Abstract: There is provided a controller for a steering device that makes it possible to prevent sudden ceasing of steering assisting power by effectively utilizing an auxiliary power source. An electric power steering device that generates steering assist force by a motor includes a battery for supplying electric power to the motor, an auxiliary power source that supplies the motor with electric power, and a control circuit for controlling a power supply to the motor. In the event of a breakdown of the battery, the control circuit adjusts a power supply to the motor from the auxiliary power source according to an amount of energy remaining in the auxiliary power source so as to reduce steering assist force.

Abstract: A circuit board unit of an ECU has an upper surface on which semiconductor elements are installed, a lower surface that is on the opposite side of the circuit board unit from the upper surface, and a cutout portion that is formed below the upper surface. A power module includes a conductive protruding piece and an electrically insulating main portion that holds the protruding piece. The conductive protruding piece is inserted in the cutout portion to support the circuit board unit, and is electrically connected to the semiconductor elements.

Abstract: The multi-stage reducer includes a first-stage reduction part to which the rotation from a motor is input and a second-stage reduction part to which the rotation having undergone speed reduction by the first-stage reduction part is input. The second-stage reduction part is disposed on an outer circumference of the first-stage reduction part.

Abstract: A sliding-type tripod constant velocity joint that includes needle units, each of which is able to prevent rolling elements from falling off in a state where the rolling elements are introduced in a cage, is provided. Each cage (60) of a constant velocity joint (1) forms circulation paths that are trajectories of circulating rolling elements (50), and is formed of a pair of first circulation path forming member (70) and second circulation path forming member (80) that are coupled to face each other so as to respectively support both axial ends of the rolling elements (50). Then, at least one of the circulation path forming members (70 (80)) has a window portion (75 (85)) that is open so as to be able to introduce the rolling elements (50) laterally with respect to a circulating direction into the circulation paths and a rib portion (76 (86)) that is formed so as to extend from a periphery of the window portion (75 (85)) in an introducing direction in which the rolling elements (50) are introduced.

Abstract: A planetary gear mechanism of the invention includes a housing, an input shaft that has an eccentric portion whose center lies on an eccentric axis, and is rotatable about the axis of input and output shafts relative to the housing, an oscillating face plate that eccentrically oscillates relative to the input shaft via the eccentric portion, and rotates about the eccentric axis, and an output shaft that is provided with a second internally toothed gear that internally contacts and meshes with a second externally toothed gear formed on the oscillating face plate, and is rotatable about the axis of the input and output shafts relative to the housing. The housing is formed with a first internally toothed gear that internally contacts and meshes with a first externally toothed gear formed on the oscillating face plate.

Abstract: A sliding member has a base material whose surface is at least partially covered with a DLC film, wherein an intermediate layer is interposed between the base material and the DLC film, and the intermediate layer has a multilayer structure obtained by stacking a first Cr layer, a CrN layer and a second Cr layer successively from the side closer to the base material.

Abstract: In a grinding machine, a retraction grinding is performed after a first advance grinding. Within a rotational range for a cylindrical workpiece to rotate from a present rotational phase to a target rotational phase in the retraction grinding, target grinding resistances in respective rotational phases are generated based on residual grinding amounts in the respective rotational phases of the cylindrical workpiece. Then, the retraction grinding is performed and controlled to make a grinding resistance detected by a force sensor agree with the target grinding resistances in respective rotational phases.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes: a steering mechanism that includes a steering member, a steering angle detecting unit and a direction detecting unit that detects a steering direction with reference to a neutral position of the steering member; a steered mechanism that includes a steered wheel and a turning actuator having a turning motor, and that is not mechanically coupled to the steering mechanism; and a control device that controls the turning motor and that, at the time of a failure of the steering angle detecting unit, controls the turning motor by determining a turning motor command value for controlling the turning motor on the basis of a detected signal from the direction detecting unit.

Abstract: An electric motor has a stator and a rotor that are used in common between two systems. An ECU controls the motor torque by supplying drive electric power to the motor coils independently of each other. When the ECU determines that the vehicle is traveling on a uneven road, the ECU causes the electric motor to perform a braking operation by short-circuiting at least two phases of the electric motor of one of the two systems that is other than the system that is executing a torque control of controlling the assist torque according to the steering torque and the vehicle speed.

Abstract: A variable transmission ratio mechanism is provided on an intermediate portion of a steering shaft, and is able to change a transmission ratio between a shaft on the steering wheel side and a shaft on the steered wheel side by transmitting the sum of rotation of the first shaft and rotation of a rotary shaft of a motor to the second shaft. The variable transmission ratio mechanism is provided with a lock mechanism that restricts the operation of the variable transmission ratio mechanism. When the fact that a rate of change in torque that acts on the steering shaft exceeds a predetermined rate is detected, a period of time until the torque that acts on the steering shaft reaches a torque determination value is estimated. On the condition that the estimated time is shorter than or equal to a predetermined period of time, the lock mechanism is activated.

