A ball screw drive comprising a leadscrew that has at least one outer ball groove and comprising a threaded nut that has at least one inner ball groove, which ball grooves together to form a ball channel in which balls, via which the leadscrew is guided relative to the threaded nut, are accommodated, wherein in the ball groove of the threaded nut is provided at least one radially closed pocket in which a deflection element for deflecting the balls moving in the ball groove is accommodated, wherein the threaded nut has an outer deflection device, which outer deflection device is axially in front of the deflection element in the form of an individual deflection element, is situated on the outer side of the threaded nut and engages in two radial openings in the threaded nut, and by means of which outer deflection device the balls are axially offset.

Provided is a ball screw device which enables easy production and assembly of a nut member and formation of an endless circulation path for balls in the nut member with high accuracy. The nut member includes a plurality of nut components arranged in a superposed manner along an axial direction of a screw shaft. At a boundary portion between the nut components which are adjacent to each other, a raceway path for balls extending around a periphery of the screw shaft is formed. A joining surface of each of the nut components used for joining with another one of the nut components includes: a raceway forming surface which is annularly formed around the through hole; and an abutment surface for joining which is formed on an outer side in a radial direction with respect to the raceway forming surface.

A screw device is provided which can facilitate management of a tolerance of a recess where a circulation component is housed. A circulation component is housed in a recess of a nut with clearance. At least part of the circulation component is blocked by a lid member fixed to the nut by fastening means. Upon a centrifugal force acting on a rolling element moving along a circulation path in the circulation component, the circulation component comes into contact at three points with the recess as viewed in an axial direction.

A rolling guide apparatus having a first member 1, a second member 2, and a rolling body unit 5, the apparatus including a guide path G of the rolling body unit 5 including a rolling path R configured to have a rolling groove 1a and a rolling groove 3a, and a circulation path C allowing communication between a start point and an end point of the rolling path R, the rolling body unit 5 being configured to have a plurality of first rolling bodies 5a and a plurality of second rolling bodies 5b each composed of an elastic material, at least one second rolling body 5b being always positioned in the circulation path C. The rolling guide apparatus is easy to be assembled and is capable of performing stable operations.

An electromechanical power steering device may include a servomotor that drives an axially movable component via a ball nut mounted in a bearing such that the ball nut can be rotated about a longitudinal axis in a housing. The ball nut may be engaged with a threaded spindle configured on the axially movable component. The ball nut may include a ball screw on its inner side for balls to roll on, and an external ball return means that connects a start of the ball screw to an end of the ball screw to make endless circulation of the balls possible. A return channel of the ball return means may be formed by way of a deflecting body and a pulley wheel.

A ball screw spline with reduced size and weight includes: a shaft formed in such a manner that a helical ball screw groove and a straight ball spline groove intersect each other; a ball screw nut having a helical ball screw groove facing the ball screw groove in the shaft, the ball screw nut being configured to allow recirculating a screw ball fitting in the ball screw groove in the shaft; and a ball spline outer race having a straight ball spline groove facing the ball spline groove in the shaft, the ball spline outer race being configured to allow recirculating a spline ball fitting in the ball spline groove in the shaft. The ball screw groove in the shaft is made as deep as or deeper than the ball spline groove in the shaft, and the screw ball is made smaller in diameter than the spline ball.

A ball screw spline with reduced size and weight includes: a shaft formed in such a manner that a helical ball screw groove and a straight ball spline groove intersect each other; a ball screw nut having a helical ball screw groove facing the ball screw groove in the shaft, the ball screw nut being configured to allow recirculating a screw ball fitting in the ball screw groove in the shaft; and a ball spline outer race having a straight ball spline groove facing the ball spline groove in the shaft, the ball spline outer race being configured to allow recirculating a spline ball fitting in the ball spline groove in the shaft. The ball screw groove in the shaft is made as deep as or deeper than the ball spline groove in the shaft, and the screw ball is made smaller in diameter than the spline ball.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for a steering apparatus for use with vehicles are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing for a vehicle steering system, a motor, an actuator, and a rack disposed in the housing, the motor to provide a torque to the actuator via a belt to translate the rack relative to the housing, and a first gear disposed between the motor and the actuator, the first gear to transfer the torque from the motor to the actuator when the belt does not provide the torque.

To provide a ball screw device and a steering device capable of securing smooth circulation of balls while suppressing occurrence of clogging of the balls caused by displacement in a radial direction between a deflector and a nut main body. A ball screw device includes a ball screw nut and a circulation path. The ball screw nut includes a nut main body and a deflector. The deflector includes an inclined portion provided at a peripheral part of a connection portion between a passage and the circulation path of the nut main body for securing passing of the balls at the connection portion when an insertion position of the deflector with respect to the deflector mounting hole is displaced from a desired position within a range of a given distance.

A screw actuator, includes: a screw comprising a first helical contact surface and a first helical raceway surface; a nut comprising a second helical contact surface and a second helical raceway surface; and a plurality of ball bearings in a helical raceway formed by the first helical raceway surface and the second helical raceway surface. When the screw is loaded relative to the nut in a first axial direction, the first helical contact surface is compressed against the second helical contact surface. When the screw is loaded relative to the nut in a second axial direction, the plurality of ball bearings are compressed between the first helical raceway surface and the second helical raceway surface.