Patents Assigned to NSK Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20090294203
    Abstract: Deflectors (45b) of a nut (45) pick up balls (65) from a rolling passage (23b, 45f) in a tangential direction of the rolling passage and also in a direction of a lead angle thereof, and therefore the balls (65) can be picked up into a circulating passage (45c) without changing a direction of rolling of the balls, and therefore the smooth rolling can be secured, and operating sounds, vibrations, etc., can be kept to a low level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Okada, Osamu Tatewaki, Osamu Saito
  • Publication number: 20090297259
    Abstract: To provide a steering apparatus which can ensure the transmission of rotational torque of a steering shaft even when weld joining between a shaft and a shaft coupling is insufficient. An extension shaft 4 is inserted from the other end 512 of a joining tubular portion 51, so that male serrations 41 formed on the extension shaft 4 are brought into engagement with female serrations 52 and a shank portion 42 of the extension shaft 4 is tightly fitted in a fitting hole 53. Next, the other end 512 of the joining tubular portion 51 and an outer circumference of the shank portion 42 of the extension shaft are welded to be joined together, so as to forma weld joining portion 56. Following this, a male intermediate shaft 16A is coupled to a shaft coupling 5 which is joined integrally with the extension shaft 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Shin Shimokawara, Shinichi Fuchigami
  • Publication number: 20090286646
    Abstract: In a toroidal continuously variable transmission unit, a pair of guide surface portions 120, 120 are provided on a trunnion 15 so as to face oppositely each other and to extend in a direction which intersects a rotational center axis of a power roller 11 at right angles and intersects pivot shafts 14 at right angles. When a tangential force along a direction of the pivot shafts 14 is applied to the power roller 11, an outer circumferential surface 110 of an outer ring 28 can be brought into abutment with these guide surface portions 120, 120. By this, the toroidal continuously variable transmission unit with good machinability can be obtained in which the power roller together with the outer ring can be rolling guided smoothly relative to the trunnion by an inexpensive and simple construction while avoiding the offsetting of a shaft portion which supports the power roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Shimomura
  • Patent number: 7618341
    Abstract: In a continuously variable transmission apparatus, by adjusting the transmission ratio of a toroidal continuously variable transmission, an output shaft can be stopped while an input shaft is left rotating in one direction by a drive source. And, when, while the vehicle is running, a select lever is operated to a select position in the reverse direction to the vehicle running direction, in a state where a clutch device is connected, the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission apparatus is changed from a value corresponding to the vehicle running state to a value 0 capable of realizing the above-mentioned stopping state along a preset condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Takumi Sinojima
  • Publication number: 20090277294
    Abstract: In the event that a moment in a bending direction is generated in a pinion shaft, for example, when a vehicle is involved in a collision or the like, since a bending facilitating portion which is a circumferential groove 111e bends, stress is concentrated hereon, and no large bending stress is generated in any case between a rolling bearing 102 and a support member 104. Consequently, an excessively large bending force is transmitted in no case to a four point contact type ball bearing 103.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Ishii
  • Publication number: 20090272219
    Abstract: To provide a steering column system which has superior operating feeling and operating properties and which can suppress an operation failure, An engaging arm 5 is displaced relative to a cam member 22 by an annular member 24 being deformed elastically, whereby distal ends of gear teeth are made to shift from each other, thereby making it possible not only to enhance the operation feeling of the operation lever but also to facilitate the meshing thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Okada, Hiroshi Shibazaki, Toshimasa Wada
  • Publication number: 20090272599
    Abstract: To provide an electric power steering apparatus in which it is possible to reduce a size of the entire structure of a control unit while sufficiently showing a heat radiation effect of heat generating members. The electric power steering apparatus includes a steering column 3 having inserted therein a steering shaft 2 to which steering torque is transmitted, a reduction gear box 4 coupled to the steering shaft 2, and an electric motor 5 that transmits a steering assisting force to the steering shaft 2 via a reduction mechanism in the reduction gear box. In the reduction gear box 4, a motor mounting section 17 for mounting the electric motor 5 is formed at an end face in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the steering shaft 2 and a control-unit mounting section 20 for mounting a control unit 19 for controlling to drive the electric motor 5 is formed near the motor mounting section 17.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Sekine, Atsushi Ooshima, Tetsuya Kodama, Seiichi Kobayashi, Keiji Kashimoto, Hideaki Kawada, Shigeo Shinohara, Takeshi Senba
