# US 8,539,849 B2 · Bearing system for a worm in a steering gear > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,849 B2 - Document ID: US8539849B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/373,080 - Filed: 2011-11-03 - Published: 2012-05-24 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-08 - Assignees: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH - Applicants: Werner Bernhard; Marco Grau; Ekkehard Kneer; Jens-Uwe Hafermalz; Dennis Fuechsel; Juergen Bieber; Rainer Schaenzel - Inventors: Werner Bernhard; Marco Grau; Ekkehard Kneer; Jens-Uwe Hafermalz; Dennis Fuechsel; Juergen Bieber; Rainer Schaenzel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539849B2 ## CPC - B62D 5/0409: {Electric motor acting on the steering column} - F16C 27/04: Ball or roller bearings, e.g. with resilient rolling bodies - F16H 55/24: Special devices for taking up backlash - F16C 2326/24: Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns - F16H 2057/0213: {Support of worm gear shafts} - Y10T 74/18792: including worm - Y10T 74/19828: Worm - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16H: GEARING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Disclosed is a bearing system for a worm engaging with a worm wheel as part of a steering gear, wherein the bearing system comprises at least one bearing with an outer ring, an inner ring, and rolling bodies that are movably accommodated between the outer an inner rings, the bearing being pivotally arranged in a bearing seat for accommodating the outer ring of the bearing, and wherein the inner ring accommodates one of the two shaft ends of the worm in order to seat said shaft end of the worm radially in the housing of the steering gear. For an improved dampening of the worm at least one spring element, which exerts a spring force on a region of the outer ring of the bearing, is provided at the bearing, said spring force supporting a pivotal motion of the worm toward the worm wheel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mounting for a worm in a steering gear which meshes with a worm gear, the mounting comprising: a bearing which is designed as a pivot bearing and has an outer ring, an inner ring and rolling bodies received movably between the outer ring and the inner ring, the bearing being pivotably disposed in a bearing seat that receives the outer ring of the bearing, and the inner ring receiving one shaft end of two shaft ends of the worm so as to mount said one shaft end of the worm radially in a housing of the steering gear; and a spring element provided on the bearing, the spring element applying a spring force, which supports pivoting of the worm toward the worm gear, to a region of the outer ring of the bearing so as to provide a spring load to the worm, wherein said bearing is configured so that said region to which the spring force is applied faces along an axis of the worm in a direction toward the worm gear where the worm meshes with the worm gear. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mounting according to claim 1, wherein the spring element acts on the region of the outer ring of the bearing, wherein said bearing and said spring element are located relative to the worm adjacent a portion of the worm located axially opposite to a region of the worm at which the worm meshes with the worm gear. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A mounting according to claim 1, wherein the spring element has an asymmetrical design, or is asymmetrically disposed in the housing, so as to act only on said region of the outer ring of the bearing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A mounting according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is an annular or disk-shaped spring element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The mounting according to claim 4, wherein the spring element is a tapered section retaining ring, and has a protrusion, by means of which the spring element exerts an axial spring force to the one region of the outer ring of the bearing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The mounting according to claim 4, wherein the spring element is a spring washer, and has a protrusion, by means of which the spring element exerts an axial spring force to the one region of the outer ring of the bearing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The mounting according to claim 6, wherein the spring washer is provided with an adjusting screw. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A mounting according to claim 1, wherein the spring element asymmetrically disposed in the housing is a helical compression spring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The mounting according to claim 8, wherein the helical compression spring is provided with a pressure tip. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A mounting according to claim 1, wherein the spring element comprises a plurality of spring elements. ### Claim 11 A steering gear, comprising a mounting for a worm that meshes with a worm gear, the mounting comprising: a bearing which is designed as a pivot bearing and has an outer ring, an inner ring and rolling bodies received movably between the outer ring and the inner ring, the bearing being pivotably disposed in a bearing seat that receives the outer ring of the bearing, and the inner ring receiving one shaft end of two shaft ends of the worm so as to mount said one shaft end of the worm radially in a housing of the steering gear; and a spring load acting axially on the pivotable mounting of the worm wherein a spring element is provided on the bearing designed as a pivot bearing, the spring element applying a spring force, which supports pivoting of the worm toward the worm gear, to a region of the outer ring of the bearing so as to provide a spring load to the worm, wherein said bearing is configured so that said region to which the spring force is applied faces along an axis of the worm in a direction toward the worm gear where the worm meshes with the worm gear. ### Claim 12 A power steering system comprising a steering gear which has a mounting for a worm that meshes with a worm gear, the mounting comprising: a bearing which is designed as a pivot bearing and has an outer ring, an inner ring and rolling bodies received movably between the outer ring and inner ring, the bearing being pivotably disposed in a bearing seat that receives the outer ring of the bearing, and the inner ring receiving one shaft end of two shaft ends of the worm so as to mount said one shaft end of the worm radially in the housing of the steering gear; and a spring load acting axially on the pivotable mounting of the worm wherein a spring element is provided on the bearing designed as a pivot bearing, the spring element applying a spring force, which supports pivoting of the worm toward the worm gear, to a region of the outer ring of the bearing so as to provide a spring load to the worm, wherein said bearing is configured so that said region to which the spring force is applied faces along an axis of the worm in a direction toward the worm gear where the worm meshes with the worm gear. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The mounting according to claim 1, wherein said bearing is configured so that a pivot axis is formed for pivoting the worm toward the worm gear.