CN-122009313-A - Steering system with support for rack and nut assembly

Abstract

The steering assembly includes a steering rack configured to be linearly movable, a nut rotatably coupled to the steering rack, wherein the steering rack is linearly movable in association with rotation of the nut, a bearing configured to support rotation of the nut, the bearing including an outer race having a flange portion protruding from an outer surface of the outer race of the bearing, and a rack housing accommodating at least a portion of the steering rack, the nut, and the bearing, and the rack housing having a groove recessed from an inner surface of the rack housing. A flange portion protruding from an outer surface of the outer race of the support is disposed in a groove recessed from an inner surface of the rack housing.

Inventors

• Troy Streit
• JOSHUA GROVE
• CONNOR STARK

Assignees

• 汉拿万都株式会社

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20251107

Priority Date

20251104

Claims (20)

1. 1. A steering assembly, the steering assembly comprising: A steering rack configured to be linearly movable; A nut rotatably coupled to the steering rack, wherein the steering rack moves linearly in association with rotation of the nut; a support configured to support rotation of the nut, the support including an outer race having a flange portion protruding from an outer surface of the outer race of the support, and A rack housing accommodating at least a portion of the steering rack, the nut, and the support, and having a groove recessed from an inner surface of the rack housing, Wherein the flange portion protruding from the outer surface of the outer race of the support is arranged in the groove recessed from the inner surface of the rack housing.
2. 2. The steering assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first elastic support elastically supporting the flange portion of the outer race of the bearing, wherein at least a portion of the first elastic support is disposed in the groove recessed from the inner surface of the rack housing together with the flange portion of the outer race of the bearing.
3. 3. The steering assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second resilient support resiliently supporting a side surface of the outer race of the bearing, wherein the second resilient support is positioned between the rack housing and the side surface of the outer race of the bearing.
4. 4. The steering assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first elastic support member elastically supporting the flange portion of the outer ring of the bearing member is an elastic member.
5. 5. The steering assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first elastic support member elastically supporting the flange portion of the outer ring of the bearing has a wavy annular shape.
6. 6. The steering assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second elastic support positioned between the rack housing and the side surface of the outer race of the bearing is an elastic member.
7. 7. The steering assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second elastic support positioned between the rack housing and the side surface of the outer race of the bearing has a wavy annular shape.
8. 8. The steering assembly as in claim 1, wherein the inner race of the support and the nut are joined as a single cylindrical portion, the inner race of the support being formed on an outer portion of the single cylindrical portion, and an inner portion of the single cylindrical portion being at least partially threaded to be operatively coupled to the steering rack.
9. 9. The steering assembly of claim 8, further comprising a pulley disposed on the outer portion of the single cylindrical portion.
10. 10. The steering assembly of claim 9, further comprising a support supporting a side of the pulley, wherein a portion of the support is disposed in a groove recessed from an outer surface of the outer portion of the single cylindrical portion.
11. 11. The steering assembly as in claim 10, wherein the support disposed in the groove recessed from the outer surface of the outer portion of the single cylindrical portion has an annular shape.
12. 12. The steering assembly as in claim 10, wherein the support disposed in the groove recessed from the outer surface of the outer portion of the single cylindrical portion has a wavy resilient member.
13. 13. The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein, The rack housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled to each other, A first groove portion in which the groove is formed at an end portion of the first housing portion, and a second groove portion in which the groove is formed at an end portion of the second housing portion, and The flange portion protruding from the outer surface of the outer race of the support is arranged in the groove formed by the first groove portion formed at the end portion of the first housing portion and the second groove portion formed at the end portion of the second housing portion.
14. 14. A steer-by-wire system, the steer-by-wire system comprising: A first power pack including a first motor; A second power pack including a second motor; a nut operatively coupled to the first motor of the first power pack and the second motor of the second power pack; A steering rack operatively coupled to the nut, the steering rack configured to be linearly movable in association with rotation of the nut; A support configured to support rotation of the nut, and including an outer ring having a flange portion protruding from an outer surface of the outer ring of the support, and A rack housing accommodating at least a portion of the steering rack, the nut, and the support, the rack housing having a groove recessed from an inner surface of the rack housing, Wherein the flange portion protruding from the outer surface of the outer race of the support is arranged in the groove recessed from the inner surface of the rack housing.
15. 15. The steer-by-wire system of claim 14, further comprising a first resilient support that resiliently supports the flange portion of the outer race of the bearing, wherein at least a portion of the first resilient support is disposed in the groove recessed from the inner surface of the rack housing with the flange portion of the outer race of the bearing.
16. 16. The steer-by-wire system of claim 14, further comprising a second resilient support that resiliently supports a side surface of the outer race of the bearing, wherein the second resilient support is positioned between the rack housing and the side surface of the outer race of the bearing.
17. 17. The steer-by-wire system of claim 14, wherein the inner race of the support and the nut are joined as a single cylindrical portion, the inner race of the support being formed on an outer portion of the single cylindrical portion, and an inner portion of the single cylindrical portion being at least partially threaded to be operatively coupled to the steering rack.
18. 18. The steer-by-wire system of claim 17, further comprising a pulley disposed on the outer portion of the single cylindrical portion.
19. 19. The steer-by-wire system of claim 18, further comprising a support supporting a side of the pulley, wherein a portion of the support is disposed in a groove recessed from an outer surface of the outer portion of the single cylindrical portion.
20. 20. The steer-by-wire system of claim 14, wherein, The rack housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion coupled to each other, A first groove portion in which the groove is formed at an end portion of the first housing portion, and a second groove portion in which the groove is formed at an end portion of the second housing portion, and The flange portion protruding from the outer surface of the outer race of the support is arranged in the groove formed by the first groove portion formed at the end portion of the first housing portion and the second groove portion formed at the end portion of the second housing portion.

