A method for operating a steering mechanism (12) of a motor vehicle, wherein a steering rod (27) can be held or displaced along its longitudinal axis (a) by an electric motor (22) so that the wheel steering angle (8, 9) of at least one wheel (5, 6) on at least one vehicle axle (1) can be maintained or changed. When a force (F.sub.ext) acts essentially axially on the steering rod (27), displacement of the steering rod (27) is at least inhibited by a detent torque (RM) of the electric motor (22) and/or by a self-induced torque (M.sub.sip) of the electric motor. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method and to a steering mechanism, which is preferably in the form of a steer-by-wire steering system. A control unit is provided for carrying out the method.

A modular power steering apparatus includes a rotatable shaft, which is selectively rotatable to effect turning movement of at least one vehicle wheel. A housing supports the rotatable shaft for rotation relative thereto, about a shaft axis. A first rotational input assembly is provided for transmitting a steering command from a steering member to the rotatable shaft. A second rotational input assembly is operatively connected with the rotatable shaft. The second rotational input assembly is configured to apply a rotational force to the rotatable shaft. The apparatus includes a plurality of drive stations. Each drive station is configured to selectively accept both of the first and second rotational input assemblies for operating connection to the rotatable shaft at different times.

A motor vehicle with driving and steering rear wheels—comprises includes a rear suspension system having a support frame mounted on the vehicle body. For each rear wheel, a wheel support is connected to the frame by oscillating arms. An actuator is mounted on the frame, with control rods, protruding from opposite ends of the actuator body, and connected to the wheel supports by control arms. Within a space between the rear wheels, there is a rear motor or differential. The actuator body is mounted on the frame along a transverse direction spaced apart from an axis of the rear wheels to avoid interference with the motor or differential. The control arms are substantially parallel to a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, or form an angle therewith not exceeding 15 degrees. The control rods are connected to the control arms with the interposition of a transmission.

Disclosed herein is a steering apparatus. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the steering apparatus includes a housing in which a rod slidably provided in an axial direction for wheel steering is accommodated and a sensor coupler passing through an inner surface and an outer surface to expose a part of the rod is provided, a rotation preventer coupled to the rod through the sensor coupler to be moved together with the rod and supported in a width direction of the housing to limit rotation of the rod, a damper coupled to the rotation preventer to be disposed between the sensor coupler and the rotation preventer, a magnet holder coupled to the rotation preventer to be moved together with the rod and provided with a magnet, and a sensing unit coupled to the sensor coupler and including a sensor configured to sense a position of the magnet.

A steer-by-wire apparatus may include: a first rotating part rotated with a steering wheel; a second rotating part installed so as to be isolated from the first rotating part, and engaged with a first rack gear provided on a side surface of a gear bar; a sensor installed on each of the first and second rotating parts, and configured to measure at least any one of a rotation angle of the first rotating part, a rotation angle of the second rotating part and a torque value of the first rotating part; a controller configured to receive the measured value of the sensor; and a clutch configured to operate according to a control signal of the controller and synchronize rotations of the first and second rotating parts.

A belt pulley (28) for a gear mechanism has a hollow cylindrical body (36) and a disc-like fixing flange (42) which is molded onto an axial end of the body (36), protrudes radially inward, and has a central cutout (44). The fixing flange (42) has at least one first contact face (60) on its inside and the body (36) has at least one second contact face (64) on an inside. The first contact face (60) and the second contact face (64) are offset to each other in the circumferential direction relative to a central axis of the body (36). A steering gear for a vehicle is also disclosed, wherein the steering gear comprises a belt pulley (28).

An actuator of a steering system of a motor vehicle, having a connecting rod which is longitudinally movable in a housing along an actuating path between axial stops and which penetrates the housing and is connectable at one end to a toe link for the articulation of wheels, the stops of which are arranged axially one behind the other and face each other axially. The stops and a stopper interacting with the two stops are located inside the housing.

An actuator (10) of a steer-by-wire steering device of a motor vehicle comprises a housing (46, 146), a spindle (42, 142) and a positionally fixed spindle nut (43, 143) mounted so that it can rotate, which within the housing (46, 146) form a spindle drive (41, 141) for the axial displacement of the spindle (42, 142) relative to the spindle nut. An inertial mass (100, 300, 400, 400a, 500, 600) is at least indirectly coupled to the spindle (142), taking into account the oscillation behavior of at least one component of the actuator (10), in particular the spindle (142).

A linear translating assembly includes a housing. The linear translating assembly also includes a linear translating component moveable in an axial direction, wherein at least a portion of the length of the linear translating component is disposed within the housing. The linear translating assembly further includes an anti-rotation device. The anti-rotation device includes an inner clamshell assembly at least partially surrounding the linear translating component at a mounting location of the linear translating component. The anti-rotation device also includes an outer clamshell assembly at least partially surrounding the inner clamshell assembly. The anti-rotation device is disposed within the housing and is axially fixed to the linear translating component at the mounting location in a non-rotational manner relative to the linear translating component, wherein interaction between the anti-rotation device and the housing prevents rotation of the linear translating component.

The invention relates to an electrically operated steering system (1) for a vehicle (2) with a rack (3) for attaching the steering system (1) to a vehicle frame of the vehicle (2), two steerable wheels (4) that are pivotably attached to the rack (3), a rod element (5) arranged on the rack (3), which is slidable in its longitudinal direction in relation to the rack (3), a kinematic unit (13) which is coupled to the rod element (5) and which transforms a movement of the rod element (5) into a steering rotation of the wheels (4), an electric machine (6), which is mechanically connected to the rod element (5) for effecting the movement of the rod element (5), and a lateral force absorbing mechanism (7) which is configured for absorbing a lateral force produced by the kinematic unit (13) in relation to the rod element (5). The invention further relates to a vehicle (2) comprising such a steering system (1).