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US 6,488,115 B1Granted
Apparatus and method for steering a vehicle
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSuat Ali Ozsoylu, William F Feriend, Michael R. Pyrett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering system for a vehicle, the steering system includes a rack-independent actuator. The rack-independent actuator has component parts isolates from undesirable loads by two universal joints that isolate mechanical components of the actuator from transient loads that may be encountered by the rack or rack housing.
Claims26
A steering system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a) a rack being movably mounted within a rack housing, said rack being coupled to a steerable road wheel at one end and another steerable road wheel at the other end;
- b) a ball-screw mechanism being coupled to said rack at one end and an electric motor at the other, said electric motor providing an actuating force to said ball-screw mechanism, said actuating force causing said rack to move linearly within said rack housing;
- c) a first coupling mechanism coupling said electric motor to said rack housing;
- and
- d) a second coupling mechanism coupling said ball-screw mechanism to said rack.
2 more elements
A steering system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a rack being movably mounted within a rack housing, said rack having a first end and a second end, said first end being configured to be coupled to a first steerable road wheel and said second end being configured to be coupled to a second steerable road wheel;
- a ball-screw mechanism coupling a portion of said rack to an electric motor such that said electric motor provides an actuating force to said ball-screw mechanism, said actuating force causing said rack to move linearly along a first axis within said rack housing;
- a means for coupling said electric motor to said rack housing, wherein said electric motor is isolated from forces which may affect said actuating force;
- and
- a means for coupling said ball-screw mechanism to said rack, wherein said said ball-screw mechanism is isolated from said is isolated from forces which may affect said actuating force.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.