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:
Jul. 13, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 03, 1997
Michael J Boyer, Lake Orion, MI (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A steering assembly (10) includes a housing (28, 60) and a member (14) which is movable axially in the housing to effect turning movement of steerable wheels of a vehicle. The member (14) has a rack portion (36) for engagement with a pinion (30) and an externally threaded screw portion (40). A ball nut (110) extends around the screw portion (40) of the member (14) and has an internal thread (116). A plurality of balls (200) are disposed between the internal thread (116) on the ball nut (110) and the external thread (40) on the member (14) for transmitting force between the ball nut and the screw portion of the member. An electric motor (50) for rotating the ball nut (110) includes a stator (70) and a rotor (80). A bearing assembly (150) supports the ball nut (110) for rotation relative to the housing, the bearing assembly including a plurality of bearings (152) disposed between first and second races (154, 156). The central radial plane (158) of the bearings (152) intersects the internal thread (116) of the ball nut (110). A first portion of the internal thread (116) on the ball nut (110) is disposed radially inward of the rotor (80) and the stator (70), and a second portion of the internal thread on the ball nut is disposed axially outward of the rotor and the stator.