Specific Mechanical Feature Patents (Class 180/444)
  • Patent number: 9440673
    Abstract: A steering device includes a ball screw mechanism 8 that applies a force in the axial direction to a rack shaft of a vehicle, and a bearing that rotatably supports a nut with respect to a housing. The steering device also includes a plate disposed with a gap between the bearing and the plate in a rack shaft axial direction, and a coned disc spring disposed between the bearing and the plate. The plate abuts against the housing in the rack shaft axial direction. The coned disc spring elastically supports the nut in the rack shaft axial direction via the bearing. One side surface of the plate that faces the coned disc spring is formed in a tapered shape so as to cross a rack shaft radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuichi Nakamura, Masashi Yamaguchi, Ryuji Shibata
  • Patent number: 9441609
    Abstract: In a torque limiter, wedge-shaped spaces are formed between inner and outer rings so as to be arranged in the circumferential direction. In each wedge-shaped space, there are arranged a first roller and a second roller that transmit torque between the inner and outer rings by being brought into wedge-engagement when the inner and outer rings rotate relative to each other in one direction and in the other direction, respectively. Between the first and second rollers, there is arranged an urging device that urges the first and second rollers in such directions that the first and second rollers are brought into wedge-engagement. Each wedge-shaped space is formed such that when the torque becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value, a first wedge angle of the first roller or a second wedge angle of the second roller becomes such an angle that wedge-engagement of the roller is cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9440672
    Abstract: A rack drive assembly adapted for use in a vehicle electric power steering assembly includes a ball nut assembly having at least a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, a bearing assembly carried by the ball nut assembly for rotatably supporting the ball nut assembly, a pulley assembly configured to be carried by the ball nut assembly, and at least a first spanner nut configured to be carried by the first end portion of the ball nut for securing the bearing assembly on the ball nut assembly. The ball nut includes a flange provided on an outer portion thereof configured to connect the ball nut to a pulley of a pulley assembly for rotation therewith. The flange is spaced remote from an end of the second end portion of the ball nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventor: John Holm
  • Patent number: 9434404
    Abstract: A vehicle steering device includes a steering reaction force generating device having a steering reaction force motor; a steering device having a steering motor; a clutch device having an electromagnetic solenoid that sets the steering reaction force generating device and the steering device in a mechanically engaged or disengaged state; a current integrated value acquisition unit that obtains an integrated value of a current of one of the steering reaction force and steering motors; an overload state determination unit that determines whether or not the one motor is in an overload state based on the integrated value of the current supplied to the one motor, obtained by the current integrated value acquisition unit; and a drive control unit that controls driving of the electromagnetic solenoid to set the clutch device in an engaged state when the overload state determination unit determines that the one motor is in an overload state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD. (HGT)
    Inventor: Toshikatsu Kuramochi
  • Patent number: 9428218
    Abstract: A rack-parallel electric power steering device includes a housing that covers the periphery of a speed reducer, and a drain valve provided in the housing. The drain valve includes a first case, a second case mounted to the outer peripheral portion of a bottom portion of the first case, and a valve element that closely contacts a bottom surface of the first case. A through hole is formed in the bottom portion of the first case. The second case includes a bottom portion which is disposed with a gap from the bottom portion of the first case and in which discharge holes are formed. The valve element is an elastic member that blocks an opening portion of the through hole of the first case and that is held between the first case and the second case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuharu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9415800
    Abstract: A telescopic actuator includes a rod a support member and a stroke sensor. The support member supports the rod. The stroke sensor is disposed on one end side of the rod. The stroke sensor includes a bar-like section to be detected and a detecting section. The section to be detected can enter into the detecting section. The detecting section detects a length of a portion of the section to be detected that has entered into the detecting section. The rod has a bottomed cylindrical portion that is open toward the one end side. The section to be detected is fixed to a bottom surface of the bottomed cylindrical portion. When the rod is maximally extended, the support member supports an outer peripheral surface of the bottomed cylindrical portion. When the rod is maximally contracted, the detecting section is at least partly housed in the bottomed cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Fujita
  • Patent number: 9409594
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power steering system, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a servomotor which drives an axially movable component via a nut mounted in a bearing in a rotatable manner in a frame. The nut is engaged with a threaded spindle formed on the component and is supported axially by the bearing in an elastic manner relative to the frame by means of elastic elements and radially on the frame along a narrow circumferential contact surface. Each wave spring assembly has at least two elements, at least one element of which is a wave spring, and an elastic intermediate layer is arranged between each of the at least two elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG
