Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.

Hl Mando Corporation

Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

John Holm

Thomas E Heck

Alan Coleman

Joseph W Wolf

Werner Kermelk

Karl Rode

Todd Duffield

Günter Stelzer

Robert J Wendt

Christopher A Putz

Montgomery D Csapo

Thomas Czarniecki

A ball return tube for connecting openings of a ball nut to circulate balls comprises tube end portions for being coupled to the openings of the ball nut, and a tube body connecting the tube end portions so that the balls can pass through the tube body. The ball return tube is constructed in first and second tube portions fixedly joined together by structures included in a first projection protruding from a first surface of the tube body. The ball return tube further comprises one or more of a second projection protruding from a second surface of the tube body in a direction toward the ball nut, a third projection protruding from a lateral side surface of the tube body, and a fourth projection protruding from the tube open end portions so that the projections can be coupled to corresponding recesses of the ball nut.

Ball return tube for ball nut assembly

A rack drive assembly adapted for use in a vehicle electric power steering assembly includes a ball nut assembly having at least a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, a bearing assembly carried by the ball nut assembly for rotatably supporting the ball nut assembly, a pulley assembly configured to be carried by the ball nut assembly, and at least a first spanner nut configured to be carried by the first end portion of the ball nut for securing the bearing assembly on the ball nut assembly. The ball nut includes a flange provided on an outer portion thereof configured to connect the ball nut to a pulley of a pulley assembly for rotation therewith. The flange is spaced remote from an end of the second end portion of the ball nut.

Electric power steering assembly

A full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel comprises a full face wheel disc defining an axis and formed from a suitable material, the wheel disc having an outer end; and a wheel rim formed from a suitable material and having an outer end joined to the outer end of the wheel disc by at least one weld to produce the fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel; wherein the fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel includes only a generally radially outwardly extending outer end formed by a combination of at least a portion of two of the outer end of the wheel disc the outer end of the wheel rim and the at least one weld.

Fabricated vehicle wheel and method for producing same

According to the invention, the fabricated vehicle wheel includes a conventional full wheel rim and a unique wheel disc joined to the wheel rim. The wheel disc includes an inner wheel mounting pad, an outer annular rim connecting flange and a plurality of radial spokes connecting the inner wheel mounting pad to the rim connecting flange. The rim connecting flange extends in an axial direction and defines a side edge surface extending between each pair of adjacent spokes. A plurality of windows are formed in the wheel disc. Each of the windows has a predetermined shape defined by the adjacent spokes and the side edge surface of the rim connecting flange. The rim connecting flange and the side edge surface are configured such that the window extends to an outermost periphery of the wheel disc. The inner wheel mounting pad includes at least one rib provided therein. The rib has an outer surface and an inner surface, at least one of the outer surface and the inner surface is provided with a flat planar surface.

Fabricated vehicle wheel having spokes and stiffening ribs

Growing community of inventors

Superior Township, MI, United States of America

John Holm