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US 9,845,106 B2Granted
Overload protection for belt drive mechanism
AssigneeSteering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
InventorsJoen C. Bodtker, Eric D. Pattok
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly includes a steering shaft and a primary drive system eccentrically coupled to the steering shaft and configured to transfer a torque applied to the steering shaft to a vehicle steering system. The assembly also includes a secondary drive system coupled to the steering shaft and configured to transfer the torque applied to the steering shaft if the primary drive system is inactive and substantially unable to transfer the torque.
Claims16
An eccentric power transfer system for a steering column assembly, the system comprising:
- a primary drive system configured to transfer a torque applied to the steering column assembly to a vehicle steering system;
- and
- a secondary drive system in parallel with the primary drive system and configured to transfer the torque applied to the steering column assembly when the primary drive system is inactive and substantially unable to transfer the torque, the primary drive system further comprising:
- a drive pulley configured to couple to a steering shaft of the steering column assembly;
- a driven pulley configured to couple to an output shaft;
- and
- a drive belt engaging the drive pulley and the driven pulley to transfer a torque therebetween.
4 more elements
An eccentric power transfer system for a steering column assembly, the system comprising:
- a primary drive system configured to transfer a torque applied to the steering column assembly to a vehicle steering system;
- and
- a secondary drive system configured to transfer the torque applied to the steering column assembly when the primary drive system is inactive and substantially unable to transfer the torque, the secondary drive system further compromising:
- a drive overload gear configured to couple to a steering shaft of the steering column assembly;
- a driven overload gear configured to couple to an output shaft;
- and
- an idler gear disposed between and meshingly engaged with the drive overload gear and the driven overload gear to transfer a torque therebetween.
4 more elements
A steering column assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a steering shaft;
- a primary drive system eccentrically coupled to the steering shaft and configured to transfer a torque applied to the steering shaft to a vehicle steering system;
- and
- a secondary drive system in parallel with the primary drive system and coupled to the steering shaft and configured to transfer the torque applied to the steering shaft if the primary drive system is inactive and substantially unable to transfer the torque, the primary drive system further comprising:
- a drive pulley configured to couple to the steering shaft;
- a driven pulley configured to couple to an output shaft;
- and
- a drive belt engaging the drive pulley and the driven pulley to transfer a torque therebetween.
5 more elements
A steering column assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a steering shaft;
- a primary drive system eccentrically coupled to the steering shaft and configured to transfer a torque applied to the steering shaft to a vehicle steering system;
- and
- a secondary drive system coupled to the steering shaft and configured to transfer the torque applied to the steering shaft if the primary drive system is inactive and substantially unable to transfer the torque, the secondary drive system further compromising:
- a drive overload gear configured to couple to the steering shaft;
- a driven overload gear configured to couple to an output shaft;
- and
- an idler gear disposed between and meshingly engaged with the drive overload gear and the driven overload gear to transfer a torque therebetween.
5 more elements
A steering column assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a steering shaft;
- a primary drive system eccentrically coupled to the steering shaft and configured to transfer a torque applied to the steering shaft to a vehicle steering system;
- and
- a secondary drive system in parallel with the primary drive system and coupled to the steering shaft and configured to transfer the torque applied to the steering shaft if the primary drive system is inactive and substantially unable to transfer the torque, the steering shaft is rotatable about an axis and is configured to couple to a steering wheel rim, the steering column assembly further comprising:
- a hub support configured to be non-rotatably coupled to a support structure of the vehicle;
- and
- a stationary hub coupled to the hub support, the steering wheel rim rotatable relative to the stationary hub.
4 more elements
A method of assembling a steering column assembly for a vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a steering shaft rotatable about an axis;
- eccentrically coupling a primary drive system to the steering shaft to transfer a torque applied to the steering shaft;
- coupling a secondary drive system to the steering shaft to transfer the torque applied to the steering shaft if the primary drive system is inactive and substantially unable to transfer the torque, wherein coupling a primary drive system comprises:
- coupling a drive pulley to the steering shaft;
- coupling a driven pulley to an output shaft;
- and
- coupling a drive belt to the drive pulley and the driven pulley to transfer a torque therebetween;
- and coupling a secondary drive system comprises:
- coupling a drive overload gear to at least one of the steering shaft and the drive pulley;
- coupling a driven overload gear to at least one of the output shaft and the driven pulley;
- and
- meshingly disposing an idler gear between the drive overload gear and the driven overload gear to transfer a torque therebetween.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.