Power steering apparatus with unitary torque sensor and worm driving housing
First Claim
1. A power steering apparatus for assisting the turning of steerable wheels of a vehicle, comprising:
- a steering column having one end connected with a steering wheel and another, opposite end operatively connected with steerable wheels;
a unitary housing including a first, cylindrical housing portion (23) surrounding a portion of said steering column, and a second housing portion (54) disposed adjacent said first housing portion, integral therewith and having one end closed and another, opposite end open;
a worm wheel (50) disposed in said first housing portion and firmly fitted on said steering column;
a torque sensor (4) disposed in said first housing portion for detecting a steering torque exerted on said steering wheel by a driver;
a flat, multi-lead strap (46) wound around said steering column and accommodated in said first housing portion, said multi-lead strap having one end electrically connected to said torque sensor and another, opposite end connected to terminal means disposed outside said steering column;
a worm shaft (51) disposed in said second housing portion and having a tip end rotatably supported by the second housing portion at its closed end, a basal end rotatably supported by the second housing portion at its end, and worm teeth formed on an outer periphery of the worm shaft at a location intermediate the ends, said worm teeth being in meshing engagement with the worm wheel; and
a motor (5) installed on said open end of the second housing portion and operatively connected with said worm shaft, said motor being driven to run in accordance with the steering torque detected by said torque sensor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power steering apparatus includes a motor 5 connected through a clutch 6 and a worm gear mechanism 50,51 with a steering column 12. A multi-lead strap 46 is wound around the steering column within a first cylindrical housing 23 for electrically connecting a torque sensor 4 to terminals disposed outside the steering column. The worm gear mechanism includes a worm wheel 50 fitted on the steering column in the first housing, and a worm shaft 51 in mesh with the worm wheel and disposed in a second cylindrical housing 54 adjacent the first housing. The second housing has one end closed and the other end open. The worm shaft is rotatably supported at one end by a first bearing 52 press fitted in the closed end of the second housing and at its other end, which is connected with the clutch, by a second bearing 53 fixedly mounted thereon, such that the worm shaft can be axially removed from the second housing through its open end.
25 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A power steering apparatus for assisting the turning of steerable wheels of a vehicle, comprising:
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a steering column having one end connected with a steering wheel and another, opposite end operatively connected with steerable wheels; a unitary housing including a first, cylindrical housing portion (23) surrounding a portion of said steering column, and a second housing portion (54) disposed adjacent said first housing portion, integral therewith and having one end closed and another, opposite end open; a worm wheel (50) disposed in said first housing portion and firmly fitted on said steering column; a torque sensor (4) disposed in said first housing portion for detecting a steering torque exerted on said steering wheel by a driver; a flat, multi-lead strap (46) wound around said steering column and accommodated in said first housing portion, said multi-lead strap having one end electrically connected to said torque sensor and another, opposite end connected to terminal means disposed outside said steering column; a worm shaft (51) disposed in said second housing portion and having a tip end rotatably supported by the second housing portion at its closed end, a basal end rotatably supported by the second housing portion at its end, and worm teeth formed on an outer periphery of the worm shaft at a location intermediate the ends, said worm teeth being in meshing engagement with the worm wheel; and a motor (5) installed on said open end of the second housing portion and operatively connected with said worm shaft, said motor being driven to run in accordance with the steering torque detected by said torque sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification