Abstract: A steer-by-wire type power steering apparatus according to embodiments disclosed herein includes a cylinder provided inside a housing and including a first spline on an inner circumferential surface thereof, and a sliding bar inserted into the cylinder and including a second spline engaged with the first spline and a screw connected to a motor, so that friction and noise can be reduced when a sliding bar connected to a tie rod so as to steer a wheel is slid, the durability and strength of the sliding bar can be improved, and the position of the sliding bar can be determined based on a phase difference between the rotation information items of respective motors.

Abstract: A rack and pinion steering system includes a rack housing, a rack bearing, and an adjuster plug. The rack housing defines a rack housing bore extending along an axis. The rack bearing is disposed within the rack housing bore. The rack bearing has a first bearing portion that is biasingly connected to a second bearing portion. The first bearing portion and the second bearing portion extend along the axis between a first rack bearing end and a second rack bearing end. The adjuster plug is disposed within the rack housing bore. The adjuster plug extends along the axis between a first adjuster plug end that engages the second rack bearing and a second adjuster plug end.

Abstract: A drag link guide assembly for guiding a drag link comprises a slide bushing and a housing enclosing the slide bushing. The housing comprises a socket portion, into which the slide bushing is inserted. The slide bushing comprises a locating area for the drag link having a substantially circular cylindrical periphery with at least one plane torsional locking face. The slide bushing comprises an outward-pointing structure, which interacts with a mating structure that is provided on the internal surface of the housing. A method for producing a drag link guide assembly is furthermore described.

Abstract: A system for managing opening and closing a pocket door includes a spindle, an actuator, and brackets. The spindle extends along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends, and is configured to be coupled to the pocket door. The actuator is coupled to the spindle and is configured to cause the spindle to move axially along the longitudinal axis. The brackets are connected to the spindle at each end and are constrained from longitudinal motion relative to the spindle. The brackets are configured to affix the spindle to the pocket door. A bushing system couples each bracket to the spindle and is configured to dampen impact between the spindle and the brackets. For example, the bushing system may include lobed elements, made of a rubber material, that engage each other to transmit azimuthal forces. In some embodiments, another actuator is included to improve cycle like and redundancy.

Abstract: A rack for a steering gear of a motor vehicle may include a toothed portion having a toothing, and a shaft portion. Separate segments comprising at least one in each case bar-shaped toothed segment and one shaft segment are provided, are aligned on a common longitudinal axis, and are connected to one another at a joint. The method may involve providing a raw material piece having a piece length that is a multiple of a segment length, thermally continuously hardening the raw material piece across a multiple of a segment length to produce a hardened semi-finished segment product, cutting to length a hardened segment from the hardened semi-finished segment product, providing a further segment, and joining the hardened segment to a further segment.

Abstract: A rack housing (9) is provided with: a cylindrical main body (19) for movably accommodating a rack bar (8); and a stroke limiting section (25) annularly protruding from the cylindrical main body (19) toward a first end (9a). The inner peripheral surface (25b) of the stroke limiting section (25) is located offset radially outward from a support surface (19a), i.e. the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body (19). The inner peripheral surface (25b) and the support surface (19a) are connected to each other by a sloped section (26) which is sloped circular conically. The sloped section (26) is provided at a position overlapping the cylindrical main body (19) when viewed radially. The sloped section (26) is sloped so that the inner diameter of the cylindrical main body (19) of the rack housing (9) increases toward a first contact section (25a).

