IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,552,446
Granted Patent B2
US 12,552,446 · App. 18/055,987 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Steering drive for a steering axle of a steerable vehicle, steering axle, and industrial truck

Inventors: Wolfgang Mauritz (Fürstenzell, DE); Max Leitner (Immenstaad, DE)
Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
B62D5/0421B62D5/0403
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,552,446
App. No.
18/055,987
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A steering drive for a steering axle of a steerable vehicle includes an electric motor with a motor shaft. A steering lever is rotatable about a pivot axis that is parallel to the electric motor. First and second planetary stages each have a sun gear, planet gears, and a planet carrier. The steering drive is configured such that a force flow runs from the first sun gear via the first planet gears to the first planet carrier. The force flow furthermore runs via the second sun gear and via the second planet gears to the second planet carrier, and furthermore runs to the steering lever. The steering drive has a spur gear stage and is configured such that a force flow from the motor shaft to the first sun gear runs via the spur gear stage. Also disclosed is a steering axle and an industrial truck.

Claims (36)

1 . A steering drive for a steering axle of a steerable vehicle, comprising:

an electric motor with a motor shaft;

a first planetary stage with a first sun gear, first planet gears, and a first planet carrier;

a second planetary stage with a second sun gear, second planet gears, and a second planet carrier; and

a steering lever with a spur gear stage, the steering lever rotatable about a pivot axis that is parallel to the electric motor;

wherein the steering drive is configured such that a force flow runs from the first sun gear via the first planet gears to the first planet carrier, such that the force flow furthermore runs via the second sun gear and via the second planet gears to the second planet carrier, and such that the force flow furthermore runs to the steering lever, and the steering lever being supported so as to be rotatable about the pivot axis; and

wherein the steering drive is configured such that a force flow from the motor shaft to the first sun gear runs via the spur gear stage.

2 . The steering drive as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the steering drive comprises a housing, a partial region of the housing constituting a front end shield of the electric motor.

3 . The steering drive as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the motor shaft has a toothing that meshes with an intermediate gear of the spur gear stage.

4 . The steering drive as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the intermediate gear is supported by means of a bolt that can be screwed into the housing.

5 . The steering drive as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the intermediate gear meshes with a further spur gear that is connected rotationally conjointly to the first sun gear.

6 . The steering drive as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the further spur gear is supported on a first cover that closes the first planetary stage and the second planetary stage in a partial region of the housing.

7 . The steering drive as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the steering lever has a conical receptacle for the arrangement of a bearing assembly.

8 . The steering drive as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the steering lever and the second planet carrier are supported on a second cover by a common bearing assembly.

9 . The steering drive as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the steering drive comprises a ring gear, the ring gear meshing with the first planet gears and the second planet gears and being arranged rotationally fixed with respect to the housing.

10 . The steering drive as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the ring gear is held between the first cover and the second cover.

11 . A steering axle comprising a steering drive as claimed in claim 1 .

12 . An industrial truck comprising the steering axle as claimed in claim 11 .

13 . A steering drive for a steering axle of a steerable vehicle, comprising:

an electric motor with a motor shaft;

a first planetary stage with a first sun gear, first planet gears, and a first planet carrier;

a second planetary stage with a second sun gear, second planet gears, and a second planet carrier; and

a steering lever having a spur gear stage with an intermediate gear, the steering lever rotatable about a pivot axis that is parallel to the electric motor; and

a housing, wherein part of the housing constitutes a front-end shield of the electric motor;

wherein the intermediate gear is supported by means of a bolt that can be screwed into the housing;

wherein the motor shaft has a toothing that meshes with the intermediate gear of the spur gear stage;

wherein the steering drive is configured such that a force flow runs from the first sun gear via the first planet gears to the first planet carrier, such that the force flow furthermore runs via the second sun gear and via the second planet gears to the second planet carrier, and such that the force flow furthermore runs to the steering lever, and the steering lever being supported so as to be rotatable about the pivot axis; and

wherein the steering drive is configured such that a force flow from the motor shaft to the first sun gear runs via the spur gear stage.

14 . A steering drive for a steering axle of a steerable vehicle, comprising:

an electric motor with a motor shaft;

a first planetary stage with a first sun gear, first planet gears, and a first planet carrier;

a second planetary stage with a second sun gear, second planet gears, and a second planet carrier;

a housing, wherein part of the housing constitutes a front end shield of the electric motor; and

a steering lever with a spur gear stage, the steering lever rotatable about a pivot axis that is parallel to the electric motor, wherein the steering lever and the second planet carrier are supported on the housing by a common bearing assembly;

wherein the steering drive is configured such that a force flow runs from the first sun gear via the first planet gears to the first planet carrier, such that the force flow furthermore runs via the second sun gear and via the second planet gears to the second planet carrier, and such that the force flow furthermore runs to the steering lever, and the steering lever being supported so as to be rotatable about the pivot axis; and

wherein the steering drive is configured such that a force flow from the motor shaft to the first sun gear runs via the spur gear stage.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2022
From: MAURITZ, WOLFGANG; LEITNER, MAX
To: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
Reel/Frame 061793/0589 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2021 213 067.4 · Nov 22, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230159087A1 · May 25, 2023
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