Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Automotive Components Holdings, LLC

Dirk Sickert

Joachim Heidel

Frank Peter Engels

Kristian Tebbe

Jens Hohmann

Frank Odenthal

Thomas Nied-Menninger

Armin Schymczyk

Markus Braun

Birger Assmann

Holger Siebertz

Klaus Becker

Axel Fassbender

Axel Faßbender

A steering column for a motor vehicle may include a steering spindle and a cover. The steering spindle may include an input shaft configured to rotate with a steering wheel, an output shaft rotatably mounted in a steering gear housing, and a swivel joint arranged between the shaft and the output shaft. A portion of the steering spindle within a footwell of the vehicle may be covered by the cover. The cover may include a fastening device and an opening on a side facing away from the footwell. The opening of the cover may extend across a portion of the output shaft, the swivel joint, and a portion of the input shaft. The cover may be fastened to a portion of the steering gear housing by the fastening device so the cover does not rotate with the steering spindle.

Steering column including a protective cover

A steering column for a motor vehicle may include a steering spindle and a cover. The steering spindle may include an input shaft configured to rotate with a steering wheel, an output shaft rotatably mounted in a steering gear housing, and a swivel joint arranged between the shaft and the output shaft. A portion of the steering spindle within a footwell of the vehicle may be covered by the cover. The cover may include a fastening device and an opening on a side facing away from the footwell. The opening of the cover may extend across a portion of the output shaft, the swivel joint, and a portion of the input shaft. The cover may be fastened to the steering gear housing by the fastening device so the cover does not rotate with the steering spindle.

An adjustable rotary vane pump configured to reduce pressure pulsations during hydraulic fluid discharge includes a housing having two side plates positioned in parallel. Each side plate has multiple grooves formed in its surface. A rotor mounted between the side plates has multiple vanes extending radially outward. A lift ring surrounds the rotor, pivotally connected to the housing to swivel between positions eccentric to the housing. During rotation of the rotors, the vanes divide the annular region between the rotor and the lift ring into multiple cells, which alternately position themselves between a suction zone and a pressure zone of the pump. In a transition region between the suction and pressure zone, when the lift ring is between pre-determined angular positions, the grooves within lift ring and the side plate substantially align to create an overflow channel, which transfers the hydraulic fluid from the suction zone to the pressure zone.

Adjustable vane pump for reducing pressure pulsations during discharge

A seal system () for sealing an opening () which leads into an interior space of a motor vehicle that receives a steering housing (). The seal system () has at least one guide channel () that opens into a receiving region () for receiving at least one lug () which is arranged on the steering housing (), with the result that the seal system () can be connected in a frictionally locking manner to the steering housing () through a locking element () in the receiving region ().

Vehicle body seal for a steering column leadthrough

The invention relates to a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism (), for example for use in a steering mechanism of a motor vehicle, and to a method for the production of the rack-and-pinion gear mechanism (). The mechanism comprises a housing (), in which a pinion shaft () is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis (). The pinion shaft () is connected to a rack () which is mounted in the housing () in such a way as to be longitudinally displaceable. A counter-pressure device () compensates for reaction forces between the pinion shaft () and the rack (), having a thrust piece () and an adjusting/closing nut (), between which a spring () is supported. The adjusting/closing nut () is composed of a material which has a softening/melting point such that the adjusting/closing nut () can be softened and/or melted locally while installed in the housing () without damaging the housing (). Softened and/or melted and resolidified partial areas of the adjusting/closing nut () are in form-locking engagement with the housing ().

Rack-and-pinion gear mechanism

The toothed rack steering gear has an adjusting nut and a housing. An opening with internal thread of the housing is adapted to the adjusting nut and receives the adjusting nut in the assembled state. In the housing at least one recess is provided in direct proximity of the opening. A retainer is provided; it has a ring shaped body and at least one finger. The finger protrudes from this ring shaped body and can engage into the recess. The retainer has a back surface and the adjusting nut has a front surface. In the assembled state both are in contact. A connecting device is provided and secures the connection between the back surface and the front surface.

Ultrasonic welded plastic retainer to secure yoke plug adjustment

The invention relates to a hydraulically supported steering system with a steering gear, which is driven by a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit. The steering system includes a piston. The piston is axially displaced in a cylinder and divides the cylinder into two cylinder chambers. Each cylinder chamber is connected to a separate hydraulic line that serves both as pressure supply line and as return line. The hydraulic lines are also connected to a servo valve. A throttle mechanism, which features a variable flow resistance in at least one flow direction is arranged in at least one hydraulic line. The flow of hydraulic fluid through the self-regulating throttle mechanism determines the flow resistance in this flow direction, namely a higher flow resistance will occur at low flow and lower flow resistance at high flow.

Growing community of inventors

Bruehl, Germany

Dirk Sickert