Multiple Piece Pinion Housing For Vehicle Power Steering
AssigneeTRW Automotive U.S. LLC
InventorsGaurav Krishnaraj, Libin John
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle power steering assembly has a pinion housing comprised of first, second, and third housings. The first housing is a drawn tube formed from a first material. The second housing is a casting formed from a second material. The third housing is a stamping formed from a third material. The second housing is press fit into the first housing. The third housing is press fit and welded to the first housing. The second material has a lesser unit weight than each of the first and third materials. The first, second, and third housings together form the pinion housing.
Claims18
A method of fabricating a pinion housing for a vehicle power steering assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a first housing from a first material;
- forming a second housing from a second material, wherein the second material has a lesser unit weight than the first material;
- forming a third housing from a third material, wherein the third housing is a stamping and the third material has a greater unit weight than the second material;
- and
- joining the formed first, second, and third housings together to form the pinion housing, wherein the first, second, and third housings are each formed separately.
A pinion housing for a vehicle power steering assembly, the pinion housing comprising:
- a first housing formed from a first material;
- and
- a second housing formed from a second material, wherein the second material has a lesser unit weight than the first material;
- a third housing stamped from a third material, wherein the third material has a greater unit weight than the second material, wherein the first, second, and third housings are each formed separately and joined together to form the pinion housing.
A pinion housing for a vehicle power steering assembly, the pinion housing comprising:
- a plurality of housings formed separately and joined together to form the pinion housing, wherein the plurality of housings includes at least:
- a stamped housing;
- and
- a cast housing, wherein the cast housing has a lesser material unit weight than the stamped housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.