Koyo Seiko Company, Ltd.

Takayuki Todaka

Akihiko Shiina

Tetsuya Murakami

Takeo Iino

Masanori Kobayashi

Yoshio Ito

Tatsuo Otsuka

On the outer periphery of a bearing for supporting a worm rotating interlocked with the rotation of a steering assist motor inside the housing , elastic members are provided to restrain the bearing from moving in the radial direction thereof. The force for the restraint by the elastic members is made different depending on the position in the peripheral direction thereof. A portion of the elastic member, wherein the force for restraining the movement of the bearing in the radial direction is small, energizes the worm to the meshing position of the worm and a worm wheel . Another portion, wherein the force for restraining the movement is large, restrains the worm from moving along the lead of the worm wheel . With this configuration, the elastic members can reduce the amount of the backlash at the meshing portion of the worm and the worm wheel , and can make the rotation torque applied to the meshing portion of the worm gears relatively small.

Electric power steering apparatus

On the outer periphery of a bearing for supporting a worm rotating interlocked with the rotation of a steering assist motor inside the housing elastic members are provided to restrain the bearing from moving in the radial direction thereof. The force for the restraint by the elastic members is made different depending on the position in the peripheral direction thereof. A portion of the elastic member, wherein the force for restraining the movement of the bearing in the radial direction is small, energizes the worm to the meshing position of the worm and a worm wheel Another portion, wherein the force for restraining the movement is large, restrains the worm from moving along the lead of the worm wheel With this configuration, the elastic members can reduce the amount of the backlash at the meshing portion of the worm and the worm wheel and can make the rotation torque applied to the meshing portion of the worm gears relatively small.

Growing community of inventors

Fujisawa, Japan

Takayuki Todaka