Gearbox assembly and worm shaft assembly therefore steering column assembly
AssigneeZF Automotive UK Limited
InventorPhil Harvey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gearbox assembly includes a housing, a first shaft assembly having a worm gear and supported relative to the housing by a first bearing assembly, and a second shaft assembly including a wheel gear which is also supported relative to the housing by a second bearing assembly, the wheel gear engaging with the worm of the worm gear to permit the transfer of torque between the two shaft assemblies, wherein the first shaft assembly includes an elongate shaft carrying the worm gear, and a separate dog drive mechanism secured to one end of the elongate shaft by the first bearing such that in use torque is transferred between the elongate shaft and the dog drive mechanism.
Claims10
A gearbox assembly comprising a gearbox assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a first shaft assembly comprising a worm gear and supported relative to the housing by a first bearing assembly;
- and
- a second shaft assembly comprising a wheel gear which is also supported relative to the housing by a second bearing assembly, the wheel gear engaging with the worm of the worm gear to permit the transfer of torque between the two shaft assemblies;
- wherein the first shaft assembly comprises an elongate shaft carrying the worm gear, a separate dog drive mechanism, and a connecting means including the first bearing assembly and a biasing member, the biasing member locating the first bearing assembly around a portion of the dog drive mechanism and applying an axial thrust load through the first bearing assembly onto the dog drive mechanism to secure the dog drive mechanism to one end of the elongate shaft such that in use torque is transferred between the elongate shaft and the dog drive mechanism.
A wormshaft assembly for a worm and wheel type gearbox assembly, the wormshaft assembly comprising:
- an elongate shaft carrying a worm gear;
- and
- a separate dog drive mechanism secured to one end of the elongate shaft;
- wherein the elongate shaft and separate dog drive mechanism are fixed together by a bearing assembly that prevents relative axial and rotational movement between them such that in use torque is transferred between the elongate shaft and the dog drive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.