Patents by Inventor Bruce Allen Bowling

Bruce Allen Bowling has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Automotive steering mechanism housing
    Patent number: 7377193
    Abstract: A composite tubular housing for an automotive steering system, preferably an electronic power assist steering system, is formed of seamless metal tube section welded into an integral component. The housing includes a rack section and a pinion section having an opening that is welded to the rack section. A yoke section is formed of a tube having an end that is welded to the rack section opposite the pinion section. The pinion section may contain a drive pinion coupled to a steering wheel of the vehicle. The housing may also include sections for an assist pinion coupled to an electric motor, and a yoke which are attached to the rack section apart from the drive pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Allen Bowling, Edward Francis McElmeel, Jr., Sunil Palakodati
  • Automotive steering mechanism housing
    Publication number: 20040232642
    Abstract: A composite tubular housing for an automotive steering system, preferably an electronic power assist steering system, is formed of seamless metal tube section welded into an integral component. The housing includes a rack section and a pinion section having an opening that is welded to the rack section. A yoke section is formed of a tube having an end that is welded to the rack section opposite the pinion section. The pinion section may contain a drive pinion coupled to a steering wheel of the vehicle. The housing may also include sections for an assist pinion coupled to an electric motor, and a yoke which are attached to the rack section apart from the drive pinion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Allen Bowling, Edward Francis McElmeel, Sunil Palakodati
  • Electric power assist steering system with roller gearbox
    Publication number: 20030121715
    Abstract: An electric power assist steering system includes an electric motor coupled to a steering mechanism via a roller gear mechanism. The roller gear mechanism transfers power from an electric motor output shaft to a roller pinion gear for a rack and pinion steering mechanism. In an embodiment, a roller pinion gear for use in a power assist steering system comprises a roller wheel having a plurality of radially projecting teeth about its periphery, wherein the teeth comprise pins rotatably mounted in and projecting from the periphery of the roller wheel. The present invention increases the efficiency of power assist steering systems and of vehicles utilizing same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Sunil Palakodati, Bruce Allen Bowling, Edward Francis McElmeel, James Richard Robertson