Abstract: A torque transmission joint has a shock-absorbing member between a drive shaft and a driven shaft. When the drive shaft is rotated in one direction, forces due to torque transmitted from the drive shaft to the driven shaft act inward in a radial direction of the shock-absorbing member on held sections that are held between one side surfaces in the circumferential direction of drive-side arm sections that are positioned in the front side in the one direction of rotation of the drive shaft, and side surfaces in the circumferential direction of driven-side arm sections that are positioned on the rear side in the one direction of rotation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing member comprises held sections located at a plurality of locations in a circumferential direction and comprising paired held sections and non-paired held sections, and is constructed to have a non-circular cylindrical shape in cross-section. Portions where outer-diameter side end sections of held sections that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are made continuous by way of outer-diameter side cover sections, and portions where inner-diameter side end sections of held sections that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are made continuous directly or by way of inner-diameter side cover sections, in an alternating sequence in the circumferential direction. Drive-side arm sections are placed between the non-paired held sections, driven-side arm sections are placed between the paired held sections, and the outer circumferential surfaces of the drive-side arm sections are covered by the outer-diameter side cover sections.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus capable of being both lightweight and rigid. A lightweight electric power steering apparatus is achieved wherein a gear housing (45) that houses an electric assist mechanism, a lower support bracket (54) for fastening the gear housing (45) to the vehicle body, a sensor housing (56) that houses a torque sensor (57), an outer column (30) of a steering column (6c), and an upper support bracket (59a) for fastening the middle section of the outer column (30) to the vehicle body can all be integrally formed of synthetic resin, improving the strength of the joined sections of these members.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus capable of being both lightweight and rigid. A lightweight electric power steering apparatus is achieved wherein a gear housing (45) that houses an electric assist mechanism, a lower support bracket (54) for fastening the gear housing (45) to the vehicle body, a sensor housing (56) that houses a torque sensor (57), an outer column (30) of a steering column (6c), and an upper support bracket (59a) for fastening the middle section of the outer column (30) to the vehicle body can all be integrally formed of synthetic resin, improving the strength of the joined sections of these members.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing member 18a comprises combined held sections 33 that are located at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction and that comprise paired held sections 25a, 25b, and is constructed so as to have a non-circular cylindrical shape in the cross section by arranging portions where outer-diameter side end sections of the held sections 25a, 25b that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are made continuous by way of outer-diameter side cover sections 31, and portions where inner-diameter side end sections of the held sections 25a, 25b that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are made continuous directly or by way of inner-diameter side cover sections 32, in an alternating sequence in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: Construction is achieved that more completely protects the driver of a vehicle during a secondary collision by gradually increasing the impact load that is absorbed by an energy absorbing member 22b the more the steering wheel displaces in the forward direction. The energy absorbing member 22b comprises a base section 27a that is provided in the center section, and a pair of impact absorbing sections 28b that extend in the forward direction from both ends of the base section 27a and have U-shaped bent back curved sections 29b in the middle section. Of these impact absorbing sections 28b , at least the portions that are nearer the tip end side than the bent back curved sections 29b are pressed so that the height of the energy absorbing member 22b with respect to a stroking section 32 gradually increases going in a direction from the bent back curved sections 29b toward the tip end side of the energy absorbing sections 28b.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing member 18a comprises combined held sections 33 that are located at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction and that comprise paired held sections 25a, 25b that each have a mirror symmetry about an imaginary plane that passes through the center axis of the shock-absorbing member 18a and that are inclined in a direction toward the imaginary plane with respect to the radial direction as going toward the outside in the radial direction.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus capable of being both lightweight and rigid. A lightweight electric power steering apparatus is achieved wherein a gear housing (45) that houses an electric assist mechanism, a lower support bracket (54) for fastening the gear housing (45) to the vehicle body, a sensor housing (56) that houses a torque sensor (57), an outer column (30) of a steering column (6c), and an upper support bracket (59a) for fastening the middle section of the outer column (30) to the vehicle body can all be integrally formed of synthetic resin, improving the strength of the joined sections of these members.

Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein upward displacement of a steering column 6c during a secondary collision is prevented, and the distance D between the steering column 6c and the tip end section of an adjustment lever 18b is kept the same regardless of the up/down position of the steering wheel 1. The position of the adjustment lever 18b after rotation is maintained by the tip end section of a locking arm 40 that is provided on the base end section of the adjustment arm 18b engaging with a locking groove 42 of a locking piece 41 that is provided on a support plate section 23a. The direction of formation of the locking groove 42 is such that when the up/down position of the steering wheel 1 is in an upward position, the top end section of the locking groove 42 engages with the tip end section of the locking arm 40, and when the up/down position of the steering wheel 1 is in a downward position, the bottom end section of the locking groove 42 engages with the tip end section of the locking arm 40.

Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering apparatus that is both lightweight and rigid. A lightweight electric power steering apparatus is achieved wherein a gear housing 45 that houses an electric assist mechanism, a lower support bracket 54 for fastening the gear housing 45 to the vehicle body, a sensor housing 56 that houses a torque sensor 57, an outer column 30 of a steering column 6c, and an upper support bracket 59a for fastening the middle section of the outer column 3 to the vehicle body are all integrally formed of synthetic resin with glass fibers, improving the strength of the joined sections of these members.