  • Publication number: 20090266640
    Abstract: Since a housing 101 is integrally formed with a frame main body 123A of a frame 223 so as to surround a rotor yoke 258 and a stator yoke 242, heat generated from a motor 109 is conducted to the housing 101 to be thereby emitted to the outside. Accordingly, a heat transfer property and a cooling effect of the motor 109 are remarkably improved compared with a case that the housing 101 is formed into a member separated from a frame 123. As a result, it is possible to realize an increase in output of the motor 109 as well as a decrease in size and weight, thereby realizing a decrease in size of an electric power steering apparatus as a whole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Oshima, Shigeru Endou
  • Publication number: 20090267430
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus according to the invention includes an electric motor to be connected to a control unit through bus bars respectively projected from the inside of the electric motor and is structured such that the control unit controls the drive of the electric motor to thereby assist the steering of a vehicle. The control unit is fixed to a fixing base which is structured as a composing element of the electric motor, and the fixing base covers the connecting portion between the bus bars and control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Yousuke Imamura, Masahiro Maeda, Koji Ohnishi, Takeshi Yamamoto, Tomoaki Ebuchi
  • Publication number: 20090271069
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a control unit of an electric power steering apparatus transmitting a steering assist force generated by a motor to a steering mechanism so as to reduce a steering force, the control unit includes a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle, a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque, a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed, and a control means for controlling the motor on the basis of the steering angle, a steering angular speed, the steering torque and the vehicle speed, and the control means has a handle return control function, and corrects a steering feeling in accordance with the steering angle on the basis of the handle return control function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamamoto, Takeshi Hara, Shuji Endo
  • Publication number: 20090266187
    Abstract: Under a state of a normal temperature, a pitch B2 of a feed nut 55, 65 is formed to be slightly larger than a pitch A2 of a feed shaft screw 53, 63. Accordingly, since the screw thread of the feed nut 55, 65 is pressed to the screw thread of the feed screw shaft 53, 63 with a small interference, there is no backlash between the feed screw shaft 53, 63 and the feed nut 55, 65 so that a smooth feeding operation can be carried out. Under a state of a low temperature, the feed nut 55, 65 contracts more than the feed screw shaft 53, 63. As a result, a pitch B1 of the feed nut 55, 65 has the substantially same dimension as that of a pitch A1 of the feed screw shaft 53, 63.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Okada, Kazuo Chikaraishi, Masato Iwakawa, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20090263065
    Abstract: There is provided a bearing unit including one raceway ring 2 which is mounted on a vehicle body, the other raceway ring 4 which is disposed to face the one raceway ring 2 and is mounted on a wheel, and a plurality of rolling elements 6, 8 which are built in rollably between an outer ring raceway 2s and an inner ring raceway 4s which are formed continuously on facing surfaces of both the raceway rings 2, 4, respectively, along a circumferential direction, at least either of the raceway rings 2, 4 having a connecting flange 12a or a mounting flange 12a at which the raceway ring is mounted on the vehicle body or the wheel, wherein both the raceway rings 2, 4 are formed entirely through cold forging with no machining given to a surface of the flange 2a, 12a, while a quenching and tempering treatment by electromagnetic induction and grinding are given to at least the outer ring raceway 2s and the outer ring raceway 4s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuto Kobayashi, Yuu Yasuda, Kiyoshi Ootsuka, Masato Nagano, Kenichi Nagai, Tatsuo Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20090260467
    Abstract: When a punch is downwardly pressed, an inner circumferential surface of a first rack blank bites into a top surface of a second rack blank. A blank material upwardly flows due to a reaction force and is used to form rack teeth. Thus, a filling degree of the teeth with the material is enhanced. At the time when the forming of the rack teeth is finished, a gap is left between the inner circumferential surface of the first rack blank and the outer circumferential surface of the second rack blank. Thus, a die is not put into a sealed condition. Consequently, a forming load is small so that the lifetime of the die is lengthened. Also, the top surface of the second rack blank bites into a bore hole portion of the first rack blank so that the first rack blank and the second rack blank are joined together. Accordingly, the rigidity of the entire rack teeth is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuto Kobayashi, Kotaro Hirota, Kiyoshi Ootsuka
