Electric power steering apparatus

• US 7,183,681 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NSK Limited
• Original Assignee: NSK Limited, NSK Steering Systems Company Limited (NSK Limited)
• Inventors: Segawa, Toru, Wada, Masaru, Eda, Hiroshi, Kanazawa, Takayoshi, Momo, Yushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam; Thanh
• Application Number:
  US11/115,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20050183902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 310/71, 310/68.B, 310 89- 90, 310 98- 99, 310/216, 310/254
• US Class Current: 310/68.00B
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0403 characterised by constructional features, e.g. common housing for motor and gear box
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/16 comprising worm and worm-wheel
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/012 Shields associated with rotating parts, e.g. rotor cores or rotary shafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/21 Devices for sensing speed or position, or actuated thereby specially adapted for machines having non-mechanical commutating devices H02K29/06, H02K29/14
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 29/08 using magnetic effect devices, e.g. Hall-plates, magneto-resistors H02K29/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/08 Insulating casings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/15 Mounting arrangements for bearing-shields or end plates
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/1732 radially supporting the rotary shaft at both ends of the rotor H02K5/1737 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/081 specially adapted for worm gear drives H02K7/09 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1166 comprising worm and worm-wheel structural association with bearings specially adapted for worm gear drives H02K7/081

Abstract

In an electric power steering apparatus that generates an auxiliary steering torque by a brushless motor in response to a steering torque applied on a steering wheel and transmits it to an output shaft of a steering mechanism while reducing it by means of a reduction gear, the apparatus comprises a rotor (10) to which a cylindrical permanent magnet for rotational driving (12) and a member to be detected (13) for detection of a rotational angle of the rotor are attached and a cylindrical stator (30) opposed to the rotor in which a laminated core (16) on which a coil is wound, detection means (17) for detecting the rotational angle of the rotor by the member to be detected and a terminal (19) for providing connection to the coil are integrally formed by resin molding. At least one bearing (8, 9) for rotatably supporting the rotor is disposed radially inside the stator and between the permanent magnet for rotational driving and the member to be detected.

Claims

1. An electric power steering apparatus that generates an auxiliary steering torque by a brushless motor in response to a steering torque applied on a steering wheel and transmits the auxiliary steering torque to an output shaft of a steering mechanism through a reduction gear mechanism, comprising:

a rotor to which a cylindrical permanent magnet for rotational driving and a detection member to enable detection of a rotational angle of said rotor are attached;

a molded resin stator member having a cylindrical portion opposed to said rotor, said stator member having, integrally molded therein, laminated core on which a coil is wound, a detection device which detects the rotational angle of said rotor by detection of said detection member, and a terminal providing connection to the coil; and

two bearings rotatably supporting said rotor within opposite axial end portions of said stator member,

each bearing being disposed radially inside of and supported by said stator member, and one of said bearings also being disposed between said permanent magnet and said detection member, and

said stator member having, on its outer surface, a flange mounted to a mounting portion of a housing for said reduction gear mechanism, said flange being axially displaced from an end of said stator member in a direction away from said reduction gear mechanism such that a portion of said stator member is disposed radially inwardly of said mounting portion of said housing.

2. An electric power steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of said stator member varies stepwise along the axial direction.

3. An electric power steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stator member integrally includes an electric cable connection terminal.

4. An electric power steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detection member is disposed on an end portion of the rotor that is opposite to a motor output side end portion.

5. An electric power steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stator member has a closing wall that closes an opening at the side opposite to the reduction gear mechanism and in which the other bearings is supported.

6. An electric power steering apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shield member shielding a boundary portion between said reduction gear mechanism and said motor, the shielding member being attached to said rotor of said motor to rotate with said rotor and leaving a predetermined small gap between it and a stationary portion of said motor or said reduction gear mechanism.

7. An electric power steering apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said shield member and the stationary portion of said motor or said reduction gear mechanism forms, in cooperation, a predetermined small gap therebetween that has a labyrinth effect.

8. An electric power steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flange of said stator is disposed substantially centrally along a length of said coil in an axial direction of said stator member.

9. An electric power steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flange of said stator member is disposed substantially centrally between said two bearings in an axial direction of said stator member.