IP Library Granted Patent US 8,360,910
Granted Patent B2
US 8,360,910 · App. 12/296,405 · Granted Jan 29, 2013

Worm-belt transmission of a power-steering drive

Inventor: Wilfried Leutner (Schwaebisch Gmuend, DE)
Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,360,910
App. No.
12/296,405
Granted
Jan 29, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power-steering drive for a steering system in a motor vehicle includes a motor driving a motor shaft and a transmission situated between the motor shaft and an output shaft. The transmission takes the form of a combined worm-belt transmission. Furthermore, in a method for adjusting the transmission of a power-steering drive, the adjustment is performed by solely adjusting the intermediate shaft relative to the motor shaft and/or the output shaft.

Claims (23)

1. A power-steering drive for a steering system in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a motor including a motor shaft;

an output shaft; and

a combined worm-belt transmission arranged between the motor shaft and the output shaft, the transmission including an adjustable intermediate shaft arranged as a worm, the intermediate shaft being adjustable in a radial direction over an entire length of the intermediate shaft and parallel to the motor shaft.

2. The power-steering drive according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first belt pulley arranged on the motor shaft in a rotatably fixed manner; and

a second belt pulley arranged in a rotatably fixed manner on the intermediate shaft; and

a belt coupled between the first belt pulley and the second belt pulley.

3. The power-steering drive according to claim 1 , further comprising a worm wheel, engaging the worm, arranged in a rotatably fixed manner on the output shaft.

4. The power-steering drive according to claim 1 , wherein the output shaft extends transversally to the intermediate shaft and to the motor shaft.

5. The power-steering drive according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate shaft is adjustable relative to the motor shaft and the output shaft, and the intermediate shaft is fixable in a desired relative position.

6. The power-steering drive according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of (a) the intermediate shaft and (b) at least one shaft bearing of the intermediate shaft is received, with radial play around an entire periphery, in at least one receiving opening in at least one component.

7. The power-steering drive according to claim 1 , wherein the motor shaft and the output shaft are arranged in a fixed, non-adjustable relative position with respect to each other.

8. The power-steering drive according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate shaft is fixable exclusively on the basis of being braced axially against at least one component.

9. A method for adjusting a combined worm-belt transmission of a power-steering drive for a motor vehicle, the power-steering drive including a motor including a motor shaft and an output shaft, the combined worm-belt transmission arranged between the motor shaft and the output shaft, the transmission including an adjustable intermediate shaft arranged as a worm, the intermediate shaft being adjustable in a radial direction over an entire length of the intermediate shaft and parallel to the motor shaft, comprising:

adjusting the transmission by solely adjusting the intermediate shaft relative to the motor shaft and the output shaft.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting the intermediate shaft by applying a defined adjusting force in a defined direction of force.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the adjusting includes:

measuring the adjusting force during the adjusting process;

stopping the adjusting process when the defined adjusting force is reached; and

fixing the intermediate shaft.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the adjusting include adjusting the intermediate shaft by a predetermined travel.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the intermediate shaft is adjusted using an independent shaft shifting device.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 20, 2015
From: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH
To: ROBERT BOSCH AUTOMOTIVE STEERING GMBH
Reel/Frame 035463/0571 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2009
From: LEUTNER, WILFRIED
To: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH
Reel/Frame 022538/0320 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2006 016 429 · Apr 7, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090250286A1 · Oct 8, 2009