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US 2016/0215865 A1Published application
Powder metal hub and treatment
AssigneeSteering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
InventorsAlan G. Turek, Jeffrey E. Beyerlein, Niklaus A. Von Matt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of making a worm gear is provided. The method comprises forming a gear hub from a powdered metal material. Thereafter an outer surface of the gear hub is sealed.
Claims20
A method of making a worm gear comprising:
- forming a gear hub from a powdered metal material;
- and
- sealing an outer surface of the gear hub.
A gear hub comprising:
- a gear hub body formed from a powdered metal material, wherein the gear hub body has a sealed outer surface.
An electric power steering system comprising:
- a steering shaft connected to a handwheel at one end and a rack and pinion steering mechanism at an opposite end;
- a steering assist unit comprising an electric motor operated by a controller and driving a worm and a worm gear interposed between said worm and said steering shaft, said worm having worm teeth and said worm gear fitted on said steering shaft;
- said worm gear further comprising:
- a disk formed from a powdered metal material, wherein the disk has a sealed outer surface;
- a polymeric ring overlaying a portion of said disk;
- and
- a plurality of gear teeth on an outer edge surface of said ring for meshing with said worm teeth.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.