# US 10,118,640 B2 · Damper apparatus and steering system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,640 B2 - Document ID: US10118640B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/454,312 - Filed: 2017-03-09 - Published: 2017-09-21 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-15 - Assignees: Jtekt Corporation - Applicants: Jtekt Corporation - Inventors: Toshiaki Ogata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118640B2 ## CPC - B62D 7/228: {acting between the steering gear and the road wheels, e.g. on tie-rod} - B62D 3/12: of rack-and-pinion type - F16F 3/10: combined with springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction - F16F 15/085: {Use of both rubber and metal springs} - B62D 7/20: Links, e.g. track rods (means for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in B62D17/00) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract A damper apparatus includes a shock-absorbing member configured to absorb a shock while restricting movement of a shaft relative to a housing. The shock-absorbing member includes a shock-receiving member configured to come into contact with one member, which is one of a large-diameter portion of the shaft and a restriction portion of the housing, and a pre-compression spring disposed between the other member, which is the other of the large-diameter portion and the restriction portion, and the shock-receiving member in a state where the pre-compression spring is compressed in advance in an axial direction. The pre-compression spring is configured to urge the one member in the axial direction via the shock-receiving member when the large-diameter portion is relatively moved toward the restriction portion beyond a prescribed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A damper apparatus comprising: a shaft having a shaft portion and a large-diameter portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the shaft portion; a housing through which the shaft extends so as to be movable relative to the housing in an axial direction, the housing having a tubular shape, and the housing having a restriction portion at a position at which the restriction portion faces the large-diameter portion in the axial direction; and a shock-absorbing member disposed between the large-diameter portion and the restriction portion, the shock-absorbing member being configured to restrict movement of the shaft relative to the housing and absorb a shock generated due to the restriction when the shaft is moved to an end of a movable range relative to the housing, wherein the shock-absorbing member includes: a shock-receiving member configured to come into contact with one member when the large-diameter portion is moved to a prescribed position in the axial direction relative to the restriction portion, the one member being one of the large-diameter portion and the restriction portion; a pre-compression spring, the pre-compression spring being a spring having elasticity in the axial direction, the pre-compression spring being disposed between the shock-receiving member and another member in a state where the pre-compression spring is compressed in advance in the axial direction, and the pre-compression spring being configured to urge the one member in the axial direction via the shock-receiving member when the large-diameter portion is relatively moved toward the restriction portion beyond the prescribed position, the another member being the other one of the large-diameter portion and the restriction portion; and an elastic body disposed between the another member and the shock-receiving member, the elastic body being configured to be deformed to absorb a shock while restricting relative movement of the shaft when the large-diameter portion is relatively moved toward the restriction portion beyond the prescribed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The damper apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pre-compression spring is made of a metal material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The damper apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the shock-absorbing member is installed in the housing; the shock-receiving member is configured to come into contact with the large-diameter portion that is the one member when the large-diameter portion is moved to the prescribed position relative to the restriction portion; and the pre-compression spring is disposed between the shock-receiving member and the restriction portion that is the another member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The damper apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a stopper fixed to the housing, the stopper being configured to restrict movement of the shock-receiving member toward the one member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The damper apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shock-absorbing member further includes: a main body having a tubular portion and a support portion configured to support one end of the pre-compression spring in the axial direction; and a stopper fixed to the tubular portion, the stopper being configured to restrict movement of the shock-receiving member toward the one member, and the main body, the shock-receiving member, the pre-compression spring, and the stopper constitute a unit configured to maintain a state where the pre-compression spring is compressed between the support portion and the shock-receiving member, the unit being disposed in the another member so as to be detachable from the another member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A steering system comprising the damper apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft constitutes a steered shaft connected at respective end portions to steered wheels via tie rods, the steered shaft being configured to make a reciprocating motion in an axial direction to steer the steered wheels, the shaft being oscillatably connected at the large-diameter portion to each of the tie rods, and the steered shaft is accommodated in the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The steering system according to claim 6, wherein: the steered shaft is provided with a rack-and-pinion mechanism to which an operation of a steering wheel is transmitted; and the pre-compression spring is compressed in advance by a load that is equal to or larger than a difference between a maximum axial force that is able to be output from the steered shaft of the steering system and a maximum axial force required to steer the steered wheels.