# US 2014/0190288 A1 · Electric power assisted steering system for vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190288 A1 - Document ID: US20140190288A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/151,445 - Filed: 2014-01-09 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Michael Georg FIGURA; Erik Jurgen STUMPF - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190288A1 ## CPC - B62D 5/0421: {Electric motor acting on or near steering gear} - B62D 3/04: of worm type - B62D 5/0409: {Electric motor acting on the steering column} - F16H 55/24: Special devices for taking up backlash - F16H 2057/0213: {Support of worm gear shafts} - Y10T 74/18792: including worm - 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) - F16H: GEARING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An electric power assisted steering system for vehicles is disclosed. The system includes an electric motor drive having a motor housing, a motor shaft, and at least a first bearing and a second bearing for mounting the motor shaft. At least one bearing plate receives one of the first and second bearings and the other of the first and second bearings is fixed in place on the motor housing in a radial direction. The system further includes a worm gear shaft operably connected to the motor shaft so as to be driven by the motor shaft, a worm gear wheel received in a transmission housing, the worm gear shaft meshing with the worm gear wheel, and at least one elastic element elastically coupling the at least one bearing plate to the motor housing such that the motor housing can tilt with respect to the at least one bearing plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electric power assisted steering system for vehicles comprising: an electric motor drive having a motor housing, a motor shaft, at least a first bearing and a second bearing for mounting the motor shaft and at least one bearing plate for receiving one of the first and second bearings, wherein the other of the first and second bearings is fixed in place on the motor housing in a radial direction, a worm gear shaft operably connected to the motor shaft so as to be driven by the motor shaft, a worm gear wheel received in a transmission housing, the worm gear shaft meshing with the worm gear wheel, and at least one elastic element elastically coupling the at least one bearing plate to the motor housing such that the motor housing can tilt with respect to the at least one bearing plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power assisted steering system of claim 1, wherein the elastic element is arranged between the motor housing and the bearing plate in an axial direction, which is fixed by means of the motor shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power assisted steering system of claim 1, wherein the at least one bearing plate is mounted in a non-elastic manner on the transmission housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power assisted steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one bearing plate comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is proximate to the motor and is mounted in a non-elastic manner on the motor housing, wherein the second part is remote from the motor and is mounted in a non-elastic manner on the transmission housing, and wherein the elastic element is arranged between the first part and the second part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The power assisted steering system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the elastic element is vulcanized onto the first part and the second part of the at least one bearing plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power assisted steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic element is less rigid in an axial direction than in a direction tangential thereto. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The power assisted steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one bearing plate is mounted in an eccentric manner on the transmission housing. ### Claim 8 An electric power assisted steering system, comprising: an electric motor comprising a motor housing, and a motor shaft rotatably supported in the housing; a worm gear shaft operatively connected to the motor shaft and extending into a transmission housing; and a worm gear wheel positioned in the transmission housing; wherein the motor housing is tiltable relative to the transmission housing to move the worm gear shaft toward and/or away from the worm gear wheel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising an elastic element positioned between the motor housing and the transmission housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising a bearing plate, wherein a first side of bearing plate is connected to the elastic element and a second side of the bearing plate is connected to the transmission housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the motor shaft is rotatably supported by a first bearing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a second bearing, the second bearing received in a bearing plate connected to the transmission housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the motor further comprises a rotor and a stator, and wherein an air gap between the rotor and the stator remains essentially constant during tilting of the motor housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising a bearing plate, wherein the bearing plate comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first and second parts of the bearing plate are connected by an elastic element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the bearing plate connects the motor housing to the transmission housing to permit tilting of the motor housing relative to the transmission housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the bearing plate is eccentrically mounted to the transmission housing.