Floating worm bearing bore offset
AssigneeSteering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
InventorsDaniel J. Diffin, Ryan D. Harris, Joshua D. Mullins, William J. Logan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power steering assembly is provided. The power steering assembly may include a housing, a first bearing, a second bearing, a worm, and a worm gear. The first bearing is disposed within the housing and defines a first central axis. The second bearing is disposed within the housing and defines a second central axis offset from the first central axis. The first bearing and the second bearing are arranged with the housing such that the second bearing is movable to align the first central axis with the second central axis responsive to a load applied to the second bearing.
Claims20
A power steering system comprising:
- a worm gear;
- and
- a worm extending along a worm axis between a first worm end and a second worm end, the worm in meshed engagement with the worm gear, the worm is rotatably supported by a first bearing and a second bearing,
- the first bearing defining a first bearing bore that extends along a first bearing axis and the second bearing defining a second bearing bore that extends along a second bearing axis and is offset from the first bearing bore,
- at least one of the first bearing and the second bearing being preloaded by a spring such that the first bearing and second bearing are axially offset in a direction away from the worm gear, and
- the first bearing and the second bearing becoming coaxial with each other along a shared bearing axis in response to a load applied to at least one of the first bearing and the second bearing.
A power steering assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a worm gear;
- a first bearing disposed within the housing and defining a first central axis;
- a second bearing disposed within the housing and preloaded towards a second central axis offset from the first central axis in a direction away from the worm gear, the first bearing and the second bearing being arranged with the housing such that the second bearing is movable to align the first central axis with the second central axis responsive to a load applied to the second bearing;
- a worm at least partially disposed within the housing and including a threaded portion, the worm extending between and supported by the first bearing and the second bearing;
- and
- the worm gear disposed within the housing for meshing with the threaded portion of the worm.
A power steering assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a fixed bearing disposed within the housing and defining a first bore and a first central axis;
- a worm including a first worm end and a second worm end, the worm being supported by the fixed bearing at the first worm end;
- a worm gear disposed within the housing for meshing with the threaded portion of the worm;
- and
- a floating bearing disposed within the housing and supporting the worm at the second worm end, the floating bearing defining a second bore and a second central axis, the floating bearing arranged within the housing to move between at least a first and a second position, the first position defined as a position in which the bearings are preloaded such that the second central axis is offset from the first central axis in a direction away from the worm gear, the second position defined as a position in which the bearings are arranged with one another such that the first central axis and the second central axis are coaxial in response to a load applied to the floating bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.