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:
Nov. 02, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 03, 1997
Mark J Bugosh, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Michael J Boyer, Lake Orion, MI (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A steering assembly (10) for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle in response to rotation of a steering wheel (12) includes a pinion (30). A steering member (14) is movable axially to effect turning movement of the steerable wheels of the vehicle. The steering member (14) has a rack portion (34) for engagement with the pinion (30) and an externally threaded screw portion (38). A ball nut (140) extends around the screw portion (38) of the steering member (14) and has an internal thread (144). A plurality of balls (200) are disposed between the internal thread (144) on the ball nut (140) and an external thread (40) on the steering member (14) for transmitting force between the ball nut and the screw portion (38) of the steering member. An electric motor (50) includes a rotor (132) drivingly connected to the ball nut (140) and a stator (70). The stator (70) when energized effects rotation of the rotor (132) and, thereby, rotation of the ball nut (140). The steering assembly includes a one-piece molded plastic member (60) having a first axial portion (62) disposed adjacent to the pinion (30), a second axial portion (66) encapsulating and supporting the stator core (72) and the stator windings (82), and a third axial portion (110) supporting the ball nut (140) for rotation with the rotor (132).