Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Global Technology, LLC

James Philip Cooper

Joseph Washnock

Jack E Barry

Jennifer Laz

Daniel Steven Payne

Rohit Kadam

Soungjin Wou

Garry Robert Smith

Bradley George Hochrein

Dale Killins

John Crossman

Alex Parker

Salvador Toledo

Jackson E Barry, Jr

Matthew Lee Brimmer

Timothy Patrick Diez

Christopher Colarusso

Tim P Covert

Marc-Etienne Leclerc

Maher Aboudaye

Mark Eubank

Thomas Philip Flanagan

Rotary steering systems are disclosed. An example vehicle steering system includes an input gear fixed to an end of an input shaft, a first intermediate gear fixed to a first pinion, the first intermediate gear engaged with the input gear, a second intermediate gear fixed to a second pinion, the second pinion engaged with the first intermediate gear or a third intermediate gear, a motor fixed to a third pinion, the third pinion engaged with the second intermediate gear, the motor to rotate the first intermediate gear and the first pinion, a third gear fixed to a shaft, the third gear engaged with the first pinion, the third gear and the shaft to rotate as the first intermediate gear rotates, and a pitman arm coupled to the shaft, the pitman arm to couple to a drag link to turn wheels of a vehicle as the shaft rotates.

Rotary steering systems

Rotary assist apparatus for recirculating ball steering gears are disclosed. An example motor vehicle steering system includes an input shaft to couple to a steering shaft of a motor vehicle, a worm gear, a first end of the worm gear coupled to the input shaft, a second end of the worm gear fixed to a helical spur gear, a ball nut surrounding a portion of the worm gear, the ball nut including ball bearings and ball guides, an intermediate gear fixed to a first pinion, the first pinion engaged with the helical spur gear, a motor fixed to a second pinion, the second pinion engaged with the intermediate gear, the motor to rotate the worm gear to translate the ball nut, and a sector gear engaged with the ball nut, the sector gear to rotate as the ball nut translates.

Rotary assist apparatus for recirculating ball steering gears

Vehicle steering systems are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a first gear, a first pinion engaged with the first gear, a second pinion fixed to the first gear, a second gear engaged with the second pinion, and a third pinion fixed to the second gear, the third pinion to engage with a steering rack of a vehicle.

Vehicle steering

A steering apparatus includes a first pinion, an internal gear engaged with the first pinion, a second pinion fixed relative to the internal gear, a first gear engaged with the second pinion, a third pinion fixed relative to the first gear, and a steering rack meshed with the third pinion.

A bushing is provided for adjusting to differences in diameter between concentric elements of an assembly. The bushing may be provided with a plurality of leaf springs coupled to one another to form parts of a wall. The bushing wall may have a first contact face and a second contact face opposite the first contact face. The bushing wall may also be configured to be positioned in a generally annular shape. Each of the leaf springs forming part of the bushing wall may be radially deflectable relative to each of the other leaf springs in order to self-align the bushing by the resilient response of each leaf spring.

Radially deflectable bushing and steering gear assembly using the same

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.

Electrically controlled steering assistance actuator

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Milford, MI, United States of America

James Philip Cooper