Patents Assigned to ZF Systems de Direction Nacam, S.A.S.
  • Patent number: 8556736
    Abstract: A device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft includes balls arranged in rows between axial grooves of the inner shaft and axial grooves of the outer shaft, enabling the shafts to slide in the direction of a common axis. Each row of balls is maintained by a double elastic member that bears in the groove of one of the inner or outer shafts and urges the balls along two rolling tracks so that they come into contact with the groove of the other of the inner and outer shafts. The two rolling tracks are hinged through a convex pivot surface and a corresponding concave support face of one of the inner and outer shafts, and a difference between the radii of the pivot surface and the support face defines two contact areas and a pivot axis parallel to the common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Systems de Direction Nacam S.A.S.
    Inventors: Amaud Janvier, Christophe Bahr
  • Patent number: 8316737
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column adjustable includes a steering shaft mounted in a body tube arranged in a movable support member and immobilized on a fixed support member by an electric clamping system. The clamping system is mounted in a casing supporting an electric actuator and includes a transmission mechanism, an immobilizing assembly and a clamping rod passing through the fixed support member. The immobilizing assembly includes a fixed cam rotationally fixed with respect to the clamping rod, and a rotationally movable cam, the cams having rolling paths for balls. Each rolling path has the shape of a spiral with an escape slope for a ball, in order to initiate clamping or unclamping depending on the rotation direction of the movable cam relative to the fixed cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Systems de Direction Nacam, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Nicolas Bertet, Vincent Eymery
  • Patent number: 7727074
    Abstract: The yoke member of Cardan joint is made in one unitary part of one piece and includes a pivot fork including two pivot arm portions each comprising a crossing hole, the axis of which is the pivot axis of a cross-piece, and a connecting element for the motion transmission shaft and having two tightening portions connected via a junction portion. Each of the two tightening portions comprises a tightening hole. Four reinforcing appendices are arranged on the tightening portions and opposite one another in pairs to form together with the portions a housing for the motion transmission shaft. The yoke member is stamped in order to give it the desired thickness in highly stressed and lowly stressed regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Systems de Direction Nacam, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Andre Laisement, Jacques Loyau, Pascal Millet