Having Flexible Working Member Patents (Class 180/430)
  • Patent number: 8146705
    Abstract: An oscillating gear device includes an axially fixed gear piece rotatable around a first axis and an axially oscillating gear piece that oscillates while being inclined with respect to the first axis. A plurality of pins held by one of the gear pieces engage with a plurality of tooth grooves of the other gear piece in engagement regions at a predetermined length in longitudinal directions of the pins. A formula rC0/rF0=ZC/ZF is satisfied, where rC0 is a distance between an arbitrary point on the central axis of the pin in a corresponding section corresponding to the engagement regions of the pin as viewed in the radial direction of the pin and the first axis, rF0 is a distance between the arbitrary point and the second axis, ZC is the number of pins of the one gear piece, and ZF is the number of tooth grooves of the other gear piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignees: Jtekt Corporation, Ogino Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyasu Yamamori, Makoto Yamasawa
  • Patent number: 7798279
    Abstract: A steering apparatus (10) for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle in response to rotation of a vehicle steering wheel (12) comprises a first assembly (16), a second assembly (26), and a mechanism (108). The first assembly is operatively coupled to the steering wheel and includes components (18, 22) for monitoring applied torque and angular rotation of the steering wheel. The second assembly includes a steering gear (34) and components (28, 30) for actuating the steering gear in response to the monitored rotation. The mechanism, when in a first mode of operation provides a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steering gear. The mechanism when in the second mode of operation, providing a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steering gear sufficient to enable manual actuation of the steering gear and permit actuation of the steering gear in response to the monitored steering wheel rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventor: Daniel E. Williams
  • Publication number: 20090288905
    Abstract: A coupling assembly for a motor-driven power steering system may include a coupling case connected to a motor shaft, a worm shaft including a flange formed at one end portion of the worm shaft; a coupling member disposed between the coupling case and the flange, wherein the coupling member is fitted in the coupling case and is rotatably coupled to the motor shaft formed in the coupling case so that the coupling member integrally rotates with the coupling case, and an elastic protrusion that integrally protrude from lateral side of the coupling member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicants: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sangdon PARK
  • Patent number: 7044261
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle comprises a housing (14) that defines a fluid chamber (24). A rack bar (26) extends longitudinally through the housing (14) and is connectable with the steerable wheels of the vehicle. The rack bar (26) is movable relative to the housing (14) for turning the steerable wheels. A piston assembly (34) is fixedly attached to the rack bar (26) and sealingly engages the housing (14). The piston assembly (34) divides the fluid chamber (24) into first and second chamber portions (40 and 42). A fluid source (80) directs fluid toward one of the first and second chamber portions (40 or 42) for creating a differential pressure between the first and second chamber portions (40 and 42). The piston assembly (34) and the rack bar (26) move relative to the housing (14) in response to the differential pressure. The piston assembly (34) includes structure (132) for dampening fluid pulsations emanating from the fluid source (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventors: John S. Borza, William F. Olsen, Richard A. Stoll
  • Patent number: 6361074
    Abstract: A steering structure of a vehicle is provided in which when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied from outside to a flexible transmitting member which connects to a steering unit and an operation detecting unit which detects an operation of a steering wheel, a portio of the transmitting member is separated (including both a structure for cutting and separating the transmitting member itself, and a structure for cutting a coupling of the like provided on the transmitting member), so that when the transmitting member is varied at the time of collision, the steering wheel angle is prevented from being varied to enhance safety at the time of collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nonaka, Kohji Noma
  • Patent number: 5816352
    Abstract: A battery-powered toy vehicle permitting conversion between rider control and remote radio control is provided. A steering assembly attached to the underside of the toy vehicle is capable of being both remotely controlled by a radio controlled steering actuator, and rider controlled by a steering wheel. A switch effects the mechanism for converting between radio-control and steering wheel control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventor: Brian A. Hacker
  • Patent number: 5598897
    Abstract: A power steering device for automobile type vehicles having a hydraulic power cylinder for assisting in steering front end wheels of the vehicle. The hydraulic power cylinder has a piston and piston rod fixed thereto reciprocable in two opposite directions of travel. The opposite ends of the piston rod are linked to respective front wheels of the vehicle for turning the individual steering wheels in a direction in which the piston rod travels. The piston rod has a rack with which a pinion is engaged and rotated by a shaft rotated by a drum coupled to the shaft for effecting manual steering. Another drum is provided and is rotated by the steering wheel by the vehicle driver. The drums are operationally coupled by a pair of flexible cables for rotating the drums by the steering wheel to move the piston rod rack in the desired steering direction. A direction control valve having a rotatable rotor is coupled to the drum which drives the rack pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Chuouhatsujou Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akehito Sugiura
  • Patent number: 5544715
    Abstract: Methods and devices for enhancing shudder stability in servo systems comprising hydro-mechanically driven actuators are disclosed. Series damping devices forming compliant couplings having series damping characteristics are disclosed. The series damping devices are utilized for mounting the hydro-mechanically driven actuators or coupling them to load elements which they position. The improvement consisting of providing series damping associated with the hydro-mechanically driven actuators for absorbing sufficient energy to provide adequate gain and phase margins for the open-loop feedback characteristics of systems utilizing the hydro-mechanically driven actuators in order to substantially prevent high frequency shudder from occurring during operation of the systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Edward H. Phillips-Techo Corp.
    Inventor: Edward H. Phillips