    Inventor: Tibor Kimpian
  • Patent number: 9387873
    Abstract: A power assist apparatus includes an electric motor, a speed reducer, an annular torque sensor, a housing in which the speed reducer and the torque sensor are arranged, and an annular center aligning bracket. The housing includes a first housing element and a second housing element, and one of the first housing element and the second housing element is made of a synthetic resin. The center aligning bracket is fixed to the one of the first housing element and the second housing element by insert molding such that the center aligning bracket is concentric to the one of the first housing element and the second housing element. The first housing element and the second housing element are joined such that the first housing element and the second housing element are engaged with each other in an axial direction of the torque sensor via the center aligning bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kiyota, Takeshi Murakami
  • Patent number: 9371871
    Abstract: A freewheel device having a switchable freewheel which may include a first race, a second race, locking elements arranged between the first and second races and a locking element cage for receiving the locking elements. The locking element cage may be rotated relative to the first race to a first rotational position in which the first race is in rotationally entraining connection to the second race via the locking elements and to a second rotational position in which the first race is not in rotationally entraining connection to the second race. The switching device may be formed by a first planetary gear, a second planetary gear and a switching drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Baeumler, Alexander Moser
  • Patent number: 9371901
    Abstract: Provided is a pulley structure of a belt type electric power steering (EPS) gear, and more particularly, a pulley structure of a belt type EPS gear capable of providing good assemblability using an engineering plastic and a specific structure. The pulley structure of the belt type EPS gear includes an insert ring section coupled to a ball nut, a support section configured to support the insert ring section, a first flange section configured to prevent separation of a belt, a pulley having a driving section configured to receive a driving force of the belt, a support frame disposed at one side surface of the driving section and having a bent shape to have an internal space when coupled to the ball nut, and a second flange section disposed at one side surface of the support frame and configured to prevent separation of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dae-Hee Jung
  • Patent number: 9366288
    Abstract: A bearing arrangement may involve two spring systems that are decoupled from one another. Some bearing arrangements may include components such as a bearing housing, a bearing, spring elements for supporting the bearing in the housing, and an abutment that can be moved in an axial direction of the bearing. Further, a method for assembling a bearing arrangement may involve a compensation mechanism having dimensions that can be subsequently adapted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG
    Inventor: Gergely László
  • Patent number: 9327758
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a motor, a rack shaft, a belt transmission mechanism that is provided with a drive pulley connected to the motor, a driven pulley, and a belt wrapped around the drive pulley and the driven pulley, and a converting member that is provided to extend along an axial direction of the rack shaft and that converts a rotational force of the driven pulley into a movement force in the axial direction of the rack shaft. The driven pulley is fastened and fixed to the converting member by a bolt, and the steering apparatus further includes a retaining member that prevents detachment of the bolt by restricting movement of a head of the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naomasa Watanabe, Shinichi Sakaida
  • Patent number: 9322456
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a motor, a drive pulley that is connected to the output shaft of the motor and includes helical teeth, a driven pulley that is arranged coaxially with a rack shaft and includes helical teeth, and a belt that is wound around these pulleys and includes helical teeth meshing with the respective helical teeth of both pulleys. Internal teeth on a belt each are formed to have a tooth thickness that is reduced toward both ends thereof along the width direction of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9314835
    Abstract: A nut is formed by a die forging process in which a die used for the die forging process is released in a direction along the direction of the axis of rotation of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS STEERING, LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Kitamura, Satoru Muto, Tatsuyoshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9302697
    Abstract: A steering apparatus configured to inhibit a driver from feeling uncomfortable when an end bush impact occurs is provided. The steering apparatus includes a rack shaft that makes a linear motion in a rack housing in response to rotation of a steering shaft, and a ball joint fitted to an end portion of the rack shaft. The steering apparatus further includes an elastic body disposed between the rack housing and the ball joint, an end plate, and a projection of the rack housing. When the elastic body is compressively deformed due to collision of the ball joint with the elastic body, the end plate comes into contact with the projection to restrict compressive deformation of the elastic body by an amount exceeding a length. The length is set larger than a length of a compression deformation length with respect to an axial force due to a reverse input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9296413