Abstract: A rack guide for a rack and pinion steering device, a rack and pinion steering device, and a manufacturing method for a rack guide for a rack and pinion steering device have a simple configuration with a close contact property being kept between a rack guide and a rack guide base member to ensure quietness. A rack guide for a rack and pinion steering device includes: a casing; a pinion to be slidably supported by the casing; a rack bar having a rack tooth meshed with the pinion; a rack guide including an abutment portion to which the rack bar is to be slidably abutted and a recessed portion, which is continued to the abutment portion, to be spaced from the rack bar; a rack guide base member for receiving the rack guide; and an urging unit to urge the rack guide against the rack bar through the rack guide base member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a linear actuator (1) for an automobile transmission comprising an electric motor (6) for moving a transmission control member (5) between a plurality of shift positions, a spring (15) for driving the transmission control member (5) to an end position of the shift range in case of electric power failure, and a worm screw (7) to drive a displaceable worm wheel (10) with a pinion (11) meshing with a displaceable gear rack (12). The transmission control member (5) is displaceably coupled to the worm wheel (10). The gear rack (2) is blocked by an electrically activated lock against linear displacement with the spring (15) in a compressed state such that upon interruption of power supply to the lock the gear rack (12) is released and linearly displaced by the spring (15) thereby shifting the transmission control element (5) to its end position.

Abstract: A travel stop support bushing includes a body and an extension. The body has a first outer surface that extends between a first body face and a second body face along an axis. The body defines a plurality of fins that are at least partially defined between the first outer surface and the second body face. The extension has a second outer surface that extends between the first body face and an end face.

Abstract: A steering assembly includes a rack and an adjustment assembly. The rack has a first side surface, a second side surface disposed opposite the first side surface, a first surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface, and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface. The adjustment assembly is arranged to apply orthogonal biasing forces to a pair of orthogonal surfaces of the non-cylindrical steering rack.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a rack bar supporting device of a steering apparatus for a vehicle. The rack bar supporting device includes: a support yoke to support a rack bar; a first cam member configured to have a front surface supporting the support yoke toward the rack bar and to have a rear surface provided with a first cam surface inclined in a circumferential direction thereof; a second cam member configured to have a front surface provided with a second cam surface inclined in a circumferential direction thereof to correspond to the first cam surface, to have a rear surface to which one end of a torsion spring is supported and coupled; a yoke plug; and an elastic pin.

Abstract: A rack-and-pinion steering for a motor vehicle, having a rack which has a longitudinal axis, a rack housing in which the rack is guided for axial displacement, and at least one end stop damping assembly for the rack, the end stop damping assembly being received in the rack housing, the end stop damping assembly including a compression body for damping an end stop and a stop member which is mounted to the rack housing for limited displacement in the axial direction, the stop member resting against a first supporting surface of the rack housing at least partly by means of the compression body in a first axial direction and resting against a second supporting surface of the rack housing in an opposite, second axial direction.

Abstract: A play take-up device comprising a push button that is movably mounted and translationally guided, along a thrust axis 5, in a housing, to exert a thrust force against a rack, said device further comprising a resilient shock-absorbing member that is positioned between the push button and the housing, in contact, respectively, against a first bearing surface belonging to the push button, which is angled in relation to the thrust axis, and is preferably frusto-conical, and a second bearing surface belonging to the housing, referred to which has, opposite the distribution surface and counter to the resilient shock-absorbing member, both a radially extending component and an axially extending component, such that the shock-absorbing member simultaneously returns the push button axially towards the rack and transversely towards the thrust axis.

Abstract: A lifting shelf bracket and a refrigerator having same are provided. The shelf bracket includes: a first rack and a second rack arranged vertically and parallel to each other, and toothed surfaces of the first rack and the second rack are opposite to each other; a first gear and a second gear meshing with each other and disposed between the first rack and the second rack, the first gear meshing with the first rack, and the second gear meshing with the second rack; a movable fixing plate, the second gear being rotatably connected to the movable fixing plate (5) via a first rotation shaft; a first transmission rod having an end passing through the fixing plate and fixedly connected to the first gear, and the first transmission rod rotatable around a central axis thereof; and a locking device disposed to the fixing plate for locking and unlocking the first transmission rod.

