Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation

Joel A Bickel

William David Cymbal

Jason T Rutkiewicz

Jeffrey E Beyerlein

George E Arlt

Alan Gerard Turek

Jessica A Doornbos

Travis L Palmer

Ryan D Harris

Daniel J Diffin

Jeremy A Bonkowski

Laura F Stock

Caleb S Palmer

Stanley J Iseler

A steering assist system of a steering column assembly is provided. The system includes a worm rotatably driven by an actuator. The system also includes a worm gear having a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth, the first set of teeth in meshed engagement with the worm, the worm gear operatively coupled to a steering shaft. The system further includes a lock feature moveable into and out of engagement with the second set of teeth of the worm gear to define a locked condition and an unlocked condition of the worm gear.

Lock mechanism for steering assist system

A coupling assembly includes a flexible coupling and a first adapter. The flexible coupling defines an opening that extends along a central longitudinal axis between a first coupling end and a second coupling end. The first adapter is arranged to be at least partially received within the opening proximate the first coupling end. The first adapter extends between a first adapter first face and a first adapter second face. The first adapter defines a first adapter post and a first adapter hole. The first adapter post that extends from the first adapter first face. The first adapter hole that extends from the first adapter first face towards the first adapter second face.

Shaft coupling assembly

A hand-wheel actuator for preventing over rotation of a hand-wheel shaft. The hand-wheel actuator comprises a housing that defines an opening aligned about an axis. The hand-wheel shaft extends along and is rotatable about the axis. A drive gear is rotationally coupled to the hand-wheel shaft, wherein the drive gear is at least partially disposed in the opening and includes a drive gear tooth. A stop gear is coupled to the housing and includes a plurality of stop gear teeth for engagement with the drive gear tooth and prevents rotation of the drive gear over a predetermined threshold.

Indexing gear mechanical stop

A steering system includes a steering column for rotation between at least a center position and a range of second positions and defining a central axis. The steering system also includes an actuator assembly in operative communication with the steering column to provide steering assistance, the actuator assembly comprising a pair of plates, each plate including a first helical track and a second helical track. The steering system further includes a spring element arranged with the actuator assembly to bias movement of one of the pair of plates along the central axis to influence the steering column to move to the center position.

Rotational centering device for steering column

A steering assembly including an electric motor, and a motor shaft coupled to and extending from the electric motor to an end. The motor shaft is rotatable about a motor shaft axis by the motor. The steering assembly further includes a friction pad at the end of the motor shaft, where the friction pad has a coefficient of friction configured to resist rotation of the motor shaft.

Cantilevered worm gear assembly with brake bushing

A power steering assembly includes an electric motor having an output shaft extending therefrom. The assembly also includes a housing containing a worm gear operatively coupled to a steering shaft, the worm gear rotatable about a worm gear axis. The assembly further includes an electric motor and a worm arranged to engage the worm gear, the worm extending from the output shaft of the electric motor as a single, integrally formed shaft, the single, integrally formed shaft extending axially from a first end to a second end and being cantilevered to allow the second end to deflect. The assembly yet further includes a bushing surrounding a portion of the shaft proximate the second end of the shaft, the bushing and the portion of the shaft defining a clearance therebetween.

Cantilevered worm gear assembly with limiter bushing

A vehicle steering column assembly includes a first shaft having a first shaft cavity extending from an end of the first shaft. Also included is a second shaft operatively coupled to the first shaft, the second shaft having a second shaft cavity disposed therein. Further included is a torsion bar disposed within the first shaft cavity and the second shaft cavity. Yet further included is a stop tooth extending from the first shaft. Also included is a worm gear defining a slot with a slot wall, a first portion of the slot wall configured to engage a first side of the stop tooth to define a first radial boundary of the worm gear, a second portion of the slot wall configured to engage a second side of the stop tooth to define a second radial boundary of the worm gear.

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Millington, MI, United States of America

Joel A Bickel