Ball screw assembly
AssigneeSteering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
InventorsPaul E. Kern, Eric D. Pattok
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ball screw assembly includes a helical path for a plurality of balls to be routed through, the helical path extending from a first end to a second end. The ball screw assembly also includes a recirculation path extending from a first transition location to a second transition location. The recirculation path includes a first segment defined by a first arc portion of a first ellipse. The recirculation path also includes a second segment defined by a second arc portion of the first ellipse. The recirculation path further includes a third segment defined by an arc of a second ellipse, wherein the first ellipse and the second ellipse are disposed in a common plane.
Claims20
A ball screw assembly comprising:
- a helical path for a plurality of balls to be routed through, the helical path extending from a first end to a second end;
- and
- a recirculation path extending from a first transition location to a second transition location, the first transition location located proximate the first end of the helical path to transfer the plurality of balls from the helical path to the recirculation path, the second transition location located proximate the second end of the helical path to transfer the plurality of balls from the recirculation path to the helical path, the recirculation path comprising:
- a first segment defined by a first arc portion of a first ellipse;
- a second segment defined by a second arc portion of the first ellipse;
- and
- a third segment defined by an arc of a second ellipse, wherein the first ellipse and the second ellipse are disposed in a common plane.
A vehicle electric power steering assembly comprising:
- a motor for assisting steering maneuvers of the vehicle;
- a rack and pinion assembly;
- a ball screw assembly for converting rotary motion of the motor to linear motion to assist the rack and pinion assembly, the ball screw assembly comprising:
- a helical path for a plurality of balls to be routed through, the helical path extending from a first end to a second end;
- a recirculation path extending from the first end of the helical path to the second end of the helical path, the recirculation path comprising:
- a first segment defined by a first arc portion of a first ellipse;
- a second segment defined by a second arc portion of the first ellipse;
- and
- a third segment defined by an arc of a second ellipse, wherein the first ellipse and the second ellipse are disposed in a common plane.
A ball screw assembly comprising:
- a helical path for a plurality of balls to be routed through, the helical path extending from a first end to a second end;
- and
- a recirculation path extending from a first transition location to a second transition location, the first transition location located proximate the first end of the helical path to transfer the plurality of balls from the helical path to the recirculation path, the second transition location located proximate the second end of the helical path to transfer the plurality of balls from the recirculation path to the helical path, the recirculation path defined by at least portion of a first ellipse and at least a portion of a second ellipse disposed in a common plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.