Provided is an electric drive device which controls a current supplied to coils during normal operation so as to be less than a current limit value when normal, which is determined from heat generating properties and heat radiating properties of a thermally coupled body that includes the coils and an inverter circuit. When an abnormality in each group or each phase of the coils and the inverter circuit is detected, the supply of current to all phases of a group suffering an abnormality in the coils, or to a phase that is not capable of continuous operation, is stopped or reduced; and the limit value of the current supplied to a coil that is capable of continuous operation is reset to a current limit value in the event of abnormality, which is larger than the current limit value when normal, within the range of improvement of the heat generating properties of the thermally coupled body due to the stopping or reduction of the supply of current.

A drive device of an electric power steering apparatus includes a motor housing fixed to a gear housing, a stator, which is received in an inside of the motor housing, a rotor, which is rotatably placed on an inner side of the stator, and a shaft, which is rotated integrally with the rotor. The motor housing includes an engaging portion. The engaging portion has a thread, which is coaxial with a rotational axis of the shaft and is threadably engaged with the gear housing.

A shortening of an initial diagnosis time is achieved, even after an elapse of a predetermined delay time from an ignition switch being switched to an off-state. After the ignition switch is switched to an off-state after an operation of a control device, which drives an electric motor that applies steering assistance force to a steering system, diagnosis of a power supply circuit that supplies power to the control device is carried out, and a diagnosis item to be implemented in a succeeding initial diagnosis is determined based on a result of the diagnosis.

A gear unit for a motor vehicle having a rotary bearing supporting a worm gear shaft, rotatable about an axially extending rotation axis, on a housing. The rotary bearing pivotable about a pivot axis and includes a spherical outer face and a stationary pivot ring. The gear unit includes a spring element extending tangentially or circumferentially, at least partially, around the rotation axis, and positioned such that one side engages the housing and the other side, through two axially protruding contact portions lying opposite each other in the direction of the pivot axis, engages the rotary bearing. The spring element includes a ring portion extending transversely to the axial direction and tangentially, at least partially, around the rotation axis.

A gear unit for a motor vehicle having a drive shaft extending axially and mounted rotatably, and a worm gear shaft which cooperates with a worm gear wheel. A torque-transmitting coupling connects the drive shaft to one end of the worm gear shaft with the other end supported by a bearing. A pretension element loads the bearing and correspondingly the worm gear shaft so the worm gear shaft is biased or pressed against the worm gear wheel. The torque-transmitting coupling provides a suitable connection between the drive shaft and worm gear shaft.

A gear unit for a motor vehicle including a rotatable worm gear shaft rotating about a rotation axis and cooperating with a worm gear wheel in an engagement region spaced from the rotation axis. A pivotable rotary bearing mounts the worm gear shaft on a housing on one side of the engagement region and a loose rotary bearing, pretensioned in the direction of the spacing axis, mounts the other side in the housing. A support device supports the pivotable rotary bearing on the housing in the direction of the rotation axis. To optimize engagement between a worm gear shaft and a worm gear wheel, the pivotable rotary bearing pivots relative to the housing about a pivot axis perpendicular to the rotation axis and to the spacing axis. A support point of the support device is offset relative to the rotation axis along the spacing axis towards the engagement region.

A vehicle behavior control device for controlling a vehicle equipped with a steering apparatus comprises: a PCM operable to acquire a steering speed in the steering apparatus, and, when the steering speed becomes equal to or greater than a given threshold (T.sub.S1) which is greater than 0, to reduce a driving force for the vehicle according to the steering speed, wherein the steering apparatus comprises a steering shaft coupled to the steering wheel and rotatable together with the steering wheel, wherein the steering shaft has a torsion bar whose torsional rigidity about a rotational axis of the steering shaft is less than a remaining portion of the steering shaft. The steering speed acquisition section is configured to acquire the steering speed of the steering apparatus at a position on the side of the front road wheels with respect to the low rigidity portion.

A gear unit for a motor vehicle including an axially extending worm gear shaft, rotatable about a rotation axis, and cooperating with a worm gear wheel. The worm gear shaft supported, on one side of the worm gear wheel, through a first rotary bearing, on a housing and on the other side by of the worm gear wheel by a second rotary bearing loaded such that the worm gear shaft is pretensioned against the worm gear wheel. To optimize worm gear shaft and worm gear wheel engagement the first rotary bearing pivots or tilts relative to the housing, with deformation of at least one return element about a tilt axis perpendicular to the rotation axis. The return elements supporting the first rotary bearing on the housing in the axial and radial direction.

A vehicle includes electric brakes, an engine with a starter, a battery and a controller. The battery has a voltage and is configured to power the starter, the electric brakes, and the controller. The controller is configured to, in response to a speed of the vehicle falling within a specified range without propulsive demand and while the voltage is greater than an upper voltage that varies based on a charge needed to engage the brakes to stop the vehicle, stop the engine.

A vehicle includes electric brakes, an engine with a starter, a battery and a controller. The battery has a voltage and is configured to power the starter, the electric brakes, and the controller. The controller is configured to, in response to a speed of the vehicle falling within a specified range without propulsive demand and while the voltage is greater than an upper voltage that varies based on a charge needed to engage the brakes to stop the vehicle, stop the engine.