# US 2014/0190760 A1 · Electric power-steering apparatus

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- Number: US 2014/0190760 A1
- Document ID: US20140190760A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/009,358
- Filed: 2012-07-20
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-26
- Assignees: Nsk Ltd.
- Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190760A1

## CPC

- B62D 5/0406: {including housing for electronic control unit}
- 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

Structure of an electric power-steering apparatus is achieved that is capable of both preventing damage to a connector 18a that is used for supplying electric power to an electric component, and improving the workability of the work for connecting the connector 18a. The connector 18a is located in a portion that is located below a housing 10a, and is located on the rear side of a worm wheel housing section 48a and below a torque sensor housing section 49a. Moreover, a protective wall section 21 is formed on the bottom surface of the worm wheel housing section 48a and extends downward, and when it is presumed that the electric power-steering apparatus is placed on a flat plane α, the edge on the bottom end of the protective wall section 21 and the bottom end sections of the support bracket 23 come in contact with the flat plant α such that a gap 52 is formed between the flat plane α and the connector 18a.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electric power-steering apparatus, comprising:
a cylindrical steering column that is supported by a vehicle body;
a steering shaft that is supported on the inside of the steering column so as to be able to rotate freely, and that is rotated by a steering wheel that is fastened to the rear end section thereof;
an electrical component that is used for applying auxiliary power in the same direction as the force applied from the steering wheel to the steering shaft or to a member that displaces as the steering shaft rotates;
a connector for supplying electric power to the electrical component; and
a housing that is fastened to the front end section of the steering column and comprises; a worm wheel housing section that has an approximate circular disk shape, that is arranged so as to be concentric with the steering column, and that houses a worm wheel inside thereof; and a torque sensor housing section that is provided adjacent to the rear side of the worm wheel housing section, that has a smaller diameter than the worm wheel housing section and that houses a torque sensor inside thereof,
wherein a substantially flat shaped protective wall section is provided on the bottom surface of the steering column or a bottom surface of the worm wheel housing section and extends downward when assembled in the vehicle, and assuming that the electric power-steering apparatus is placed on a flat plane, a bottom end section of the protective section comes in contact with the flat plane, and
the connector is installed in a portion that is located below the steering column or the torque sensor housing section when assembled in the vehicle, and that is above and separated from the flat plane assuming that the electric power-steering apparatus is placed on the flat plane with a bottom surface of the steering column facing downward when assembled in the vehicle.

### Claim 2

(canceled)

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electric power-steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the width dimension of the protective wall section is greater than the width dimension of the connector.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electric power-steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protective section has an approximate L-shaped cross section, and this protective wall section covers a side section and part or all of a bottom section of the connector.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electric power-steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connector is a power supply connector for supplying electric power to an electric motor of the electric component, or is a combined connector that includes this power supply connector.