Electric power steering apparatus
US7188700B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H2057/0213
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Provided is an electric power steering apparatus comprising a housing, a motor attached to this housing and transmitting an auxiliary steering force to a rotary shaft through a motor shaft, a worm formed on or fitted on the rotary shaft and having a gear portion formed of a metal or a resin, rolling bearings provided in the housing, disposed respectively in positions on both sides of the worm and rotatably supporting the rotary shaft, an output shaft transmitting a steering force for steering an axle and rotatably supported in a predetermined position of the housing, and a worm wheel formed on or fitted on the output shaft in a way that meshes with the worm and having a gear portion formed of the resin, wherein a pre-load mechanism for applying a pre-load acting towards the worm wheel is provided at a shaft end portion, distal from the motor, of the rotary shaft. The thus simply-constructed electric power steering apparatus is capable of eliminating an existence of a backlash and reducing tooth-butting noises without any decline of a power transmitting performance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.