The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 01, 1990
Filed:
Jul. 25, 1988
Hiroaki Asano, Okazaki, JP;
Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
An electric power steering apparatus is provided with a torque sensor for detecting manual torque input to a steering shaft of an automobile and an electric motor for generating auxiliary steering power so that a load current is applied to the electric motor in accordance with the level of manual torque detected by the torque sensor. The electric motor and a steering system are coupled together through a speed reducing mechanism for reducing the speed of rotation of the electric motor and also through a clutch mechanism. The electric power steering system is further provided with an actuating mechanism for controlling the clutch mechanism such that it is engaged only when the electric motor is rotating. Therefore, the speed reducing mechanism and the electric motor have no adverse effects on the return of the steering wheel.