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a steering shaft that is coupled to the steering wheel, an output shaft that is coupled to the steering shaft via a torsion bar, a torque sensor that detects a steering torque that acts on the torsion bar, a sensor case to which a magnetic material, which is a component of the torque sensor, is fixed, an upper column tube that rotatably supports the steering shaft, and a lower column tube that is movable relative to the upper column tube, wherein the lower column tube and the sensor case are configured as an integrated part made of a resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tsukada, Shuhei Chiba
  • Patent number: 9296414
    Abstract: In an electric power steering apparatus, an intermediate member of a shaft coupling connecting an assisting electric motor and a speed reduction mechanism together includes a cylindrical intermediate boss portion, a plurality of arm portions extending radially from the intermediate boss portion, and engagement spaces each defined by a pair of the adjacent arm portions. Furthermore, the intermediate member includes a center portion, a first cover portion, and a second cover portion. The center portion slightly protrudes toward the engagement space side with respect to the first cover portion and the second cover portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Kakutani, Takeshi Kawara
  • Patent number: 9290199
    Abstract: An electric power steering system includes: an annular elastic member that is made of resin, that is arranged between an inner end face of a housing and an outer ring of a bearing that supports a cylindrical member that rotates coaxially with a rack shaft, and that supports the cylindrical member such that the cylindrical member is movable in the axial direction with respect to the housing; and a supporting member that restricts axial movement of the cylindrical member within a predetermined range, and that restricts radially inward movement of the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Bando, Ryo Omata
  • Patent number: 9266282
    Abstract: The core metal for resin welding improves bonding strength between an outer peripheral resin member and the core metal. The outer peripheral resin member 30 is welded to the peripheral surface 21 of the core metal 20 by fitting the core metal into a fitting hole 31 of the outer peripheral resin member 30, preparing the outer peripheral resin member 30 providing the fitting hole 31 with a smooth internal wall surface; preparing the core metal 20 wherein streaky protrusions 26 and smooth portions 25 are provided; allowing the top parts of the protrusions 26 to contact, and the smooth portions of the core metal 20 to face the smooth internal wall surface; and induction heating to weld the outer peripheral resin member 30 to the protrusions 26 and the smooth portions 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: NETUREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideto Sayama, Toshio Hachiya, Kanji Endo, Masatoshi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9239102
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a threaded shaft for a roller screw drive, for example for an electromechanical brake booster or an electromechanical power steering system. According to the disclosure, a helical coil with a flat, square-threaded annular cross-section is arranged on a thin-walled pipe, the pipe being formed onto a root region of the helical coil by the application of high pressure from the inside of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Verhagen, Willi Nagel, Bernd Goetzelmann
  • Patent number: 9216760
    Abstract: A steering gear having a gearwheel, having a pinion which meshes with said gearwheel and having a pinion shaft which comprises the pinion and winch is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pinion shaft wherein the radial spacing between the pivot axis and the location of toothed engagement between the gearwheel and pinion is smaller than the core radius of the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Hafermalz, Dennis Fuechsel
  • Patent number: 9205860
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reducer of an electric power auxiliary steering apparatus. According to embodiments of the present invention, impulse noise of a worm shaft bearing caused by fluctuation of a worm shaft can be reduced, and strength of a damping member in a direction toward a worm wheel and an opposite direction thereto is lower than that in other directions, so that the fluctuation of the worm shaft can be more effectively alleviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyun Bi Kwon
  • Patent number: 9205863
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a motor-driven power steering (MDPS) includes: a torque sensor configured to measure a driver's steering torque inputted to a steering wheel and output a steering torque signal; a steering angle sensor configured to measure a steering angle of the steering wheel; a variable notch filter configured to reduce a torque ripple for the steering torque signal depending on a steering angle speed which is a change rate of the steering angle with respect to time; a vehicle speed sensor configured to measure vehicle speed; and a controller configured to receive the steering angle, the steering torque signal, and the vehicle speed from the steering angle sensor, the variable notch filter, and the vehicle sensor, respectively, and control drivability of a driving motor according to a driving speed of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seung Hoon Yang
  • Patent number: 9193382
    Abstract: A method of calculating the offset of a yaw rate signal may be based at least in part on signals representing pinion angle, wheel speed, and yaw rate. These signals may be determined, and threshold comparisons may be performed, and determination of the yaw rate signal may be based at least in part on the results of the threshold comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Imre Szepessy, Imre Benyó, Miklós Arányi, Dóra Szabolcs
  • Patent number: 9174667
    Abstract: A steering force assisting device that includes an electric motor and includes independent two sets of motor driving circuit and control unit, and the electric motor includes coils having the same polarity and different motor characteristics, the coils being wound around each of teeth of a stator of the electric motor. The motor characteristics are a high speed/low torque characteristic and a low speed/high torque characteristic, and may be selected on the basis of the running condition of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9102349
    Abstract: A steering system is provided with an uninterruptible mechanical positive coupling between a steering wheel and a pinion in the form of a steering shaft and with an electrical auxiliary power assistance, in which an electric motor introduces its assistance power into the steering system via a reduction gear mechanism. A switchable magnetic brake is provided, which in a closed switching state blocks the motor shaft of the electric motor frictionally in relation to a motor housing fixed to the vehicle body, and which in an open switching state releases the motor shaft so that this can rotate in a fixed transmission ratio with the steering shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Julian Sandholzer, Max Oertle
  • Patent number: 9097333
    Abstract: The wear compensation device for a gear set comprises a support for attaching the device to an external element, a bearing intended to be mounted on a shaft comprising one of the wheels of the gear set, an eccentric mounted on the bearing and able to move angularly with respect to the support, an actuator mounted axially between the support and the eccentric and able to apply a circumferential force to the said eccentric, and at least one maintaining means for temporarily maintaining the angular indexing of the eccentric relative to the support in an angular position in which the actuator is preloaded between the said eccentric and the said support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Jerome Boussaguet, Sylvain Bussit, Daniel Jansen, Thomas Lepine, Bruno Montboeuf
  • Patent number: 9080646
    Abstract: A helical gear mechanism for a steering system in a motor vehicle comprises a helical pinion which engages with a helical gear and a bearing bushing which accommodates a bearing of the helical pinion. An inner ring of the bearing bushing is connected to an outer ring via a pivot bearing so that a pivoting motion of the helical pinion relative to the helical gear is possible. A pressure piece is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring of the bearing bushing. The pressure piece is movable in a spring-loaded manner in a section of an annular gap between the inner ring and the outer ring. The inner ring and/or the outer ring are designed in the section so that the annular gap between the inner ring and the outer ring is tapered in the direction in which the pressure piece can be moved in a spring-loaded manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Fuechsel, Ekkehard Kneer, Jens Hafermalz, Arne Kuhlen, Marco Grau
  • Patent number: 9074644
    Abstract: A clutch unit includes a lever-side clutch portion for controlling transmission and interruption of rotational torque to an output side through lever operation, and a brake-side clutch portion for transmitting torque input from the lever-side clutch portion to the output side and for interrupting torque reversely input from the output side. The lever-side clutch portion has an outer centering spring provided between a lever-side outer ring to be rotated through the lever operation and a cover restricted in rotation, for accumulating an elastic force obtained by torque input from the lever-side outer ring and for restoring the lever-side outer ring to a neutral state with the accumulated elastic force through releasing of the torque input from the lever-side outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Sato, Takahide Saito, Masahiro Kawai, Kouji Isoda, Naochika Kubota, Yumiko Mineno, Hiromitsu Hamazaki
  • Patent number: 9066429
    Abstract: A circuit board includes control circuit patterns and first drive circuit patterns. A base maintains the circuit board in a state in which the base is opposed to a portion of the circuit board, in which the control circuit patterns are formed, across a space that allows control circuit elements to be mounted at the circuit board. A line module includes second drive circuit patterns electrically connected to the first drive circuit patterns so as to constitute a part of lines of a drive circuit, and is sandwiched between a portion of the circuit board, in which the first drive circuit patterns are formed, and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeki Nagase, Motoo Nakai
  • Patent number: 9061698
    Abstract: A speed reducer for an electric power steering system includes a worm, a worm wheel, and a housing. Only a meshing section where the worm and the worm wheel mesh with each other and a space between the worm wheel and the housing are filled with grease. The grease in the space is in contact with both tooth surfaces of the worm wheel and an inner peripheral face of the housing, the inner peripheral face facing the worm wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Wakugawa, Ryuji Nakata, Atsuhiro Yoshida, Wataru Yamada, Jun Hamakita, Hideyuki Honkado
  • Patent number: 9051001
    Abstract: An apparatus for power steering of a vehicle, comprises: a worm gear arrangement including a worm shaft and a worm wheel engaged with the worm shaft; a bearing to support the worm shaft rotatably; a gear housing structure enclosing the worm gear arrangement, and defining a holder receiving portion; and a holder member arranged to hold the bearing, and fit movably radially in the holder receiving portion. A biasing mechanism urges the holder member or the bearing in a nearing direction toward the worm wheel. A buffer member is arranged to be compressed by the holder member when the holder member is moved in the nearing direction to buffer collision of the holder member in the holder receiving portion. The buffer member is set to have an elastic force smaller than the biasing elastic force of the biasing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS STEERING, LTD.