Abstract: A rack shaft support device includes: a rack shaft support member that is accommodated inside a retention hole formed in a housing so as to slide in an axial direction of the retention hole, and slidably supports a rack shaft; a sealing member fixed to an inlet port of the retention hole; an intermediate member that is interposed between the rack shaft support member and the sealing member; a torsion spring that couples the sealing member and the intermediate member; a cam mechanism that converts a rotational force of the intermediate member induced by untwisting of the torsion spring to a force by which the intermediate member pushes the rack shaft support member; an opposing portion that opposes a rear surface of the rack shaft support member; and an annular elastic member that is interposed between the rear surface of the rack shaft support member and the opposing portion.

Abstract: A vehicle hub unit includes: an outer ring; rolling elements; a hub wheel that is arranged radially inward of the outer ring via the rolling elements; and an inner ring member that is fixed to an end portion of a hub spindle of the hub wheel by clinching. A spline tooth portion that meshes with a tooth portion of a constant velocity joint that transmits driving force to the hub unit is formed at a clinched portion of the hub spindle. A protruding portion is formed at a radially inner side portion of a bottom of the spline tooth portion.

Abstract: A steering system includes a motor that rotates a power transmitting member, a rotating body to which rotative power of the motor is transmitted via the power transmitting member, a rack shaft that is driven in its axial direction according to rotation of the rotating body, a rack housing that houses the rack shaft and the rotating body, and a bearing interposed between the rack housing and the rotating body. A receiving portion of the rotating body which engages with the power transmitting member is provided at an opposed surface as a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the rotating body which is opposed to an output shaft of the motor, and the bearing is provided on a non-opposed surface other than the opposed surface.

Abstract: A lubricant composition, which is low in friction, does not have an attacking property against polyamide resin, etc., is excellent in heat resistance, and especially does not undergo deterioration or loss of the respective characteristics in a short term when used under a high temperature environment, is provided along with a speed reduction gear and an electric power steering apparatus that use the lubricant composition. The lubricant composition has blended therein a synthetic hydrocarbon oil, a urea thickener, zinc stearate, and a sulfur-based antioxidant. A speed reduction gear has a portion of engagement of a small gear and a large gear filled with the lubricant composition. In an electric power steering apparatus, an output of a steering assisting electric motor is speed reduced and transmitted to a steering mechanism via the speed reduction gear.

Abstract: A gap adjustment mechanism that moves an upper housing in a direction close to a worm is disposed in a fitting portion between the upper housing and a lower housing. The gap adjustment mechanism is disposed in the fitting portion on the side of the worm or in the fitting portion on the other side of the worm.

Abstract: A wheel bearing device of the invention includes a flanged shaft member that includes a shaft portion to which a rolling bearing is assembled, a fitting shaft portion that is formed on one end side of the shaft portion and that is fitted to a center hole of a wheel, and a plurality of flange portions that extend radially outward on an outer peripheral surface located between the shaft portion and the fitting shaft portion and each of which has a through bolt hole in which a hub bolt for fastening the wheel is arranged. Each flange portion of the wheel bearing device is formed by side extrusion when a forged recess is formed at a center of an end surface of the fitting shaft portion by cold forging. An edge portion of a cross-sectional shape taken perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of each flange portion is formed in an R-chamfered shape.

Abstract: A crankshaft has eccentric holes communicating with each other. The eccentric hole extends in the axial direction of the crankshaft from one end surface of the crankshaft and is disposed so as to be eccentric in the same direction as a cam section. The eccentric hole extends in the axial direction of the crankshaft from the other end surface of the crankshaft and is disposed so as to be eccentric in the direction of the eccentricity of a cam section. A centrifugal force due to the rotation of the crankshaft generates a force couple about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of the crankshaft. The force couple is reduced by the eccentric holes. The cam sections are arranged around the axis of rotation with the phases shifted by 180 degrees from each other. As a result, a translational force acting in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the crankshaft is also reduced.

Abstract: The ball screw apparatus includes a returning way L2 by mounting a circulating member 15 in mounted holes 16, 17 formed in the ball screw nut 13. The ball screw nut 13 includes a base portion 51 and an expanding portion 52. In the base portion 50 a distance from an axis center O1 of the rack shaft 3 to a bottom portion 14a of the nut side screw groove 14 is constant, and in the expanding portion 52 the distance is larger than that of the base portion 51. The expanding portion 52 includes a connecting area 34.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a gear housing that has a pulley space in which a driven pulley, a driving pulley and a timing belt that are placed so as to be operatable and which communicates with the outside of the gear housing. The gear housing also has a motor-side hole into which a drive shaft of an electric motor is inserted, and a pulley-side hole into which the drive pulley is inserted and which is formed at a position opposite the motor-side hole across the pulley space.

Abstract: A roller bearing cage includes ring portions and pillar portions extend in an axial direction to connect the ring portions and disposed along a circumferential direction to define pocket portions. The pillar portion includes a bent portion formed in the vicinity of an axial center of the pillar portion so as to protrude radially inwards of the ring portions. A ring portion thickness is larger than a bent portion thickness; a pillar end portion thickness is larger than the bent portion thickness; and the pillar end portion thickness is equal to the ring, portion thickness or more, where the ring portion thickness is a radial thickness of the ring portion; the bent portion thickness is a radial thickness of the bent portion; and the pillar end portion thickness is a thickness of a portion of the pillar portion connected to the ring portion and in the vicinity thereof.