Pivotal ballnut connection for a power assisted steering system
US6378646B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 22, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 30, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 22, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/19749
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a power assisted steering system (10). The power assisted steering system (10) comprises a rotatable member (34) capable of rotating about an axis. The system further comprises a ballnut (66) that is coaxial with the rotatable member (34). The ballnut (66) has a threaded cylindrical inner surface (76) and a plurality of drive balls (78). The system (10) further comprises a steering member (24). The steering member (24) is coaxial with the rotatable member (34) and the ballnut (66). The steering member (24) has a threaded portion (32). The steering member (24) extends through the inner surface (72) of the ballnut (66) such that the drive balls (78) of the ballnut (66) engage the threaded portion (32) of the steering member (24). The ballnut (66) is rotatably driven by the rotatable member (34) about the axis and is pivotal relative to the rotatable member (34) in a direction transverse to the axis.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.