Abstract: A method for monitoring the condition of an electronic power steering apparatus or of at least one part of the electronic power steering apparatus of a motor vehicle includes continually capturing acceleration measured values in a region of the electronic power steering apparatus during a driving mode of the motor vehicle and continually providing the captured acceleration measured values to a damage computation section in the form of a damage meter that continuously sums the acceleration measured values and continually forms therefrom at least one variable characterizing a degree of damage to the electronic power steering apparatus or to the at least one part of the electronic power steering apparatus. The method further includes continually comparing the variable with at least one prescribed limit value.

Abstract: A method for masking and/or reducing disturbing noises or the conspicuousness thereof when a motor vehicle is being operated includes forming a compensation signal and/or a heterodyne signal based on disturbing noises that are detected in acceleration measurement signals that are received or based on operating states of the motor vehicle or at least of a component of the motor vehicle and using the compensation signal and/or heterodyne signal to modulate an existing control signal of an actuator of the motor vehicle such that the disturbing noises or conspicuousness thereof are reduced and/or at least in part masked. The method further includes influencing the heterodyne signal with a broadband signal or a tonal signal having the predetermined frequencies or arrangements such that the disturbing noises is masked or the conspicuousness of the disturbing noises are reduced.

Abstract: A belt drive has a drive gear, an output gear, a tensioning gear, and at least two belts. Each belt partly loops the drive gear and the output gear, and a strand of each belt partly loops the tensioning gear. A strand of a first belt loops the tensioning gear in one circumferential direction. This strand extends from the drive gear to the output gear. A strand of a second belt loops the tensioning gear in the other circumferential direction. This strand extends from the drive gear to the output gear. This belt drive achieves a large looping angle for the drive gear and the output gear, and correspondingly, a large transmission power. Additionally, the effect of the other belt enables a belt self-tensioning function which is independent of the rotational direction. Guiding the belts in this manner enables omission of an additional mounting of the tensioning gear.

Abstract: A method for masking and/or reducing disturbing noises or the conspicuousness thereof when a motor vehicle is being operated includes forming a compensation signal and/or a heterodyne signal based on disturbing noises that are detected in acceleration measurement signals that are received or based on operating states of the motor vehicle or at least of a component of the motor vehicle and using the compensation signal and/or heterodyne signal to modulate an existing control signal of an actuator of the motor vehicle such that the disturbing noises or conspicuousness thereof are reduced and/or at least in part masked. The method further includes influencing the heterodyne signal with a broadband signal or a tonal signal having the predetermined frequencies or arrangements such that the disturbing noises is masked or the conspicuousness of the disturbing noises are reduced.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the condition of an electronic power steering apparatus or of at least one part of the electronic power steering apparatus of a motor vehicle includes continually capturing acceleration measured values in a region of the electronic power steering apparatus during a driving mode of the motor vehicle and continually providing the captured acceleration measured values to a damage computation section in the form of a damage meter that continuously sums the acceleration measured values and continually forms therefrom at least one variable characterizing a degree of damage to the electronic power steering apparatus or to the at least one part of the electronic power steering apparatus. The method further includes continually comparing the variable with at least one prescribed limit value.

Abstract: A device for pressing a first transmission element onto a second transmission element engaging in the first transmission element for a rack-and-pinion steering system of a motor vehicle. A pressure piece that can be loaded in the direction of the first transmission element by at least one spring element is displaceably guided in a housing. The spring element is produced from at least one dilatant elastomer.

Abstract: A recirculating ball gear, in particular for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprises a nut, which is mounted in a housing by way of a bearing, wherein at least one spring element is disposed on each end face of the bearing between the bearing and the housing. During operation, the recirculating ball gear is exposed to impact in the axial direction, whereby the gear may become damaged over time and annoying rattling noise may develop in the recirculating ball gear. The spring elements are thus operated in the progressive area of characteristic curve.

Abstract: A device for pressing a first transmission element onto a second transmission element engaging in the first transmission element, in particular for a rack-and-pinion steering system of a motor vehicle, comprising a pressure piece that can be loaded in the direction of the first transmission element by at least one spring element and is displaceably guided in a housing, wherein the spring element is produced from at least one dilatant elastomer.

Abstract: A recirculating ball gear, in particular for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprises a nut, which is mounted in a housing by way of a bearing, wherein at least one spring element is disposed on each end face of the bearing between the bearing and the housing. During operation, the recirculating ball gear is exposed to impact in the axial direction, whereby the gear may become damaged over time and annoying rattling noise may develop in the recirculating ball gear. The spring elements are thus operated in the progressive area of characteristic curve.

Abstract: A steering booster system for a motor vehicle has an electronic control unit which senses by way of force or torque sensors the amount and direction of forces and torques applied to a manual steering wheel and correspondingly controls, via a transmission arrangement, the steering-force-assisting connection of an electric motor into a steering gear line coupling the manual steering wheel and the steered vehicle wheels. The manufacture of the system is simplified and the controllability of the force transmission between the electric motor and the steering gear line is improved by providing that the transmission arrangement has an electrically switchable clutch for each steering direction, i.e., left or right. The two clutches are arranged such that, when the rotating direction is the same at the input of the transmission arrangement assigned to the electric motor, they in each case cause another rotating direction at the output of the transmission arrangement assigned to the steering gear line.

Abstract: A servovalve, in particular for hydraulic power-assisted steering systems of motor vehicles, is in the form of a rotary spool valve with a rotary spool and a control bush, which coaxially surrounds the rotary spool and can be rotated against spring force relative to the rotary spool. A bearing, by which the control bush and the rotary spool are secured axially relative to one another, is integrated into the rotary spool valve.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a servo valve, in particular for hydraulic power steering systems of motor vehicles, in the form of a rotary slide valve having a rotary slider and a control bushing which coaxially encloses the latter and is rotatable about a rotation axis, against spring force, relative to the rotary slider. The present invention includes a particular spring arrangement which has two helical compression springs lying in a radial plane of the rotation axis.

Abstract: In a servo valve for hydraulic power steerings of motor vehicles which consists of a rotary spool valve having a rotary spool rotatably disposed in a control sleeve, a front end of the control sleeve and a flange structure on the rotary spool have spaced oppositely arranged faces forming a gap therebetween in which a C-shaped spring is disposed which extends around the rotary spool and has free opposite ends in engagement with pins projecting axially toward one another from the opposite faces of the control sleeve and the flange structure when both are in a center position relative to one another so as to bias the control sleeve and the flange structure into such center position with a predetermined spring force.