Abstract: Described is an actuator for a recline mechanism. The actuator comprises (i) a connector for connecting the actuator to an elongate frame member adjacent to a seat base cushion of an aircraft seat; (ii) a housing; and (iii) a trigger for pulling a cable. Also described is an aircraft seat comprising the actuator and row of said seats.

Abstract: Gear device for fitting to a drive shaft, having a base member which at least partially surrounds the drive shaft, a pinion which is arranged in the assembled state on the drive shaft, and a toothed rod which in the assembled state is assembled on the base member cooperates with the pinion and extends through the base member, wherein the base member is open at one side in such a manner that it can be fitted to a drive shaft in a radial direction. The gear device is characterized in that the base member comprises a retention member, wherein the retention member is configured to secure the pinion in the assembled state arranged on the base member in a position relative to the base member without additional components.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a steering system and an adjustment apparatus for a steering system are provided which allow a clearance between a support yoke and a yoke plug to be appropriately set. When a yoke plug is loosened which has been temporarily fastened to a degree that a support yoke is subjected to elastic compressive deformation, the yoke plug is loosened to a position where a clearance C between the support yoke and the yoke plug reaches a target clearance using, as a reference, a position where a rate of a change in an axial position of the yoke plug with respect to an angular position of the yoke plug increases rapidly.

Abstract: A dual-pinion electric power steering device has: a rack shaft that causes a turnable member to turn; a first pinion shaft to which a steering force from a steering wheel is transmitted; a first rack teeth disposed on the rack shaft and capable of meshing with the first pinion shaft; a second pinion shaft to which a rotational driving force from an assist motor is transmitted; a second rack teeth disposed on the rack shaft and capable of meshing with the second pinion shaft; a first pressing member disposed across the rack shaft from the first pinion shaft and configured to press the rack shaft toward the first pinion shaft; and a second pressing member disposed across the rack shaft from the second pinion shaft and configured to press the rack shaft toward the second pinion shaft. The first pressing member has a lower rigidity than the second pressing member.

Abstract: A gear arrangement includes a rack, a gear and a flexible member. The rack includes a plurality of teeth. The gear is configured to be engaged with the rack through the teeth. The flexible member is adjacent to an end of the rack. The flexible member is configured to rotate the gear.

Abstract: A device for determining steering wheel rotation information, which comprises a linear motion transforming element connected to a steering column of a steering wheel for transforming rotation of the steering wheel into a linear movement, and a processing element electrically connected to the linear motion transforming element for determining steering wheel rotation information based on the linear movement transformed by the motion transforming element.

Abstract: A rack guide device includes a rack guide, a blocking member, a plate spring and a holding member. The rack guide is accommodated in an accommodating portion that is formed in a housing through which a rack shaft is inserted so as to move towards or away from the rack shaft and that supports the rack shaft so that the rack shaft slides in an axial direction thereof. The blocking member is fixed to an external opening end provided on an opposite side of the accommodating portion to a side thereof that faces the rack shaft. The disc spring is interposed between the blocking member and the rack guide to bias the rack guide towards the rack shaft. The holding member holds the disc spring and is directly or indirectly held to the rack guide or the blocking member through frictional engagement.

Abstract: This rotation-linear motion conversion apparatus (10) includes: a pinion shaft (20) in which a pinion gear (22) is formed; a rack bar (30) in which a rack gear (32) that engages with the pinion gear (22) and a support surface (31) along a longitudinal direction are formed; and a support part (40) that supports the rack bar (30) movably along the support surface (31). The support part (40) prevents a movement of the rack bar (30) in a direction X perpendicular to a surface (30a) in which the rack gear (32) is formed.

Abstract: A sliding friction-free gear has cams of specific profiles, rollers separating cooperating cams that roll over the cams of the gears, thus eliminating the sliding friction between the gears. The rollers are mounted rotatably e.g. in sliders or eccentrics, wherein the sliders, resp. eccentrics, are mounted slidingly, resp. rotatably, in a yoke attached rigidly to a shaft. The rollers are free to execute oscillating motion relative the yoke while rolling over the cam profiles of the cams of the gears. The cooperating members of the gear contact along a line like in conventional evolvent gears, and unlike in the Wildhaber-Novikov's gear (where the momentary contact between teeth of cooperating toothed wheels is pointwise); therefore the gear according to the present invention offers much larger transmission capacity and is much less prone to seizure than known gears.

Abstract: A rack shaft of the present invention includes: an effective rack tooth row formed by plastic deformation of a shaft member and having a plurality of rack teeth that mesh with a pinion; a ball screw portion having no rack tooth; an ineffective rack tooth that is formed between the effective rack tooth row and the ball screw portion and that does not mesh with the pinion; and a padding portion that extends from an end of the ball screw portion toward the ineffective rack tooth and that covers at least a part of the ineffective rack tooth.

Abstract: A rack guide for a rack and pinion steering device, a rack and pinion steering device and a manufacturing method for a rack guide for a rack and pinion steering device, has a simple configuration with a close contact property being kept between a rack guide and a rack guide base member to ensure quietness. A rack guide for a rack and pinion steering device includes: a casing; a pinion to be slidably supported by said casing; a rack bar having a rack tooth meshed with said pinion; a rack guide including an abutment portion to which said rack bar is to be slidably abutted and a recessed portion, which is continued to said abutment portion, to be spaced from said rack bar; a rack guide base member for receiving said rack guide; and urging means for urging said rack guide against said rack bar through said rack guide base member.

Abstract: A rack guide for a rack and pinion steering device, a rack and pinion steering device and a manufacturing method for a rack guide for a rack and pinion steering device, has a simple configuration with a close contact property being kept between a rack guide and a rack guide base member to ensure quietness. A rack guide for a rack and pinion steering device includes: a casing; a pinion to be slidably supported by said casing; a rack bar having a rack tooth meshed with said pinion; a rack guide including an abutment portion to which said rack bar is to be slidably abutted and a recessed portion, which is continued to said abutment portion, to be spaced from said rack bar; a rack guide base member for receiving said rack guide; and urging means for urging said rack guide against said rack bar through said rack guide base member.

Abstract: A tilting structure for providing a force for tilting a worm shaft of an electric power steering apparatus to a worm wheel includes: a guide block which is inserted into an insertion space of a housing of the electric power steering apparatus; an elastic member which is disposed within the guide block; and a plug which is movably disposed within the guide block and is elastically supported by the elastic member to exert a tilting force to a bearing which supports the worm shaft. The plug and the guide block are configured to be able to be connected to one another via a thread coupling.

Abstract: A tilting structure for providing a force for tilting a worm shaft of an electrically powered steering apparatus to a worm wheel includes: a guide block which is inserted into an insertion space of a housing of the electrically powered steering apparatus; an elastic member which is disposed within the guide block; and a plug which is movably disposed within the guide block and is elastically supported by the elastic member to exert a tilting force to a bearing which supports the worm shaft.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus according to the present invention has a biasing member arranged to bias a rack retainer toward a rack bar, wherein a biasing force of the biasing member is set such that, in a two-axis coordinate system with a rotation amount of a steering wheel on a horizontal axis and a steering torque on a vertical axis, the steering torque increases with increase in the rotation amount of the steering wheel in a region before the start of relative movement of the rack bar and the rack retainer.

Abstract: A sprocket is engageable with a chain having rollers. The sprocket includes a body and a tooth portion. The tooth portion has front and rear surfaces, a drive side surface and a non-drive side surface. The rear and front surfaces face in opposite axial directions. The drive side surface axially connects the front and rear surfaces on a downstream side. The non-drive side surface axially connects the front and rear surfaces on an upstream side. One of the front and rear surfaces has a first chamfered portion, which is formed in a radially outer portion of at least one tooth portion and tapered radially outward in the axial direction. The drive side surface has a first protrusion, which protrudes downstream in the drive rotation direction and is located radially outwardly from a contact position where the drive side surface contacts each of the rollers when the chain is driven.