    Inventor: Shozo Ishii
  • Patent number: 9050998
    Abstract: A travel control device for a vehicle has a steered angle varying device 14 or a by-wire type steering device 96 which modifies a relationship of steered angle of steerable wheels to steering operation amount by a driver. When the control device decides that vehicle trajectory control is to be initiated or renewed, it calculates a target steered angle of the steerable wheels for driving the vehicle along a target trajectory which is required for the vehicle to arrive at a target arrival position in a target traveling direction on the basis of steering operation amount by a driver and vehicle speed at a time point of the decision. The control device controls the steered angle of the steerable wheels according to the target steered angle in feed-forward or feed-back manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Goto, Yoji Kunihiro, Junro Yamamoto, Mitsuyuki Ouchi, Shuji Fujita, Keitaro Niki, Tomihide Masuda
  • Patent number: 9051002
    Abstract: An electrical power steering system is configured to assist steering by transmitting, through a belt, a rotational force of a driving pulley coaxially coupled to a rotational shaft of an electrical motor to a driven pulley coaxially coupled to a rotational member of a steering apparatus. The electrical power steering system includes a belt tension adjustment mechanism for adjusting a tension of the belt. The belt tension adjustment mechanism includes: a guide surface and an engagement surface, which are formed as mating surfaces of a housing of the steering apparatus and a casing of the electrical motor so as to engage with each other; and a connector capable of relatively moving the engagement surface along the guide surface due to a connection force for connecting the housing and the casing under a state in which the guide surface and the engagement surface engage with each other. The guide surface is inclined by a predetermined amount with respect to an axial line direction of the rotational shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsuyuki Ouchi
  • Patent number: 9038764
    Abstract: A motor control circuit includes a power relay, a converter division, a smoothing condenser, a control circuit and a motor drive circuit, and is connected to a battery as high voltage power and to an electrical motor. The battery is connected with a driving battery having the high voltage such as 288V etc. A step down circuit reduces the high voltage to a low voltage such as 36V etc., charges a low voltage charge device and supplies drive power to the motor drive circuit. When the vehicle collision is occurred, the control circuit detects the collision by a value of detected acceleration, a power change relay is turned on to change to the power source from the low voltage charge device after voltage of the smoothing condenser is reduced, thereby connecting the low voltage to the motor drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Motoo Nakai
  • Patent number: 9033097
    Abstract: The invention relates to a servo-assisted steering system, in particular for a motor vehicle, having a servo motor which drives an axially displaceable component via a nut (1) which is mounted in a frame (9, 10) in a rotatable manner in a bearing (4), wherein the nut (1) engages with a threaded spindle (2) formed on the component and is supported via the bearing (4) elastically with respect to the frame (9, 10) in the axial direction by means of spring elements (18, 20) and is supported on the frame (9, 10) in the radial direction along a narrow encircling contact surface (8, 30), wherein the spring elements (18, 20) are corrugated springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Alexander Kiforiuk, Dennis Kontner, Gergely Laszlo
  • Patent number: 9033096
    Abstract: A power steering device includes a first bearing and a second bearing that rotatably support the base-end side and the tip-end side of a worm shaft, a biasing member that biases the outer circumferential surface of the second bearing, and an elastic member that is arranged between the inner circumferential surface of a gear case and the outer circumferential surface of the second bearing. The inner circumferential surface of the gear case is formed such that the second bearing can move towards a worm wheel by the biasing force of the biasing member, the inner circumferential surface of the gear case is provided with a ring-like groove that houses the elastic member, and the center of the ring-like groove is offset towards the worm wheel side from the center axis of the worm shaft when the first bearing and the second bearing are in a coaxial state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinraku Yoshikawa, Katsumi Shimoda, Tetsuro Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20150129348
