US Patent No: 5,040,631

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Rack and pinion auxiliary steering mechanism, especially for motor vehicles

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Importance

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Abstract

In an electrically-assisted rack and pinion auxilliary steering mechanism, an electric motor is controlled in accordance with a signal from a torque-measuring device. To prevent faulty control messages, a safety switching device is provided that contains two switches capable of being activated by a lever. A ball nut that is connected with a threaded spindle by a ball diversion channel is connected with the steering rack of the rack and pinion steering gear. The threaded spindle is connected via a spring bellows, with an output part of a coupling that can be coupled with or uncoupled from the electric motor. The threaded spindle is connected, axially movable and rotatable, opposite the fixed housing by two elastic intermediate rings and two axial bearings. If the axial movement does not coincide with the torque at the steering wheel in case of a malfunction, the coupling is disengaged by one of the two switches.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGFRIEDRICHSHAFEN2146

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Knodler, Helmut Lorch, DE 10 30
Lang, Armin Schwabisch Gmund, DE 48 221

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
TRW INC. (1)
4,811,813 Center take-off electric rack and pinion steering gear 7 1987
 
ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG (1)
4,913,249 Auxiliary power steering mechanism, especially for motor vehicles 11 1988
 
Other [Check patent profile for assignment information] (1)
D296798 Three-dimensional tic tac toe game board 7 1985

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
KOYO SEIKO CO., LTD. (2)
6,550,567 Electric power steering apparatus 16 2001
6,769,507 Electric power steering apparatus 13 2003
 
TRW INC. (2)
5,924,518 Linear drive electric assist steering system 7 1996
7,401,677 Self-centering steering system 5 2002
 
AKTIEBOLAGET SKF (1)
7,686,125 Linear electromechanical actuator for a steering system of a motor vehicle 1 2005
 
APPLIED PRECISION, INC. (1)
6,806,595 Low backlash linear actuator 2 2002
 
DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG (1)
5,711,396 Servomotor assisted rack-and-pinion steering or control system 33 1995
 
TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH (1)
7,441,475 Rack-and-pinion steering system, in particular for light commercial vehicles 3 2006
 
ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH (1)
6,952,973 Method for attaching a torque measuring device 2 2002