Abstract: A hollow rack bar and a method of manufacturing the hollow rack bar are provided. The hollow rack bar includes a hollow blank pipe portion having a uniform wall thickness, and a rack toothed portion. The rack toothed portion includes teeth, a flat portion having a flat surface and arranged side by side with the teeth in a direction along a center axis of the blank pipe portion, and a slanted portion provided at an end of the flat portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to the center axis and arranged to be lower than the flat portion. A length of the slanted portion projected on a straight line perpendicular to the center axis and parallel to the surface of the flat portion is longer than zero and equal to or shorter than the wall thickness of the blank pipe portion.

Abstract: A conveying device drivable by rack gear has a towed hook further forward than a front end of a rack gear mounted to a conveying traveling body. A driving pinion gear, disposed at an entrance of a rack gear drive section, has a drawing-in claw that engages the towed hook and draws in the conveying traveling body to a position where the front end of the rack gear meshes with the driving pinion gear. The towed hook has, at a position at a rear side of a hook portion at a distal end thereof and further forward than the front end of the rack gear, an advance preventing claw portion disposed continuous thereto that, together with the hook portion, sandwiches the drawing-in claw, and the hook portion has a length such that it enters more deeply inside a rotation locus of the drawing-in claw than the advance preventing claw portion.

Abstract: A manufacturing method includes: forming a tubular portion of a rack housing by press forming from prepregs formed by stacking fiber-reinforced composite materials obtained by impregnating fiber sheets with a thermoplastic resin; and thereafter injecting a thermoplastic resin containing fillers for injection molding to form coupling portions integrated with metal rings. A rack housing is manufactured by the manufacturing method described above.

Abstract: A rotary actuator is equipped with an end cover disposed on one end surface of a cylinder main body, a first plug that is engaged with a wall surface constituting an opening on another end side of a first cylinder hole, and a second plug that is engaged with a wall surface constituting an opening on another end side of a second cylinder hole. A first port communicating with a first front cylinder chamber and a second rear cylinder chamber, and a second port communicating with a second front cylinder chamber and a first rear cylinder chamber are formed in the end cover.

Abstract: An actuator for vehicles has a motor having an output gear, a gear member, a slide member, and an accommodation member. The gear member has a first gear part meshed with the output gear and a second gear part provided coaxial with the first gear part on a rotational plane identical to that of the first gear part and has a shape different from a shape of the first gear part. The slide member has an input gear meshed with the second gear part. The accommodation member accommodates the motor and the gear member and accommodates a part of the slide member where the input gear is provided so that the slide member is driven by the motor to be linearly moved.

Abstract: A rack bar supporting device is a device for supporting a rack bar of a steering apparatus of a vehicle toward a pinion shaft and includes a rack bearing and a biasing assembly. The biasing assembly includes an adjustment plug, an adjustment assembly and a support plate assembly. The adjustment assembly includes an adjustment member and a first biasing member. The support plate assembly includes a first support plate, a second support plate, a second biasing member which provides a force for pushing the first support plate along the biasing axis against the second support plate, and a connection structure which connects the first and the second support plates together so as to restrict movement of the second plate in a direction away from the rack bearing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rack-and-pinion steering, including a toothed rack having a longitudinal axis, a toothed rack housing in which the toothed rack is guided for axial displacement between two end stops, and an end stop damping assembly which includes at least one stop ring and at least one elastic compression body, the compression body surrounding the toothed rack, and its spring/damping section having an axial length in a non-loaded condition. The stop ring has a continuously surrounding axial guide extension which is located radially inside in relation to the compression body and which has an axial length that is smaller than the axial length of the spring/damping section of the compression body.