    Abstract: Worm wheel construction that is able to sufficiently increase the strength of the connecting portion between a hub 11a and a gear portion 12a, and to maintain sufficient durability even when applied to an electric power steering apparatus that applies a large auxiliary torque, is achieved. A synthetic resin gear portion 12a is molded and formed in the end portion on the outer-diameter side of a metal hub 11a. A first annular concave portion 15 is provided on one surface side in the axial direction of the hub 11a, and a second annular concave portion 22 is provided on the other surface side in the axial direction thereof. Part of the synthetic resin of the gear portion 12a is fed into the portions near the outer diameter of the first annular concave portion 15 and the second annular concave portion 22 to form a first restraining portion 18 and a second restraining portion 23.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kiyota, Takeshi Yamamoto, Fumiaki Mitsuhashi, Kentaro Ogi
  • Patent number: 9022169
    Abstract: An electrical power steering system is configured to assist steering by transmitting, through a belt, a rotational force of a driving pulley coaxially coupled to a rotational shaft of an electrical motor to a driven pulley coaxially coupled to a rotational member of a steering apparatus. The electrical power steering system includes a belt tension adjustment mechanism for adjusting a tension of the belt. The belt tension adjustment mechanism includes: a guide surface and an engagement surface, which are formed as mating surfaces of a housing of the steering apparatus and a casing of the electrical motor so as to engage with each other; and a connector capable of relatively moving the engagement surface along the guide surface due to a connection force for connecting the housing and the casing under a state in which the guide surface and the engagement surface engage with each other. The guide surface is inclined by a predetermined amount with respect to an axial line direction of the rotational shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuyuki Ouchi
  • Patent number: 9025336
    Abstract: A linked semiconductor module unit links a plurality of semiconductor modules by a first bus bar and a second bus bar, which are embedded in resin parts. The linked semiconductor module unit is disposed in a place other than on a printed circuit board. The semiconductor module linking structure is implemented readily by molding the bus bars together with semiconductor chips and lands to form the resin parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Minato, Hideki Kabune, Atsushi Furumoto
  • Patent number: 9020703
    Abstract: A power steering apparatus includes: a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque applied to a steering wheel and outputting a torque signal corresponding to the steering torque; a speed sensor for detecting a speed of a vehicle and outputting a speed signal corresponding to the speed of the vehicle; a humidity sensor for outputting a humidity signal corresponding to a humidity of an interior of the power steering apparatus; and an electronic control unit for receiving the humidity signal from the humidity sensor, and for, when a measured humidity is an reference value or higher, generating a motor current signal for supplying an assistant steering force smaller than an assistant force set in response to the torque signal and the speed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Hong Yong Bhae, Hyun Chul Tae
  • Patent number: 9020757
    Abstract: A path planning autopilot guides vehicles efficiently even when they are far from a desired path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: John W Peake, Stephan Pleines
  • Patent number: 9010482
    Abstract: A knurled press-fitting portion and an annular groove, which receives foreign matter and is formed to extend in a circumferential direction in front of the press-fitting portion of a cylindrical protruding portion, are provided at an outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion of an output shaft. A fitting portion, which is fitted to a coupling tube by press-fitting, is formed at an outer periphery of an opening end of the protruding portion. An outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion and an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical coupling tube coupled to a Z4 gear are fitted and coupled to each other. The annular groove is closed by the fitting portion in a state where the protruding portion and the coupling tube are coupled to each other. The annular groove is configured so as to prevent foreign matter from being discharged toward a bearing gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Motoyama
  • Patent number: 9010483
    Abstract: In a power steering device employing both a worm speed reducer and a backlash adjuster for a worm gear of the speed reducer, the backlash adjuster has a slider configured to be movable in a longitudinal direction of a worm shaft, and a biasing member configured to bias the slider toward one side of the longitudinal direction of the worm shaft. Also provided is a guide member configured to bias the worm shaft in a direction for meshing with a worm wheel by a movement of the worm shaft in the meshing direction that the worm shaft approaches a rotation center of the worm wheel with a movement of the slider toward the one side of the longitudinal direction, and also configured to restrict a movement of the worm shaft in a direction opposite to the meshing direction of the worm shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Steering, Ltd.
