US 7,743,873 B2Granted

Variable rack stroke system for vehicle

AssigneeKia Motors Corporation

InventorJong-Sung Kim

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Abstract

A variable rack stroke system includes a rack housing in which a rack bar is slidably disposed, a casing attached to the rack housing, an annular rotary member, an annular stationary member, and a switch. The annular rotary member includes grooves on an inner periphery thereof that face each other, and first protrusions protruding from the rotary member in an axial direction that have different thicknesses. The rotational phase of the rotary member is adjusted by the motor. The annular stationary member includes protruding parts on an outer periphery thereof that face each other, configured to be inserted into the grooves, and second protrusions protruding from the stationary member in the axial direction, that have different thicknesses and face the first protrusions. The stationary member is coupled with a ball joint to be coupled with the rack bar. The switch adjusts the rotational phase of the motor.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A variable rack stroke system for vehicle, comprising:

a housing;
a rack bar slidably disposed in the housing;
a motor;
a rotary member, a rotational position of which is adjusted by the motor, comprising a groove on an inner periphery thereof and at least two first protrusions protruding from the rotary member in an axial direction apart from each other, wherein the at least two first protrusions comprise a first relatively thicker protrusion and a first relatively thinner protrusion;
a stationary member coupled with a ball joint coupled with the rack bar, comprising protruding parts on an outer periphery thereof and selectively inserted into the groove, and at least two second protrusions protruding from the stationary member opposite the axial direction of the at least two first protrusions to abut with the at least two first protrusions when aligned therewith, wherein the at least two second protrusions comprise a second relatively thicker protrusion and a second relatively thinner protrusion;
and
a switch to adjust a rotational phase of the motor.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.