Redundant gear assembly for vehicle steering column and method

Abstract

A redundant gear assembly for a vehicle steering column includes a gear operatively coupled to a steering column component. Also included is a first and second set of gear teeth on the gear. Yet further included is a first motor driving a first gear input component, the first gear input component in meshed engagement with the first set of gear teeth to provide a first steering assist torque that is representative of a desired steering assist torque in a primary operating mode of the redundant gear assembly. Also included is a second motor driving a second gear input component, the second gear input component in meshed engagement with the second set of gear teeth to provide a second steering assist torque in a redundant operating mode of the redundant gear assembly, the second motor not driving the second gear input component in the primary operating mode.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.