Abstract: Construction is achieved that more completely protects the driver of a vehicle during a secondary collision by gradually increasing the impact load that is absorbed by an energy absorbing member 22b the more the steering wheel displaces in the forward direction. The energy absorbing member 22b comprises a base section 27a that is provided in the center section, and a pair of impact absorbing sections 28b that extend in the forward direction from both ends of the base section 27a and have U-shaped bent back curved sections 29b in the middle section. Of these impact absorbing sections 28b, at least the portions that are nearer the tip end side than the bent back curved sections 29b are pressed so that the height of the energy absorbing member 22b with respect to a stroking section 32 gradually increases going in a direction from the bent back curved sections 29b toward the tip end side of the energy absorbing sections 28b.

Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein upward displacement of a steering column 6c during a secondary collision is prevented, and the distance D between the steering column 6c and the tip end section of an adjustment lever 18b is kept the same regardless of the up/down position of the steering wheel 1. The position of the adjustment lever 18b after rotation is maintained by the tip end section of a locking arm 40 that is provided on the base end section of the adjustment arm 18b engaging with a locking groove 42 of a locking piece 41 that is provided on a support plate section 23a. The direction of formation of the locking groove 42 is such that when the up/down position of the steering wheel 1 is in an upward position, the top end section of the locking groove 42 engages with the tip end section of the locking arm 40, and when the up/down position of the steering wheel 1 is in a downward position, the bottom end section of the locking groove 42 engages with the tip end section of the locking arm 40.

Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering apparatus that is both lightweight and rigid. A lightweight electric power steering apparatus is achieved wherein a gear housing 45 that houses an electric assist mechanism, a lower support bracket 54 for fastening the gear housing 45 to the vehicle body, a sensor housing 56 that houses a torque sensor 57, an outer column 30 of a steering column 6c, and an upper support bracket 59a for fastening the middle section of the outer column 3 to the vehicle body are all integrally formed of synthetic resin with glass fibers, improving the strength of the joined sections of these members.

Abstract: To provide a steering column system which has superior operating feeling and operating properties which can suppress an operational failure, an engaging arm is displaced relative to a cam member by an annular member that is deformed elastically. Distal ends of gear teeth are made to shift from each other, making it possible not only to enhance the feeling of the operation lever, but also to facilitate meshing of the gear teeth.

Abstract: When a telescopic gear base 6 and a telescopic gear member 8 are relatively brought close to each other, although their centers shift from each other, even when a tooth tip of a tooth (first tooth) 6a on one surface and a tooth tip of a tooth (second tooth) 8a on one surface contact with each other (at C-point in FIG. 5(b)), the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 can continue the relative movement in direction of an arrow (FIG. 5(b)) from such the state, because they contact with each other and intermeshed so that each angle with their tooth continuing directions is set larger than 0° and smaller than 90°. Therefore, since the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 intermesh gradually to slide, the tooth 6a and the tooth 8s readily intermesh during slide (at D-point in FIG. 5(c)).

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.

Abstract: Since a fixed piece 7 is attached to a fixed bracket 1 by means of bolts BT, BT, the impact force by which sliding of a skid bracket 2 is started can be arbitrarily set by adjusting tightening force of the bolts BT, BT.

Abstract: When a telescopic gear base 6 and a telescopic gear member 8 are relatively brought close to each other, although their centers shift from each other, even when a tooth tip of a tooth (first tooth) 6a on one surface and a tooth tip of a tooth (second tooth) 8a on one surface contact with each other (at C-point in FIG. 5(b)), the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 can continue the relative movement in direction of an arrow (FIG. 5(b)) from such the state, because they contact with each other and intermeshed so that each angle with their tooth continuing directions is set larger than 0° and smaller than 90°. Therefore, since the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 intermesh gradually to slide, the tooth 6a and the tooth 8s readily intermesh during slide (at D-point in FIG. 5(c)).

Abstract: The present ball/roller bearing cleaning method is a method which, using cleaning liquid 24, cleans a bearing to be cleaned 1 composed of an inner ring 1b, an outer ring 1a, a rolling bodies 1c and a retainer. In the cleaning method, the cleaning liquid 24 is made to flow through the bearing to be cleaned 1 from the axial direction of the present bearing 1 into spaces in which the raceway surfaces of the inner and outer rings 1b and 1a of the bearing to be cleaned 1 surround the rolling bodies 1c and retainer. For example, a cylindrical-shaped rotary die 2 having spiral grooves 2a is interposed into a cleaning liquid supply passage, and the cleaning liquid 4 is supplied to thereby rotate the cylindrical-shaped rotary die 2, whereby the cleaning liquid having high pressure can be supplied to the bearing to be cleaned 1 from the cylindrical-shaped rotary die 2.

Abstract: The present ball/roller bearing cleaning method is a method which, using cleaning liquid 24, cleans a bearing to be cleaned 1 composed of an inner ring 1b, an outer ring 1a, a rolling bodies 1c and a retainer. In the cleaning method, the cleaning liquid 24 is made to flow through the bearing to be cleaned 1 from the axial direction of the present bearing 1 into spaces in which the raceway surfaces of the inner and outer rings 1b and 1a of the bearing to be cleaned 1 surround the rolling bodies 1c and retainer. For example, a cylindrical-shaped rotary die 2 having spiral grooves 2a is interposed into a cleaning liquid supply passage, and the cleaning liquid 4 is supplied to thereby rotate the cylindrical-shaped rotary die 2, whereby the cleaning liquid having high pressure can be supplied to the bearing to be cleaned 1 from the cylindrical-shaped rotary die 2.