Abstract: A tunable hydraulic bushing mounts a steering gear to a vehicle frame member. The bushing is filled with a fluid and includes an inertia track and a pressure valve separating first and second fluid chambers or cavities. The inertia track provides uninterrupted fluid communication between the first cavity and the second cavity. The pressure valve is movable between an open position, which allows fluid communication though the pressure valve between the first cavity and the second cavity, and a closed position, which blocks fluid communication though the pressure valve between the first cavity and the second cavity. The pressure valve may be configured to be closed during loads induced by smooth road shake and open during loads greater than smooth road shake.

Abstract: Embodiments include a fiducial deployment system with a handle configured for actuation of same. A fiducial may include one or more protuberances configured to engage one or more slots in a needle of the system. The needle may be configured to deliver a plurality of fiducials to a target location in serial fashion, one at a time. In certain embodiments, echogenic placement of fiducials may present certain advantages. The handle includes an actuation mechanism with a toothed rack and actuation member(s) configured for incrementally or otherwise controlledly deploying one or more fiducials at a time by advancing a stylet through and/or retracting the body of a slotted needle in which fiducials are disposed with a fiducial protrusion extending into the needle slot, which also includes retaining structures that do not impede the needle lumen.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage chamber; a first storage unit formed in the storage chamber, left and right side walls of the first storage unit having first roller supporting surfaces; and a second storage unit having first roller members mounted to a front region of the second storage unit on left and right sides thereof, the first roller members being seated on the first roller supporting surfaces of the first storage unit, a protrusion extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the second storage unit, and second roller members provided on both sides of the second storage unit to move along guide surfaces provided on an interior of the storage chamber. A lateral surface of the protrusion is configured to extend into and contact an interior surface of the first storage unit to prevent the first roller members from laterally leaving the first roller supporting surfaces.

Abstract: A blank is provided with a first shaft portion, a second shaft portion, and a machining target portion. The machining target portion is formed at a position closer to a shaft end portion of the first shaft portion than a shaft end portion of the second shaft portion. A first large-volume portion is formed at the first end portion of the machining target portion close to the first shaft portion, and a second large-volume portion is formed at the second end portion of the machining target portion close to the second shaft portion, respectively. The volumes per unit length of the first and second large-volume portions are greater than the volume per unit length of the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the machining target portion. Furthermore, the volume of the second large-volume portion is greater than the overall volume of the first large-volume portion.

Abstract: A manually operable ratchet mechanism includes a pinion assembly comprised of a handle connected to a shaft. The handle and shaft are mounted on a housing to allow the shaft to be rotated as a consequence of a user manually rotating the handle. The shaft carries a pinion configured to engage a toothed rack to incrementally move the rack in discrete steps relative to the housing. Additionally, a rotatable detent member is provided which rotates with the shaft as the handle is rotated. The rotatable detent member cooperates with a fixed detent member on the housing to define discrete detent positions which provide discrete step tactile feedback to the user. The handle is mounted for (1) axial rotation with respect to the shaft axis and additionally for (2) pivotal movement between locked and unlocked positions around a pivot axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis. In the unlocked position, the shaft and rotatable detent member can rotate relative to the housing as the handle is turned.

Abstract: A rack bar support device supports a rack bar of a steering device of a vehicle toward a pinion shaft, and includes a rack bearing which is disposed opposite the pinion to contact the rack bar and a biasing assembly providing a force of pushing the rack bearing along a biasing axis toward the rack bar to urge the rack bearing to push the rack bar is engaged with the pinion shaft. The biasing assembly includes an adjustment plug, an adjustment assembly and a support plate assembly. The support plate assembly includes a support plate which is movably disposed between the adjustment member and the rack bearing in a state of being supported by the adjustment member, and a gap is formed between the support plate and the rack bearing.

Abstract: A rack bar includes a shaft portion and a rack toothed portion provided on the shaft portion. The rack toothed portion includes a plurality of rack teeth provided side by side in an axial direction of the shaft portion to mesh with a pinion gear. Each of the rack teeth includes a tooth tip portion, a contact face arranged obliquely relative to the axial direction and configured to contact the pinion gear, and a rounded corner portion between the tooth tip portion and the contact face. A first radius defining a central area of the rounded corner portion with respect to a tooth width direction is larger than a second radius defining another area of the rounded corner portion other than the central area.

