Nsk Corporation

Katsuhiko Sawa

Takeshi Yamamoto

Toru Ishii

Takahiro Tanaka

Kazuyuki Harada

A steering column support apparatus for an electric power-steering apparatus with a tilt mechanism is achieved that is capable of sufficiently maintaining support rigidity of a tilt pivot shaftto support a pivot bracket, and keeping the resistance when performing a tilt operation low with the durability of the side plate sectionsof a pair of bushingssufficiently maintained. The portions of the outer circumferential surface of the tilt pivot shaftand the inner circumferential surface of the through holethat hold the cylindrical sectionsof the bushingsare cylindrical surfaces. Moreover, main contact surface sections, which come in contact with the inner side surfaces of support plate sectionsin the neutral state in which there is no assist reaction force, and sub contact surface sections, which do not come in contact with the support plate sectionsin the neutral state, and come in contact with the inside surfaces of the support plate sectionsonly when there is elastic deformation due to the occurrence of an assist reaction force, are formed on outside surfaces of the side plate sectionsof the bushings

Steering column support apparatus

Construction of an electric power-steering apparatus is achieved that, by stably suppressing backlash of an output shaftof an electric motorover a long period of time, is able to stably reduce vibration and strange noise that occurs during operation. The front end section of the output shaftand the base end section of a wormare connected such that torque can be transmitted and such that relative displacement in the axial direction is possible. An elastic memberhaving an elastic force in a direction that separates the output shaftand wormis provided in the connecting section between the output shaftand the worm. Due to the elastic force of the elastic member, together with the tandem arrangement contact angles, the preload is applied to a pair of ball bearingsthat support the output shaftwith respect to the motor casesuch that the output shaftcan rotate freely.

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Gunma, Japan

Katsuhiko Sawa