Abstract: An electric powered recirculating ball assembly includes a shaft having a plurality of sector teeth extending therefrom. The assembly also includes an eccentric sleeve defining a bore containing a portion of the shaft, the eccentric sleeve comprising an upper sleeve segment and a lower sleeve segment that are separate components, the eccentric sleeve defining an opening that the sector teeth extend through.

Abstract: Technical solutions are described for controlling operation of a motor using a controller to: energize the motor to rotate driveshaft and a worm; drive a worm gear by the worm; stop the motor from rotating the driveshaft in response to the worm gear rotating to a given one of a plurality of first stop positions; and change the given one of the first stop positions to another one of the first stop positions. A method for controlling a machine comprises: rotating a driveshaft by a motor; driving a worm gear by a worm to cause the worm gear to rotate; stopping the motor from rotating the driveshaft in response to the worm gear rotating to a given one of a plurality of first stop positions; and changing the given one of the first stop positions to another one of the first stop positions.

Abstract: A tripot housing and method of manufacture thereof. The tripot housing includes a housing body extending along an axis between a first end having an end wall and an open second end. A drive shaft extends from the end wall along the axis away from the second end. The housing body has an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface defines a guide channel that extends between the first end and the second end. The outer surface has a first region extending axially along a direction from the first end toward the second end to a shoulder that extends radially outwardly from the first region. The outer surface has a second region extending axially from the shoulder toward the second end. A ring has an inner surface disposed in an interference fit on first region and an outer surface extending radially outwardly from the second region.

Abstract: A steering column assembly including a steering column for a steer-by-wire application. The steering column extends between a first end and a second end and includes a hand wheel location on the first end and a rotation output on the second end. The steering column assembly further includes a rake bracket assembly that is spaced from the rotation output and towards the hand wheel location. The rake bracket assembly defines a pivot axis from which the steering column can tilt. During rake movement or tilting, the first end and the second end of the steering column both pivot as the steering column is adjusted about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A method includes determining whether a multiphase electric machine is unstable. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the multiphase electric machine is unstable, setting a gate voltage of a first three terminal semiconductor switch to zero. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the multiphase electric machine is stable, setting the gate voltage of the first three terminal semiconductor switch to nonzero. The method also includes, in response to the first three terminal semiconductor switch being set to zero, increasing electrical conduction from one phase of the multiphase electric machine to another phase of the multiphase electric machine. The method includes, in response to the first three terminal semiconductor switch being set to nonzero, increasing electrical resistance from the one phase of the multiphase electric machine to the another phase of the multiphase electric machine.

Abstract: An emergency steering system for a vehicle includes a memory including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive information corresponding to an environment external to the vehicle; identify an obstacle in the environment external to the vehicle using the information; determine a distance between the vehicle and the obstacle; determine whether a collision is imminent; in response to determining that a collision is imminent, determine whether the vehicle can move within a lane of travel to avoid the collision; in response to determining that the vehicle can move within the lane of travel to avoid the collision, determine a trajectory of travel for the vehicle; generate a steering assist angle command based on the trajectory of travel; and control position of a steering mechanism of the vehicle using the steering assist angle command and a measured steering angle.

Abstract: An axially adjustable steering column including a first jacket and a second jacket that is axially movable with respect to the first jacket. The second jacket includes a window and the first jacket includes a connector opening. An energy absorbing assembly includes a lock cam that is located in the window and connected to the second jacket and a strap body that is connected to the first jacket with a fastener extending through the strap body and the connector opening. The connector opening includes a ramp for ejecting the fastener from engagement with the first jacket.

Abstract: A tripot housing includes a housing body that extends between a first housing end and a second housing end along a longitudinal central axis. The housing body defines a guide channel that extends from the first housing end toward the second housing end. The guide channel has a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall that extends between the first wall and the second wall. An elliptical contact surface area transitions the first wall with the third wall and the second wall with the third wall, with the elliptical contact surface areas being configured for engagement with an outer roller of a roller assembly to inhibit a locking condition.

Abstract: A steering column comprising a first jacket and a second jacket that is axially movable with respect to the first jacket. The first jacket includes an aperture. An energy absorbing apparatus includes a strap body extending between a first end and a second end and a curved portion located between the first end and the second end. The first end includes a first connector and the second end includes a second connector selectively connected to the first connector through the aperture in the first jacket.

Abstract: A steering column with an energy absorbing assembly. The steering column comprising a first jacket and a second jacket that is axially movable with respect to the first jacket. The second jacket includes a window. The energy absorbing apparatus includes a lock cam located in the window and connected to the second jacket and a strap body that is connected to the first jacket. The lock cam includes a toothed portion for selective engagement with the strap body. The energy absorbing apparatus includes at least one of a cam spring located between the lock cam and an edge of the window or a bumper.