Abstract: A sheet feed cassette includes an end cursor, a pair of gears, and a pair of racks. The end cursor regulates a rear end position of stored paper sheets in the sheet feed direction. The end cursor is slidable in the conveyance direction. The pair of gears are rotatably provided on a lower surface of a base portion of the end cursor and have the same module and the same number of teeth. The pair of racks are provided on a bottom surface of a cassette main body in parallel with each other along a slide direction of the end cursor. The pair of racks respectively mesh with the pair of gears. This makes it possible to prevent a defect such as skewing, a folded edge, or a wrinkle from occurring, allowing the end cursor to slide smoothly with excellent operability.

Abstract: A feed system, rack bar and drive sprocket for moving an underground winning machine having a travel drive with drive sprocket having symmetrically profiled teeth, and rack bars with a plurality of rack teeth being arranged between a supporting strip and a guide strip of the rack bar. The tooth flanks of the teeth are inclined in the direction of movement and diverge towards the tooth tip for the interaction with tooth surfaces of teeth of drive sprocket. In order to improve the interaction between the teeth and produce less wear, the two tooth flanks of each rack tooth are concavely arched and form a trough between guide strip and supporting strip transversely to the direction of movement, with the trough rising towards the tooth tip, and the two tooth surfaces of each drive sprocket tooth is convexly arched and forms a crown transversely to the direction of movement.

Abstract: An EPS includes a first rack and pinion mechanism that converts rotation of a pinion shaft due to a steering operation, to reciprocating motion of a rack shaft; and a steering force assist device that applies a motor torque of a motor as an assist force by using a second rack and pinion mechanism; and an ECU that controls an operation of the steering force assist device. Rack teeth of the rack shaft constituting the first rack and pinion mechanism are formed so that a steering gear ratio is changed depending on a steering angle. The ECU computes a motor neutral point by subtracting a conversion value from a motor angle detection value. The conversion value is computed based on a steering angle detection value by referring to a conversion map that is set taking into account the steering gear ratio corresponding to the steering angle.

Abstract: An automotive steering system includes a steering assembly including a rack and a pinion, and a rack bearing configured to contact the rack, the rack bearing disposed in a rack bearing bore of a housing. The system also includes a wear compensation assembly in fluid communication with a rack bearing bore cavity disposed within the rack bearing, the wear compensation assembly configured to draw fluid into the rack bearing bore cavity in response to movement of the rack bearing within the rack bearing bore.

Abstract: A steering apparatus has a pinion shaft that transmits rotation of a steering wheel to a rack shaft, a bearing that is internally fitted to the housing, rotatably supports one end of the pinion shaft on the housing, and bears a radial load and a thrust load acting on the pinion shaft, and a retaining ring that is internally fitted to an annular groove provided on the inner circumferential surface of the housing and has a C-shaped part and an opening defined by two opposed ends of the C-shaped part, the C-shaped part being in contact with an end face of an outer ring of the bearing to thereby fix the outer ring of the bearing to the housing. The retaining ring is internally fitted to the annular groove in such a way that the opening faces toward the rack teeth as seen from an axial direction of the pinion shaft.

Abstract: A rack shaft support device includes: a support yoke, a plug, an intermediate cam component and a rotation force generating spring. The plug includes a plug body, a plug cap component and a locknut. The plug body has a plug fixing portion, a plug back wall portion, a plug cam portion, a plug internal space and a first restricting portion. The first restricting portion has a first body portion and a first facing portion. The intermediate cam component includes an intermediate cam body, an intermediate cam portion and a second restricting portion. The second restricting portion has a second body portion and a second facing portion. The second facing portion faces the first facing portion.