# US 12,759,615 B2 · Steer-by-wire road wheel actuator ball screw anti-rotation mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,615 B2 - Document ID: US12759615B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/488,964 - Filed: 2023-10-17 - Published: 2024-04-11 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-08-30 - Assignees: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation - Applicants: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation - Inventors: Ryan D. Harris; Trent E. Konwinski; Christopher R. Case Myers; Eric D. Pattok; Travis L. Palmer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759615B2 ## CPC - B62D 5/001: {Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup} - B62D 5/0424: {the axes of motor and final driven element of steering gear, e.g. rack, being parallel} - 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 steer-by-wire steering system for a vehicle includes a rack moveable in an axial direction. The steer-by-wire steering system also includes an anti-rotation device disposed proximate an outer surface of the rack. The anti-rotation device includes a yoke having a bearing journal extending therefrom. The anti-rotation device also includes a bearing disposed on the bearing journal. The anti-rotation device further includes a running surface disposed within a rack housing and extending in a longitudinal direction of the rack, wherein the bearing is positioned to move along the running surface during operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steer-by-wire steering system for a vehicle comprising: a rack moveable in an axial direction; and an anti-rotation device disposed proximate an outer surface of the rack, the anti-rotation device comprising; a yoke having a bearing journal extending therefrom, the yoke having a through bore bounded by an inner clamp surface and the rack extends through the through bore with the inner clamp surface being brought into clamped, fixed engagement with the rack to prevent relative movement between the yoke and the rack, wherein the yoke includes a split to allow for enough deflection to clamp the yoke on the outer surface of the rack, and wherein the yoke is located on the rack with a pinch bolt providing clamp force; a bearing pressed onto the bearing journal and with a retaining ring positioned next to the bearing in a retaining ring groove; a running surface disposed within a rack housing and extending in a longitudinal direction of the rack, the running surface having a first inner running plate surface and a second inner running plate surface, wherein the distance between the first inner running plate surface and the second inner running plate surface is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the bearing, such that the bearing will only contact and thus roll against one side of the running surface at a time, wherein the first inner running plate surface and the second inner running plate surface are flat, and wherein an outer ring of the bearing has a spherical profile which results in a point contact on one of the first inner running plate surface and the second inner running plate surface, wherein the bearing is positioned to move along the running surface during operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steer-by-wire steering system of claim 1, further including a biasing member contacting the yoke and a slider member to apply a torque on the yoke during operation. ### Claim 3 A steering system for a vehicle, comprising: a rack moveable in an axial direction; an anti-rotation device disposed about an outer surface of the rack, the anti-rotation device comprising; a yoke having a bearing journal extending therefrom, the yoke having a through bore bounded by an inner clamp surface and the rack extends through the through bore with the inner clamp surface being brought into clamped, fixed engagement with the rack to prevent relative movement between the yoke and the rack, wherein the yoke includes a split to allow for enough deflection to clamp the yoke on the outer surface of the rack, and wherein the yoke is located on the rack with a pinch bolt providing clamp force; a first bearing pressed onto the bearing journal; a second bearing pressed onto the bearing journal; and a running surface in a rack housing, the running surface extending in a longitudinal direction of the rack, the running surface having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first side and the second side are generally parallel, wherein the first side and the second side are flat, wherein the distance between the first side and the second side is slightly larger than an outer diameter of an outer ring of the first bearing and an outer diameter of an outer ring of the second bearing, wherein the outer ring of the first bearing has a spherical profile in order to make a point contact on the first side and the outer ring of the second bearing has a spherical profile in order to make a point contact on the second side, wherein the first bearing is positioned to contact and move along the first side of the running surface and the second bearing is positioned to contact and move along the second side of the running surface during operation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The steering system of claim 3, wherein the first bearing does not contact the second side of the running surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The steering system of claim 3, wherein the second bearing does not contact the first side of the running surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The steering system of claim 3, wherein the first bearing and the second bearing rotate about a common axis of rotation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The steering system of claim 3, wherein the yoke includes a pair of holes which align with holes defined by the rack to allow the pinch bolt to clamp the yoke to the rack. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The steering system of claim 7, wherein the through bore is textured to increase friction between the rack and the yoke. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The steering system of claim 3, wherein the steering system is a steer-by-wire steering system. ### Claim 10 A steering system for a vehicle, comprising: a rack moveable in an axial direction; an anti-rotation device disposed about an outer surface of the rack, the anti-rotation device comprising; a yoke having a bearing journal extending therefrom, the yoke having a through bore bounded by an inner clamp surface and the rack extends through the through bore with the inner clamp surface being brought into clamped, fixed engagement with the rack to prevent relative movement between the yoke and the rack, wherein the yoke includes a split to allow for enough deflection to clamp the yoke on the outer surface of the rack, and wherein the yoke is located on the rack with a pinch bolt providing clamp force; a first bearing pressed onto the bearing journal; a second bearing pressed onto the bearing journal; and a pair of running plates comprising a first plate and a second plate at least partially disposed within a rack housing, the running plates extending in a longitudinal direction of the rack, the running plates disposed on opposing sides of the first and second bearing, wherein the first plate has a first inner running plate surface and the second plate has a second inner running plate surface, wherein the first inner running plate surface and the second inner running plate surface are flat, wherein the distance between the first inner running plate surface and the second inner running plate surface is slightly larger than an outer diameter of an outer ring of the first bearing and an outer diameter of an outer ring of the second bearing, wherein the outer ring of the first bearing has a spherical profile in order to make a point contact on the first inner running plate surface and the outer ring of the second bearing has a spherical profile in order to make a point contact on the second inner running plate surface, wherein the first bearing is positioned to contact and move along the first plate and the second bearing is positioned to contact and move along the second plate during operation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The steering system of claim 10, wherein the first bearing does not contact the second plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The steering system of claim 10, wherein the second bearing does not contact the first plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The steering system of claim 10, wherein the first bearing and the second bearing rotate about a common axis of rotation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The steering system of claim 10, wherein the yoke includes a pair of holes which align with holes defined by the rack to allow the pinch bolt to clamp the yoke to the rack. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The steering system of claim 14, wherein the through bore is textured to increase friction between the rack and the yoke. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The steering system of claim 10, wherein the steering system is a steer-by-wire steering system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The steering system of claim 10, wherein each plate is W-shaped. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The steering system of claim 10, wherein each plate is L-shaped.