Abstract: Technical solutions are described for mitigating traction steer using an electric power steering system (EPS). A control system for a power steering system including a processor and memory are provided. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to generate a motor command as a function of a handwheel velocity, and to modify the motor command based upon a traction torque signal. A method for controlling a power steering system is also provided. The method includes generating a motor command as a function of a handwheel velocity; modifying the motor command based upon a traction torque signal; and applying the motor command to an actuator of the power steering system.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a steering column assembly is provided. The steering column assembly comprises a steering column extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. The steering column includes a lower portion extending from the second end, a middle portion connected to and axially moveable with respect to the lower portion, and an upper portion connected to and axially moveable with respect to the middle portion and extending towards the first end. A component is connected to the steering column adjacent to the lower portion and at least one axial actuator is connected between the component and the upper portion.

Abstract: A method of assembling a steering column assembly includes pressing a first pivot bushing into a first rake bracket first opening of a first rake bracket and inserting a first pivot fastener into the first pivot bushing and into a first mounting bracket opening of a first mounting bracket arm of a mounting bracket. The method further includes displacing material of the first mounting bracket arm with first splines of the first pivot fastener to form first mating splines within the first mounting bracket opening.

Abstract: A flex coupling assembly for coupling a first shaft to a second shaft of a shaft assembly. The flex coupling assembly includes a lower housing having a housing wall bounding a cavity between a first end having an end face and an open second end. A first shaft is fixed to the end face and extends along an axis. An upper flange, spaced from the lower housing, has a second shaft fixed thereto extending along the axis. A retention member, disposed in the cavity, is operably fixed to the upper flange. A resilient flex coupling, disposed between the end face and the flange, is operably fixed to the upper flange and the retention member and to the lower housing. The lower housing and the flange are moveable axially toward and away from one another and rotatably about the axis via flexing of the resilient flex coupling which dampens noise and vibrations between the first and second shafts.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a lower jacket. The steering column assembly also includes an upper jacket in telescoping engagement with the lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes an energy absorbing strap assembly operatively coupled to the upper jacket. The energy absorbing strap assembly includes a strap having a stationary leg and a moveable leg, the moveable leg extending from a first strap end region to a curved portion, the stationary leg extending from the curved portion to a second strap end region, wherein the second strap end region forms a U-shape defined by a radially outer segment, a radially inner segment and a connecting segment to join the radially outer segment and the radially inner segment. The energy absorbing strap assembly also includes a pin extending through the radially inner segment of the stationary leg and the moveable leg.

Abstract: A system and method of mu estimation may include the steps of collecting vehicle travel data on a road surface via a plurality of a sensors including at least one of an accelerometer or microphone; collecting external source data over a network; and aggregating the vehicle travel data and external source data to form an aggregated data set. The method may include performing feature extraction processing of the aggregated data set to transform the aggregated data set and into a processed aggregated data set; communicating the processed aggregated data set to a machine learning model; and generating at least one of an estimated mu value of the road surface or road surface classification via the machine learning model.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a jacket extending longitudinally about a jacket axis, the jacket defining an opening extending radially completely through the jacket. The steering column assembly also includes an end stop assembly disposed in the opening and protruding radially inwardly. The steering column assembly further includes a steering shaft, at least a portion of the steering shaft disposed within the jacket and extending longitudinally about the jacket axis. The steering column assembly yet further includes a stop ring mounted to the steering shaft, the stop ring positioned to contact the end stop assembly at an end of rotational travel position of the steering shaft.

Abstract: An electric motor assembly comprising a stator having a plurality of stator lamination sheets. Each of the stator lamination sheets includes an annular body and a plurality of stator teeth extending radially inwardly from the annular body to an opening. A rotor is located in the opening. Each of the stator teeth defining a pocket with a dampening element located in the pocket. The dampening element comprises a material that is viscoelastic. The pocket and dampening element are located in a location of the stator tooth that has less magnetic flux than an adjacent area of the stator tooth.

Abstract: A method to determine, in real time, a use-life of a steering system includes tracking an attribute signal associated with the steering system. The method further includes, based on a determination that the attribute signal rises above an upper threshold and subsequently falls below a lower threshold, selecting a subset of categories based on a frequency content of the attribute signal. The method further includes selecting a category from the subset of categories based on a peak load occurring in sequence to the attribute signal via a secondary attribute signal. The method further includes incrementing a counter for the selected category. The method further includes computing the use-life based on a ratio of the counter for the selected category and a predetermined count for said selected category.

Abstract: A method for estimating torsion bar torque includes receiving, from a first sensor, a handwheel position value indicating a position of a handwheel of a steering system and receiving, from a second sensor, a motor position value indicating a position of a motor of the steering system. The method also includes estimating a torsion bar torque value using the handwheel position value and the motor position value.