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US 12,752,845 B2Granted
Sensor gear assembly with anti-lash teeth for steering system
AssigneeSteering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
InventorsJames E. Rouleau, Shawn A. Haring, Damian Z. Gosztyla, Joseph A. Beck, Margaret R. Szeliga
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor gear assembly for a steering system includes a driving component having a plurality of teeth extending therefrom. The sensor gear assembly also includes a rotatable sensor gear having a plurality of teeth extending radially away from an outer diameter of the rotatable sensor gear, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of teeth of the rotatable sensor gear are flexible.
Claims18
A sensor gear assembly for a steering system comprising:
- a driving component having a plurality of teeth extending therefrom;
- and
- a rotatable sensor gear having a plurality of teeth extending radially away from an outer diameter of the rotatable sensor gear, wherein each of the plurality of teeth include a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being radially adjacent to the outer diameter of the rotatable sensor gear, the second portion extending radially outward from the first portion, wherein the second portion has a bulb-like geometry, wherein the tip of each of the plurality of teeth is closed, thereby defining an inner pocket within each of the plurality of teeth, and wherein the inner pocket allows the plurality of teeth to deflect to fill space between the plurality of teeth of the driving component to prevent lash between the interacting components.
A rotatable sensor gear comprising:
- a central base having an outer diameter;
- and
- a plurality of teeth extending radially away from the outer diameter, wherein each of the plurality of teeth includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being radially adjacent to the outer diameter, the second portion extending radially outward from the first portion, wherein the second portion has a bulb-like geometry, wherein the tip of each of the plurality of teeth is closed, thereby defining an inner pocket within each of the plurality of teeth, wherein the inner pocket allows the second portion of the plurality of teeth to deflect and provide anti-lash capabilities during engagement with teeth of a mating component, while not being susceptible to splitting from misalignment to the mating component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.