# US 12,179,851 B2 · Power-assisted steering system for a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,851 B2 - Document ID: US12179851B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/431,786 - Filed: 2020-02-17 - Published: 2022-05-05 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-18 - Assignees: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG; thyssenkrupp AG - Applicants: thyssenkrupp Presta AG; thyssenkrupp AG - Inventors: Christian Kohler; Felix Vonier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179851B2 ## CPC - B62D 5/0403: {characterised by constructional features, e.g. common housing for motor and gear box} - B62D 5/0409: {Electric motor acting on the steering column} - F16C 35/042: {Housings for rolling element bearings for rotary movement} - F16H 1/16: comprising worm and worm-wheel - F16H 55/24: Special devices for taking up backlash - F16H 57/0006: {Vibration-damping or noise reducing means specially adapted for gearings (devices for varying tension of belts, ropes or chains with damping means F16H7/0829; toothed members with construction providing vibration damping F16H55/14; reducing vibrations or noise of the gearbox casing F16H57/028; suppression of vibrations or noise of gear selectors F16H59/0208; control of hydrostatic fluid gearing preventing or reducing vibrations or noise F16H61/4183)} - F16C 2326/24: Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns - 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) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract An electromechanical power steering system for a vehicle may include a worm that can be driven rotationally about a drive axis by an electric motor, that interacts with a worm gear that is coupled to a steering shaft, and that is mounted such that it can be rotated about the drive axis in a bearing that is held in a holder. The holder may be movable relative to the worm gear. To make a decreased development of noise possible, the holder has a core element that is made from a core material and is connected to at least one contact element. The contact element may be made from a soft material that can be deformed elastically more easily and is softer relative to the core material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electromechanical power steering system for a vehicle, comprising: a holder that includes a core element that is made from a core material and is connected to a contact element, wherein the contact element is comprised of a soft material that is more easily elastically deformed and that is softer than the core material; and a worm that is rotatably drivable about a drive axis by an electric motor, that interacts with a worm gear that is coupled to a steering shaft, and that is mounted such that the worm is rotatable about the drive axis in a bearing that is held in the holder, with the holder being movable relative to the worm gear; wherein the contact element is a damping body hat projects to an outside from the holder; wherein the damping body is attached in an outwardly open recess of the core element; wherein the outwardly open recess passes through into a bearing seat of the bearing, wherein the contact element of the bearing seat and a damping element are connected in one piece to one another through the outwardly open recess. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electromechanical power steering system of claim 1 wherein the core material is a thermoplastic polymer and the soft material is a thermoplastic elastomer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electromechanical power steering system of claim 1 wherein the holder is a two-component injection molded part, wherein the core element and the contact element are connected via two-component plastic injection molding. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electromechanical power steering system of claim 1 wherein the bearing includes a bearing ring that is attached in the holder in a bearing seat and makes contact with the contact element that is disposed in the bearing seat. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electromechanical power steering system of claim 4 wherein the bearing seat includes a supporting element that is integral with the core element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electromechanical power steering system of claim 1 wherein the damping body projects out of the outwardly open recess to the outside in a convexly curved manner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electromechanical power steering system of claim 1 wherein the holder is biased by a spring element in a direction of the worm gear. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electromechanical power steering system of claim 1 wherein the holder is configured as a pivoting lever that is pivotable relative to the worm gear about a pivot axis that is spaced apart from the drive axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electromechanical power steering system of claim 8, further comprising a spring on an axle pin, wherein the spring presses the pivoting lever elastically against the worm gear in a pivoting direction about the pivot axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electromechanical power steering system of claim 9, wherein the spring is a leg spring supported on the axle pin with a first leg on a housing and a second leg on the pivoting lever. ### Claim 11 An electromechanical power steering system for a vehicle, comprising: a holder that includes a core element that is made from a core material and is connected to a contact element, wherein the contact element is comprised of a soft material that is more easily elastically deformed and that is softer than the core material; and a worm that is rotatably drivable about a drive axis by an electric motor, that interacts with a worm gear that is coupled to a steering shaft, and that is mounted such that the worm is rotatable about the drive axis in a bearing that is held in the holder, with the holder being movable relative to the worm gear; wherein the holder is configured as a pivoting lever that is pivotable relative to the worm gear about a pivot axis that is spaced apart from the drive axis and wherein a spring on an axle pin presses the pivoting lever elastically against the worm gear in a pivoting direction about the pivot axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electromechanical power steering system of claim 11, wherein the spring is a leg spring supported on the axle pin with a first leg on a housing and a second leg on the pivoting lever.