor or the motor assembly is substantially simplified, thereby making the actuator easier to manufacture and serv…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.