Ball-screw drive for electromechanical brake
AssigneeZF Active Safety US Inc.
InventorsGalus Chelaidite, Kraig E. Gerber, Changming Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball-screw drive for an actuator assembly of a vehicle brake includes a ball screw rotatable about an axis and having an exterior track winding extending around the ball screw from a first opening to a second opening. An inner recess extends into the ball screw and is connected to the first and second openings. A ball nut includes an interior track winding and is positioned over the ball screw so as to be movable along the axis in response to rotation of the ball screw for applying the vehicle brake. Balls are provided between the track windings. A tube extends continuously through the recess between the openings and cooperates with the track windings to form a recirculation loop for the balls during brake application.
Claims22
A ball-screw drive for an actuator assembly of a vehicle brake, comprising:
- a ball screw rotatable about an axis and having an exterior track winding extending around the ball screw from a first opening to a second opening, an inner recess extending into the ball screw and being connected to the first and second openings;
- a ball nut including an interior track winding and being positioned over the ball screw so as to be movable along the axis in response to rotation of the ball screw for applying the vehicle brake;
- balls provided between the track windings;
- and
- a tube extending continuously through the ball screw recess between the openings and cooperating with the track windings to form a recirculation loop for the balls during brake application.
A ball-screw drive for an actuator assembly of a vehicle brake, comprising:
- a ball screw rotatable about an axis and having an exterior track winding extending around the ball screw from a first opening to a second opening, an inner recess extending into the ball screw and being connected to the first and second openings;
- a ball nut including an interior track winding and being positioned over the ball screw so as to be movable along the axis in response to rotation of the ball screw for applying the vehicle brake;
- balls provided between the track windings;
- and
- a bent tube extending continuously through the recess in an unsupported manner and having a first end positioned within the first opening and a second end positioned within the second opening, the first and second ends having deflectors for directing balls into and out of the respective first and second openings, the tube cooperating with the track windings to form a recirculation loop for the balls during brake application.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.