Rotational centering device for steering column
AssigneeSteering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
InventorsRyan D. Harris, Jeremy A. Bonkowski, Laura F. Stock, Joel A. Bickel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A steering system includes a steering column for rotation between at least a center position and a range of second positions and defining a central axis. The steering system also includes an actuator assembly in operative communication with the steering column to provide steering assistance, the actuator assembly comprising a pair of plates, each plate including a first helical track and a second helical track. The steering system further includes a spring element arranged with the actuator assembly to bias movement of one of the pair of plates along the central axis to influence the steering column to move to the center position.
Claims15
A steering system comprising:
- a steering column for orientation in at least a center position and a second position and defining a central axis;
- an actuator assembly in operative communication with the steering column to provide steering assistance, the actuator assembly including a pair of plates, each plate defining an aperture for the steering column to extend therethrough and each plate including an outer track and an inner track disposed radially inward of the outer track relative to the central axis;
- a first ball for disposal within the outer tracks;
- a second ball for disposal within the inner tracks, the pair of plates arranged such that the outer tracks and the inner tracks of each of the pair of plates face one another;
- and
- a spring element arranged with the actuator assembly to bias movement of the second plate in an axial direction along the central axis,
- wherein each of the outer tracks and each of the inner tracks define a ramp region, each of the ramp regions are arranged with the spring element to influence a rotation of the steering column to return to the center position,
- wherein the inner tracks and the outer tracks have respective elevation changes along each of the ramp regions and are arranged with one another to define a bi-directional relationship of ball travel within the tracks.
A steering system comprising:
- a steering column for orientation in at least a center position and a second position and defining a central axis;
- an actuator assembly in operative communication with the steering column to provide steering assistance, the actuator assembly comprising at least three plates defined by a first end plate, a second end plate and at least one intermediate plate, each of the plates defining an aperture for the steering column to extend therethrough, wherein each adjacent set of plates includes a respective outer track facing each other and a respective inner track facing each other disposed radially inward of the outer track relative to the central axis;
- an outer ball disposed within each of the respective outer tracks of each adjacent set of plates;
- an inner ball disposed within each of the respective inner tracks of each adjacent set of plates;
- and
- a spring element arranged with the actuator assembly to bias movement of the second end plate in an axial direction along the central axis,
- wherein each of the outer tracks and each of the inner tracks define a ramp region, each of the ramp regions are arranged with the spring element to influence a rotation of the steering column to return to the center position,
- wherein the inner tracks and the outer tracks have respective elevation changes along each of the ramp regions and are arranged with one another to define a bi-directional relationship of ball travel within the tracks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.