Steerable drive axle with electrically-powered steering apparatus

A steerable rear axle for a motor vehicle comprising:

• a rear axle housing, wherein said rear axle housing further includes at least one opening wherein said rear axle further comprises a cover for said opening, said cover being attachable to said axle housing;
• an electric motor disposed at said axle housing, said motor being a sole steering actuator operably connected to at least one steerable wheel on said axle housing to steer said at least one steerable wheel said electric motor including an output shaft, said motor applying torque to said output shaft when energized, said output shaft being connected to said at least one steerable wheel by a rack and pinion mechanism;
• a pinion gear operably associated with said electric motor;
• a rack bar passage mounted to said cover;
• a rack bar linearly moveably supported in said rack bar passage;
• and
• a rack gear disposed at said rack bar.

A differential cover comprising:

• a flange mountable to an expanded chamber of an axle housing, said expanded chamber having an opening, said flange mating continuously around its circumference with a lip farmed on said expanded chamber around an opening;
• an adaptation to support an electric motor in mechanical communication with a rack bar;
• and
• a rack bar housing for housing said rack bar, said adaptation comprising a stepped bore formed in said differential cover in substantial axial alignment with said electric motor, said stepped bore having a first portion in communication with said rack bar housing so that a pinion gear may be disposed in said first portion for engagement with said rack bar, said stepped bore having a second portion intermediate said motor and said first portion, said second portion containing a speed reducer.

A rear steering actuator for a vehicle having rear steering comprising:

• a housing;
• means for attaching said housing to a rear axle of a vehicle;
• a passage for a rack bar through said housing;
• an electric motor mounted to said housing, said electric motor having an output shaft in mechanical communication with a pinion gear, said pinion gear being positioned for engagement with said rack bar;
• a bore formed in said housing in substantial axial alignment with said pinion gear, said bore having a first portion intersecting said passage, said pinion gear being disposed in said first portion, said bore having a second portion intermediate said motor and said first portion, said second portion containing a speed reducer;
• a pair of tie rods connected to said rack bar for putting said rack bar in mechanical communication with each rear wheel on a rear axle of said vehicle;
• said electric motor providing a sole non-environmental steering force applied to said rack bar.