Description

Steering system with support for rack and nut assembly Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63/718,733, entitled "Dual-Belt drive steering-by-wire road wheel actuator with incorporated 4-Point bearing RBNA support", filed on Ser. No. 11/10 of 2024, and priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19/379,663, entitled "steering System with support for rack and nut Assembly", filed on Ser. No. 4 of 2025, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to steering systems for vehicles, and more particularly to steering systems having bearings for rack and nut assemblies. Background The vehicle requires a steering system to control the direction of travel. Mechanical steering systems have previously been used. Mechanical steering systems typically include a mechanical linkage or mechanical connection between the steering wheel and road wheel. For example, in a conventional steering system that includes a steering wheel, a steering column, a power-assisted rack and pinion mechanism, and a tie rod, a driver turns the steering wheel, which turns road wheels of a vehicle through various mechanical components. Thus, movement of the steering wheel causes corresponding movement of the road wheel. The movement of such mechanical systems is typically power assisted by the use of hydraulic assistance or electric motors. Mechanical steering systems are expected to be replaced or supplemented by electrically driven steering systems (commonly referred to as "steer-by-wire" systems). For example, such steer-by-wire systems replace, to a varying extent, the mechanical linkage between the steerable wheels and road wheels with one or more sensors, actuators, and electronics. Steer-by-wire systems aim to eliminate the physical or mechanical connection between the steered wheel and the wheel and to change the direction of the wheel and provide feedback to the driver through the use of an electronically controlled motor. While the mechanical linkage between the steered wheels and road wheels has been eliminated, steer-by-wire systems are not only expected to produce the same functions and steering feel as conventional mechanically linked steering systems, but are also expected to achieve advanced steering system characteristics. By advanced control system design, the need for conventional steering functions and advanced steering characteristics such as adjustable steering feel can be achieved. The following embodiments are described with respect to the above and other general considerations. Furthermore, while relatively specific problems are discussed, it should be understood that these embodiments should not be limited to solving the specific problems described in the background. Disclosure of Invention The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more readily understood and apparent from the following detailed description, which should be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a steering assembly may include a steering rack configured to be linearly movable, a nut rotatably coupled to the steering rack, wherein the steering rack is linearly movable in association with rotation of the nut, a bearing configured to support rotation of the nut, the bearing including an outer race having a flange portion protruding from an outer surface of the outer race of the bearing, and a rack housing accommodating at least a portion of the steering rack, the nut, and the bearing, and the rack housing having a groove recessed from an inner surface of the rack housing, wherein the flange portion protruding from the outer surface of the outer race of the bearing is disposed in the groove recessed from the inner surface of the rack housing. The steering assembly may further include a first elastic support elastically supporting the flange portion of the outer race of the bearing, wherein at least a portion of the first elastic support is disposed in a groove recessed from the inner surface of the rack housing together with the flange portion of the outer race of the bearing. The steering assembly may further include a second elastic support elastically supporting a side surface of the outer race of the bearing, wherein the second elastic support is positioned between the rack housing and the side surface of the outer race of the bearing. The first elastic support member elastically supporting the flange portion of the outer ring of the bearing may be an elastic member. The first elastic support member elastically supporting the flange portion of the outer ring of the bearing may have a wavy annular shape. The second elastic support positioned between the rack housing and the side surface of the outer race of the bearing may be an elastic member. The seco