# US 10,479,399 B2 · Redundant gear assembly for vehicle steering column and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,399 B2 - Document ID: US10479399B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/612,623 - Filed: 2017-06-02 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-02 - Assignees: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation - Applicants: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation - Inventors: Jeffrey E. Beyerlein; Jason T. Rutkiewicz; Niklaus A. von Matt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479399B2 ## CPC - B62D 5/0409: {Electric motor acting on the steering column} - B62D 5/003: {Backup systems, e.g. for manual steering (B62D5/30 takes precedence)} - B62D 5/04: electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear - B62D 15/025: {Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation (B62D1/28 takes precedence)} - F16H 1/16: comprising worm and worm-wheel - 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) - F16H: GEARING ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A redundant gear assembly for a steering column comprising: a gear operatively coupled to a steering column component; a first set of gear teeth on the gear; a second set of gear teeth on the gear; 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; and 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The redundant gear assembly of claim 1, wherein the second motor provides less than the desired steering assist torque in the redundant operating mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The redundant gear assembly of claim 1, wherein the second motor provides a torque representative of the desired steering assist torque in the redundant operating mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The redundant gear assembly of claim 1, wherein the first gear input component is a first worm forming a first worm gear arrangement with the gear and the second gear input component is a second worm forming a second worm gear arrangement with the gear, the first set of gear teeth disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the gear and adjacent to a first face of the gear, the second set of gear teeth disposed on the outer circumferential surface and adjacent to a second face of gear. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The redundant gear assembly of claim 4, wherein the first set of gear teeth and the second set of gear teeth overlap in an axial direction of the gear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The redundant gear assembly of claim 1, wherein the first gear input component and the gear form one of a worm gear arrangement, a face gear arrangement, a spur gear arrangement, a helical gear arrangement, and a spiroid gear arrangement, the second gear input component and the gear forming one of a worm gear arrangement, a face gear arrangement, a spur gear arrangement, a helical gear arrangement, and a spiroid gear arrangement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The redundant gear assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle steering column is a steer by wire system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The redundant gear assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle steering column is disposed in an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The redundant gear assembly of claim 8, wherein the first gear input component and the gear form one of a worm gear arrangement, a face gear arrangement, a spur gear arrangement, a helical gear arrangement, and a spiroid gear arrangement, the second gear input component and the gear forming one of a worm gear arrangement, a face gear arrangement, a spur gear arrangement, a helical gear arrangement, and a spiroid gear arrangement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The redundant gear assembly of claim 8, wherein the vehicle steering column is a steer by wire system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The redundant gear assembly of claim 8, wherein the vehicle steering column is disposed in an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle. ### Claim 12 A redundant gear assembly for a steering column comprising: a gear operatively coupled to a steering column component; a first set of gear teeth on the gear; a second set of gear teeth on the gear; 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 in a primary operating mode of the redundant gear assembly; and 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 the primary operating mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The redundant gear assembly of claim 12, wherein the first steering assist torque and the second steering assist torque provide a combined steering assist torque that is representative of a desired steering assist torque. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The redundant gear assembly of claim 13, wherein the first steering assist torque is 50% of the desired steering assist torque and the second steering assist torque is 50% of the desired steering assist torque. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The redundant gear assembly of claim 12, wherein the first motor and the second motor are each operable to provide a torque representative of a desired steering assist torque. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The redundant gear assembly of claim 12, wherein the first gear input component is a first worm forming a first worm gear arrangement with the gear and the second gear input component is a second worm forming a second worm gear arrangement with the gear, the first set of gear teeth disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the gear and adjacent to a first face of the gear, the second set of gear teeth disposed on the outer circumferential surface and adjacent to a second face of gear.