    Inventor: Susumu Kimoto
  • Patent number: 9004220
    Abstract: A strut suspension is disposed on a vehicle front side of a rotation center of a front wheel. A rack and pinion mechanism is disposed on a vehicle front side of the strut suspension. Since the strut suspension and the rack and pinion mechanism are disposed on the vehicle front side of the rotation center of the front wheel, a foot space can be moved forward to a position where the foot space overlaps the front wheel. A vehicle cabin space can be thereby increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kawaguchi, Masayuki Fujita, Yohei Kawasaki, Futoshi Miyakawa, Tatsuya Shiokawa
  • Patent number: 9004222
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus transmits rotational force of a motor to a rack shaft via a driver pulley, a belt, a driven pulley, and a ball nut. A ball bearing and the driven pulley are fitted to the outer circumferential surface of the ball nut. Also, the ball nut is rotationally supported to the inner circumferential surface of a housing via the ball bearing. A female thread portion is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the driven pulley. The ball nut has a male thread portion formed in a first end and a flange formed in a second end. By fastening the male thread portion and the female thread portion to each other, the ball bearing is clamped between the flange and the driven pulley, while the ball nut and the driven pulley are fastened to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kaneko, Toshihiro Asakura, Yuichi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9004221
    Abstract: Torque sensor detects torque of steering shaft formed by first and second shafts which are connected through torsion bar. Torque sensor has: a magnetic member provided at the first shaft and having magnetic poles alternately arranged in circumferential direction concentrically with rotation axis; a first yoke member provided at the second shaft and having (a) first nail portions arranged concentrically with the rotation axis and facing the magnetic member in radial direction and (b) a first ring portion; a second yoke member provided at the second shaft and having (c) second nail portions arranged concentrically with the rotation axis so that the first and second nail portions are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction and the second nail portions face the magnetic member in the radial direction and (d) a second ring portion arranged to be separated from and face the first ring portion; and a magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Steering, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Yoshida, Tatsuyoshi Maruyama, Kiyotaka Shirakubo, Kohtaro Shino, Makoto Kimura
  • Patent number: 9002580
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling an electrically-powered steering apparatus of a vehicle may include a selection switch adapted to select any of a plurality of steering modes, a control switch adapted to change a current for controlling the steering force, a control portion adapted to determine the current according to a signal received from at least one of the selection switch and the control switch and to transmit a control signal according to the determined current, and a drive portion adapted to control the steering force according to the control signal received from the control portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Nam Young Kim, Yoon Su Kim
  • Patent number: 8989964
    Abstract: A vehicle speed control device is provided. The device includes a steering device which steers left and right wheels, first and second electric motors which separately apply power to the left and right wheels, an operation amount acquisition unit which acquires an acceleration operation amount by the driver of the vehicle, a steering angle acquisition unit which acquires a steering angle which is a value between an inner wheel steering angle and an outer wheel steering angle; a vehicle speed acquisition unit configured to acquire an actual speed of the vehicle; and a control unit configured to control the first electric motor and the second electric motor on the basis of the acceleration operation amount, the actual speed, the steering angle, and a steering geometry indicating a geometric relationship between the steering angle and a turning center of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yasui, Hiroaki Aizawa
  • Patent number: 8985265
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes an electric motor, a drive torque transmission mechanism for converting a rotation of the electric motor to a linear movement and transmitting the linear movement to vehicle wheels, first and second circuit boards mounting electronic components to process a motor control command and drive the electric motor based on the motor control command, a metal control housing accommodating therein the first and second circuit boards and coupled at an outer surface thereof to the drive torque transmission mechanism, a heat transfer part located inside the control housing so as to receive heat from the respective circuit boards and a heat guide part extending from the outer surface of the control housing to the inside of the heat transfer member so as to guide the heat transferred to the heat transfer part in a direction toward the drive torque transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumasa Hagiwara, Haruaki Motoda