# US 12,110,948 B2 · Rack steering system and motor vehicle having such a rack steering system

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- Number: US 12,110,948 B2
- Document ID: US12110948B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/671,178
- Filed: 2022-02-14
- Published: 2022-05-26
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-08-14
- Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
- Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
- Inventors: Heiko Schumann; Christian Schillak; Jens Rogall
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110948B2

## CPC

- B62D 5/0403: {characterised by constructional features, e.g. common housing for motor and gear box}
- F16H 19/04: comprising a rack
- B62D 3/12: of rack-and-pinion type
- B62D 3/126: {characterised by the rack}
- B62D 5/0424: {the axes of motor and final driven element of steering gear, e.g. rack, being parallel}
- F16H 25/2204: {with balls}
- 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 rack steering system and a motor vehicle having such a rack steering system. The inventive rack steering system comprises a steering gear housing, a toothed rack, which extends through the steering gear housing, an electric motor, which is coupled to the toothed rack on a thread side of the steering gear housing via a ball screw to provide an axial force to the toothed rack, and two track rod links arranged at axial ends of the toothed rack. The steering gear housing is designed in one piece such that a drive insert opening is formed on the thread side of the steering gear housing for arrangement of the electric motor and a direct stop face for a track rod link or a support face for the arrangement and axial support of a separate stop element for a track rod link is also formed on this thread side.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rack steering system comprising:
a steering gear housing;
a toothed rack that extends through the steering gear housing;
an electric motor coupled to the toothed rack on a thread side of the steering gear housing via a ball screw in order to provide an axial force at the toothed rack; and
two track rod links arranged at the axial ends of the toothed rack,
wherein the steering gear housing is monolithic such that a drive insert opening for arrangement of the electric motor is formed on the thread side of the steering gear housing and a support face is also formed on the thread side for the arrangement and axial support of a separate stop element for one of the two track rod links, and
wherein the support face extends along a part of the circumference of a circular ring, and wherein a drive belt, which is functionally arranged between the electric motor and the ball screw, extends through another part of the circumference of the circular ring in which there is no support face.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rack steering system according to claim 1, wherein a mounting arm is provided on the thread side of the steering gear housing, the mounting arm extending in a radial and/or axial direction, or wherein multiple mounting arms are provided on the thread side of the steering gear housing, which each respectively extend in the radial and/or axial direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The rack steering system according to claim 2, wherein at least one screw opening is formed on each mounting arm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The rack steering system according to claim 1, wherein the drive insert opening is closed via a plastic cover.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The rack steering system according to claim 4, wherein the separate stop element is discrete from the plastic cover.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The rack steering system according to claim 1, wherein at least one support rib is provided, via which the surface of the support face is enlarged.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The rack steering system according to claim 1, wherein at least one circular ring-shaped disc is provided as the separate stop element.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The rack steering system according to claim 1, wherein the separate stop element has structures for stiffening and/or is conically formed.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The rack steering system according to claim 1, wherein the separate stop element is firmly connected to the steering gear housing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The rack steering system according to claim 1, wherein the separate stop element directly contacts the support face.