# US 12,179,858 B2 · Shaft arrangement and steering gear having a shaft arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,858 B2 - Document ID: US12179858B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/013,333 - Filed: 2021-07-05 - Published: 2023-08-24 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-22 - Assignees: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH - Applicants: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH - Inventors: Dimitri Epstein; Dirk Lettow; Sven Kirschbaum - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179858B2 ## CPC - B62D 5/24: for worm type - B62D 6/10: characterised by means for sensing {or determining} torque - 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) ## Abstract A shaft arrangement for a steering gear has an input shaft, an output shaft and a torsion rod. The torsion rod is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the input shaft in an input-side connection region of the shaft arrangement. The torsion rod is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the output shaft in an output-side connection region of the shaft arrangement. The input-side connection region is spaced apart from the output-side connection region. The shaft arrangement has a rotation prevention member, wherein the rotation prevention member limits a rotation of the input shaft relative to the output shaft to a maximum rotation angle and, when the maximum rotation angle is reached, can transmit a torque from the input shaft to the output shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shaft arrangement for a steering gear, comprising: an input shaft; an output shaft, wherein the output shaft is in the form of a threaded spindle; and a torsion rod, wherein the torsion rod is for the most part arranged inside the output shaft, wherein the torsion rod is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the input shaft in an input-side connection region of the shaft arrangement, the torsion rod is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the output shaft in an output-side connection region of the shaft arrangement, the input-side connection region is spaced apart from the output-side connection region; and a rotation prevention member, wherein the rotation prevention member limits a rotation of the input shaft relative to the output shaft to a maximum rotation angle and, when the maximum rotation angle is reached, is able to transmit a torque from the input shaft to the output shaft. ### Claim 2 A shaft arrangement for a steering gear, comprising: an input shaft; an output shaft; and a torsion rod, wherein at least a portion of the torsion rod is arranged inside the output shaft, wherein the torsion rod is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the input shaft in an input-side connection region of the shaft arrangement, the torsion rod is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the output shaft in an output-side connection region of the shaft arrangement, the input-side connection region is spaced apart from the output-side connection region; and a rotation prevention member, wherein the rotation prevention member limits a rotation of the input shaft relative to the output shaft to a maximum rotation angle and, when the maximum rotation angle is reached, is able to transmit a torque from the input shaft to the output shaft, wherein the rotation prevention member is formed by a safety pin which is connected to the input shaft in a rotationally secure manner and by a recess in the output shaft, a portion of the safety pin is arranged so as to protrude into the recess, and the recess is sized such that between a wall of the recess and the safety pin there is a play which permits the rotation of the input shaft relative to the output shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the recess has mutually opposing safety faces against which the safety pin comes to rest when the input shaft is rotated relative to the output shaft, and a spacing and/or an angular position of the safety faces with respect to each other determine(s) the maximum rotation angle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the input shaft has an input-side input shaft hole in which a portion of the safety pin is received in a play-free manner. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the safety pin connects the torsion rod to the input shaft in a rotationally secure manner in the input-side connection region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the torsion rod has an input-side torsion rod hole in which a portion of the safety pin is received in a play-free manner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output shaft has an output-side output shaft hole in the output-side connection region and the torsion rod has an output-side torsion rod hole in the output-side connection region, and a connection pin is partially received in the output-side output shaft hole and the output-side torsion rod hole in a play-free manner in each case. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output shaft has a passage which extends in a longitudinal direction of the output shaft and in which the torsion rod is arranged. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the torsion rod, at least with a portion which extends from the input-side connection region to the output-side connection region, is arranged in the passage of the output shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input shaft has, at an end thereof facing the output shaft, a receiving space which receives at least one end portion of the output shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rotation prevention member is arranged at an upper portion of the receiving space. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the torsion rod is arranged at the upper portion of the receiving space inside the output shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rotationally secure connection between the torsion rod and the input shaft is formed at the upper portion of the receiving space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a component of the shaft arrangement which forms the rotationally secure connection in the input-side connection region between the torsion rod and the input shaft further forms a portion of the rotation prevention member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A steering gear comprising a shaft arrangement as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 16 A shaft arrangement for a steering gear, comprising: an input shaft; an output shaft; and a torsion rod, wherein the torsion rod is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the input shaft in an input-side connection region of the shaft arrangement, the torsion rod is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the output shaft in an output-side connection region of the shaft arrangement, wherein the torsion rod protrudes from an end of the output shaft at the output-side connection region of the shaft arrangement, the input-side connection region is spaced apart from the output-side connection region; and a rotation prevention member, wherein the rotation prevention member limits a rotation of the input shaft relative to the output shaft to a maximum rotation angle and, when the maximum rotation angle is reached, is able to transmit a torque from the input shaft to the output shaft.