  • Publication number: 20090263066
    Abstract: It is possible to obtain best performance in a structure in which moment rigidity can be improved by setting a pitch circle diameter of an outboard row to be larger than a pitch circle diameter of an inboard row. Thermally-hardened layers 16a, 16b are formed, at two locations along an axial direction, in portions of an inner circumferential surface of an outer ring 3 including outer ring raceways 12a, 12b. The thermally-hardened layers 16a, 16b are separated from each other by an unhardened portion 17 in an axially middle portion of the outer ring 3. A non-cylindrical curved portion 18 having an arcuate generatrix is provided on the axially middle portion of the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring 3, between the outer ring raceways 12a, 12b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20090256341
    Abstract: A fastener (1) for joining together two members (5, 6) includes a ring main body (3), a plurality of projecting portions (4) which are provided on the ring main body in a circumferential direction at intervals, and a plurality of recessed portions (10) which are provided on the projecting portions, whereby when the two members move relative to each other, a stable frictional resisting force can be imparted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Okada, Hirotoshi Aramaki
  • Publication number: 20090255349
    Abstract: In an electric power steering apparatus equipped with a torque sensor that detects torque, the torque sensor has a coil yoke, a coil disposed within the coil yoke, a base section, and a yoke retainer which covers the coil yoke and fixes the coil yoke to the base section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Segawa
  • Patent number: 7601088
    Abstract: A control unit is imparted a function in which the engagement of a high-speed clutch which had been in disengagement until then is started (or the energization of a high-speed clutch solenoid switch valve is put to ON) before a change-speed of a toroidal continuously variable transmission has reached an optimal value for performance of a mode switch (a point A, for example, 0.46 in a speed increasing ratio) or at a point B (for example, 0.6 in the speed increasing ratio). As a result of this, the problem can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takumi Sinojima, Eiji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20090249909
    Abstract: A speed reducer is provided. The speed reducer includes a worm shaft which is elastically preloaded in a meshing direction, a worm wheel, a biasing member having a fitting portion which is fitted on an axial end portion of the worm shaft arranged inside a housing, and a holder which supports the biasing member with a spring such that the basing member is movable in the meshing direction of the worm shaft and the worm wheel. The worm shaft is supported inside the housing via a bearing which is arranged in series with the holder in an axial direction, and the holder and the bearing are biased in the axial direction by an elastic member and are positioned on a stepped portion formed on an interior of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Segawa
  • Publication number: 20090250894
    Abstract: Even when bending stress acts on a steering gearbox 1 about attachment holes 161 and 171 of vehicle attachment boss portions 16 and 17, deformation of the vehicle attachment boss portions 16 and 17 in both the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction of the vehicle becomes small since rigidity with respect to deformation in the vicinity of the vehicle attachment boss portions 16 and 17 in both the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction of the vehicle is large due to a first rib 61 to a fourth rib 64. Accordingly, it is possible to improve steering stability at the time a steering reaction force occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kojima, Shinya Amada
  • Publication number: 20090241721
    Abstract: A steering apparatus including an attaching bracket having a slot, respectively, a column supported on the attaching bracket, a fastening rod inserted into the slot and the column, an operation lever attached to the fastening rod, a cam mechanism converting an operating movement of the operation lever into an axial movement of the fastening rod, and a tilt lock mechanism including an eccentric cam rotating in accordance with the operation of the operation lever, an irregularity portion being formed on a cam face of the eccentric cam, and an irregularity portion formed on the cam face. When the operation lever is operated, the cam mechanism moves the fastening rod so as to fasten and clamp the column by the attaching bracket at a desired tilt position and the irregularity portion comes into contact with the attaching bracket so as to regulate an upward movement of the column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Koji INOUE, Mikio Katsumata, Masaki Tomaru