Abstract: A planet gear includes a toothed portion having an axial bore, a hub disposed within the axial bore such that a space is defined between the hub and the toothed portion, and an elastomeric isolator disposed in the space. A gear is quieter in operation through configuration such that the gear includes a toothed portion having an axial bore and a hub coaxially orientable within the axial bore, and an elastomeric isolator is positioned between the hub and the toothed portion.

Abstract: A planet gear includes a toothed portion having an axial bore, a hub disposed within the axial bore such that a space is defined between the hub and the toothed portion, and an elastomeric isolator disposed in the space. A gear is quieter in operation through configuration such that the gear includes a toothed portion having an axial bore and a hub coaxially orientable within the axial bore, and an elastomeric isolator is positioned between the hub and the toothed portion.

Abstract: A planet gear includes a toothed portion having a bore extending axially therethrough, a hub disposed within the bore such that an annular space is defined between the hub and the toothed portion, and an elastomeric element injection-molded into the annular space. The toothed portion includes a first groove circumferentially disposed in an inner surface of the toothed portion, and the hub includes a second groove circumferentially disposed in a peripheral surface of the hub. The grooves provide surfaces upon which the injection-molded elastomer can set. Holes may be disposed axially within the elastomeric element to decrease the spring rate of the elastomer, thereby providing additional radial compliancy to the planet gear. A method for manufacturing the gear includes disposing the hub within the bore of the toothed portion, injecting the elastomer in the annulus defined by the hub disposed within the bore, and curing the injected elastomer.

Abstract: An end play take up retaining ring between a support element and a retained element is constituted by a longitudinally split sleeve defining at a first end thereof a closed-biased C-shaped spring and at a second end thereof a larger open-biased C-shaped spring. The closed-biased C-shaped spring is expanded to fit the retaining ring over an external annular groove in the support element. At the same time, the open-biased C-shaped spring is squeezed to a smaller diameter. When the closed-biased C-shaped spring is released, it resiliently clamps the retaining ring in the annular groove. When the open-biased C-shaped spring is released, it resiliently expands and thrusts a beveled shoulder against the retained element. The beveled shoulder converts expansion of the open-biased C-shaped spring into relative lateral thrust which seats the first end of the retaining ring against an end wall of the annular groove and the retained element against a stop on the support element.

Abstract: A retainer for a crossover tube of a ball screw between a rack piston and a worm shaft of a motor vehicle power steering gear. The ball screw includes a helical passage between the rack piston and the worm shaft, a U-shaped crossover tube on the rack piston, and a plurality of bearing balls which roll in a ball circuit defined by the helical passage and the crossover tube. The crossover tube retainer is a molded plastic arch straddling a linear segment of the crossover tube having a web bridging the gap between the crossover tube and the rack piston bore. The thrust of the bearing balls urging dislodgment of the crossover tube from the rack piston is reacted against the rack piston bore through the web of the molded plastic arch across a bearing surface of the web having a contour complementary to the contour of the rack piston bore above the molded plastic arch.

Abstract: A shaft assist electric power steering apparatus including an electric motor and a speed reducer having an input planetary gear set and an output planetary gear set each concentric with a steering shaft. The input planetary gear set includes an input ring gear, an input sun gear, a stationary input planet carrier, and a plurality of input planet pinions one of which is driven by the electric motor. The output planetary gear set includes an output sun gear rigidly connected to the input sun gear, an output ring gear rigidly connected to the input ring gear, an output planet carrier rigidly connected to the steering shaft, and a plurality of output planet pinions. The driven input planet pinion rotates the input sun gear and the input ring gear in opposite directions and, likewise, the output sun gear and the output ring gear.