Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly comprises a steering member with a rack portion having rack teeth, a pinion gear having pinion teeth configured to be engaged with the rack teeth, a yoke support assembly supporting the steering member in a housing, and a ball nut operatively connected to the steering member. The pinion gear divides the steering member into a first side having the yoke support assembly outboard of an area of engagement of the rack and pinion teeth and a second side having the ball nut. The yoke support assembly includes complementary convex and concave bearing surfaces configured to provide relative rotation between the convex and concave bearing surfaces. The yoke assembly also includes a spring member configured to produce a variable rate spring force to maintain an engagement between the rack and pinion teeth.

Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly comprises a steering member with a rack portion having rack teeth, a pinion gear having pinion teeth configured to be engaged with the rack teeth, a yoke support assembly supporting the steering member in a housing, and a ball nut operatively connected to the steering member. The pinion gear divides the steering member into a first side having the yoke support assembly outboard of an area of engagement of the rack and pinion teeth and a second side having the ball nut. The yoke support assembly includes complementary convex and concave bearing surfaces configured to provide relative rotation between the convex and concave bearing surfaces. The yoke assembly also includes a spring member configured to produce a variable rate spring force to maintain an engagement between the rack and pinion teeth.

Abstract: A rack drive assembly adapted for use in a vehicle electric power steering assembly includes a bearing assembly disposed in a rack housing and carried by a ball nut assembly for rotatably supporting the ball nut assembly relative to a steering member; and a spanner nut carried by the rack housing for securing the bearing assembly in the rack housing. A first isolator, a second isolator and a first shim are provided wherein the first isolator is disposed between an inner surface of the housing and a first surface of an outer race of the bearing, the second isolator is disposed between an opposite second surface of the outer race of said bearing and the first shim, the first shim is disposed between the second isolator and the spanner nut. The first shim is provided with a member configured to be coupled to the housing to allow for axial movement but prevent rotational motion of the shim during installation of the spanner nut.

Abstract: An improved structure for a rack drive assembly adapted for use in a vehicle electric power steering assembly includes a ball nut assembly operatively connected to a screw portion of a rack portion of a steering member of the power steering assembly for effecting axial movement of the steering member upon rotation of a vehicle steering wheel. According to one embodiment, the ball nut assembly includes a ball nut having an outer surface; a bearing assembly fixedly disposed in the rack housing and carried by the ball nut for rotatably supporting the ball nut assembly relative to the steering member; and a damper disposed on an outer race of the bearing assembly. The damper includes a pair of dampers disposed on the outer race of the bearing assembly, each of the dampers including at least a first member formed from a first rigid material and a second member formed from a second damping material.

Abstract: An improved structure for a rack drive assembly adapted for use in a vehicle electric power steering assembly includes a ball nut assembly operatively connected to a screw portion of a rack portion of a steering member of the power steering assembly for effecting axial movement of the steering member upon rotation of a vehicle steering wheel. According to one embodiment, the ball nut assembly includes a ball nut having an outer surface; a bearing assembly fixedly disposed in the rack housing and carried by the ball nut for rotatably supporting the ball nut assembly relative to the steering member; and a damper disposed on an outer race of the bearing assembly. The damper includes a pair of dampers disposed on the outer race of the bearing assembly, each of the dampers including at least a first member formed from a first rigid material and a second member formed from a second damping material.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved structure for a rack drive assembly adapted for use in a vehicle electric power steering assembly. The electric power steering assembly includes a steering member (32), a ball nut assembly (70), a bearing assembly (80) and an electric motor (60). The steering member (32) is disposed in a rack housing (30) and includes a rack portion (34) operatively connected to a vehicle steering wheel (12) and a screw portion (40) having an external thread convolution (42). The ball nut assembly (70) is operatively connected to the screw portion (40) of the rack portion (34) of the steering member (32) for effecting axial movement of the steering member (32) upon rotation of the vehicle steering wheel (12). The ball nut assembly (70) includes a rotor shaft (76) and a ball nut (72) fixed to the shaft (76) for rotation therewith. The ball nut (72) includes an outer surface (96) and the rotor shaft (76) includes an inner surface (114).

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved structure for a rack drive assembly adapted for use in a vehicle electric power steering assembly. The electric power steering assembly includes a steering member (32), a ball nut assembly (70), a bearing assembly (80) and an electric motor (60). The steering member (32) is disposed in a rack housing (30) and includes a rack portion (34) operatively connected to a vehicle steering wheel (12) and a screw portion (40) having an external thread convolution (42). The ball nut assembly (70) is operatively connected to the screw portion (40) of the rack portion (34) of the steering member (32) for effecting axial movement of the steering member (32) upon rotation of the vehicle steering wheel (12). The ball nut assembly (70) includes a rotor shaft (76) and a ball nut (72) fixed to the shaft (76) for rotation therewith. The ball nut (72) includes an outer surface (96) and the rotor shaft (76) includes an inner surface (114).