A method for manufacturing a rack bar having a first rack and a second rack is provided. The first and second racks have an angular positional difference around an axis of the rack bar. The method includes forming a first flat surface and a second flat surface on an outer circumference of a single hollow shaft member, with the angular positional difference being provided between the first and second flat surfaces, and forming the first rack on the first flat surface and the second rack on the second rack surface by press-fitting one or more mandrels into the hollow shaft member in a state in which one or more teeth dies corresponding to the first rack and the second rack is pressed against the first flat surface and the second flat surface.

The invention relates to a Drive unit as part of a vehicle steering comprising a housing, mechanically connectable to the vehicle through an anti-rotation system, a rotatory output element, an interface for interfacing the control unit, including powering coils and measuring feedback to external control unit, and a motor comprising an angular position sensor, a stator and a rotor, the stator being fixedly mounted in the housing, and the rotor being rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein the output element, the stator and the rotor are coaxially arranged, wherein the motor is mechanically coupled to the output element by a differential providing an angular speed for the output element which is different from the angular speed of the rotor.

A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes a housing, a shaft, a first gear, first and second motors. The shaft is rotatably mounted with respect to the housing and is configured for attachment of a steering wheel at one end. The first gear is connected to and configured to rotate with the shaft. Each of the first and second motors have an output driving a respective output gear. The output gears are engaged with the first gear, and there being control means configured to operate the motors in a first mode in which the motors apply torque to the first gear in opposite directions and a second mode in which the motors apply torque to the first gear in the same direction.

The present application discloses a steering assistance device, including: a motor configured to output a drive force in accordance with a steering force applied to a steering shaft; and a speed reducer including: a gear section configured to rotate and oscillate in accordance with the drive force; an outer cylinder having an internally toothed ring formed thereon, the internally toothed ring being configured to mesh with the gear section; and a carrier configured to rotate in accordance with rotation and oscillation of the gear section and output a steering assistance force to a steering mechanism, the steering mechanism being configured to steer vehicle wheels in accordance with rotational operation applied to a steering wheel. The engagement ratio between the gear section and the internally toothed ring is from 25 to 100%.

A remotely controlled vehicle assembly includes a vehicle that may have a child seated therein. The vehicle has a pair of rear and front wheels. A drive unit is coupled to the vehicle and the drive unit is mechanically coupled to each of the rear wheels. In this way the drive unit selectively urges the vehicle along the support surface. A steering unit is coupled to the vehicle and the steering unit is mechanically coupled to each of the front wheels. In this way the steering unit steers the vehicle on the support surface. A remote control unit is provided and the remote control is manipulated by a caregiver. The remote control is in electrical communication with each of the drive unit and the steering unit. In this way the remote control unit facilitates the caregiver to control motion of the vehicle.

An electric powered recirculating ball assembly includes a steering rack. The electric powered recirculating ball assembly also includes a steering gear housing. The electric powered recirculating ball assembly further includes a plurality of rolling elements operatively coupled to the steering rack and in contact with mating geometry of a component operatively coupled to, or integrally formed with, the steering gear housing.

A remotely controlled vehicle assembly includes a vehicle that may have a child seated therein. The vehicle has a pair of rear and front wheels. A drive unit is coupled to the vehicle and the drive unit is mechanically coupled to each of the rear wheels. In this way the drive unit selectively urges the vehicle along the support surface. A steering unit is coupled to the vehicle and the steering unit is mechanically coupled to each of the front wheels. In this way the steering unit steers the vehicle on the support surface. A remote control unit is provided and the remote control is manipulated by a caregiver. The remote control is in electrical communication with each of the drive unit and the steering unit. In this way the remote control unit facilitates the caregiver to control motion of the vehicle.

Provided is a steering controller configured to suppress deterioration of the operability of a steering wheel for steering steered wheels even when a driving voltage for a steering system has been decreased. When a clutch is in a disengaged state and steered wheels are steered by a steered-operation actuator while a reaction force is applied to steering wheel by a reaction-force actuator, if a driving voltage for the steered-operation actuator is decreased, a CPU opens relays and stops generation of torque by the steered-operation actuator. Meanwhile, a CPU engages the clutch and steers the steered wheels through cooperation between a steering torque input into the steering wheel and an assist torque generated by a reaction-force motor.

A steering angle calculating circuit includes a first neutral point calculating circuit, a second neutral point calculating circuit, and an absolute angle calculating circuit. The first neutral point calculating circuit calculates a motor neutral point (m01), based on a steering angle detected by a steering sensor and a rotation angle of a motor detected by the relative angle sensor, when a drive source for driving a vehicle is started. The second neutral point calculating circuit calculates a motor neutral point when the steering angle detected by the steering sensor falls within a predetermined angle range in which a specific stroke with respect to the steering angle is constant. After the motor neutral point is calculated by the second neutral point calculating circuit, the absolute angle calculating circuit calculates the steering angle as an absolute angle, using the motor neutral point calculated by the second neutral point calculating circuit.

Even in the case that the steered wheels are turned by an actual turning angle due to a disturbance from the road surface, and the steering shaft, which is mechanically connected to the steered wheels, attempts to rotate, a command current to an assist motor is set so that the actual turning angle becomes a corrected target turning angle. The force (torque) that attempts to cause rotation of the steering shaft due to the disturbance input from the road surface is instantaneously canceled by the assist motor.