A steering apparatus includes first and second electric motors that rotate a steering shaft via speed reduction mechanisms, and the motors being disposed to face each other. The first electric motor, a first motor pulley, a second motor pulley and the second electric motor are arranged in order in a rotation axis direction. When a first system electric actuator (including a first nut and the first electric motor) and a second system electric actuator (including a second nut and the second electric motor) are provided to the common steering shaft, in a first axis direction, the first and second nuts can be arranged close to each other, reducing sizes of the peripheries of the nuts.

According to the embodiments, it is possible to mitigate noise by compensating for the clearance inside the bearing supporting the rotation of the ball nut and the clearance between the ball nut and the ball screw and prevent excessive friction between the ball nut and the ball screw and inside the bearing to thereby allow the driver a better steering feel.

According to the embodiments, it is possible to mitigate noise by compensating for the clearance inside the bearing supporting the rotation of the ball nut and the clearance between the ball nut and the ball screw and prevent excessive friction between the ball nut and the ball screw and inside the bearing to thereby allow the driver a better steering feel.

An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels includes a rotatable output shaft. A first rotational input assembly is provided for transmitting a steering command from a steering control member to the output shaft. A power transmitting mechanism is configured to transmit the rotational force from the input assembly to the output shaft. The power transmitting mechanism includes a plurality of sector gears. A ball screw has longitudinally separated first and second ball screw ends. A ball nut has a plurality of rack gears. Rotational force from the input assembly turns the ball screw, and the ball nut reciprocates within the housing responsive to rotation of the ball screw to move each of the plurality of rack gears in a longitudinal direction. Longitudinal motion of the rack gear teeth responsively drives the sector gear teeth to transmit the steering command to the output shaft.

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 recirculating ball power steering system includes an electric motor. The system also includes a ball screw rotatably driven by the electric motor. The system further includes a ball nut translatable along the ball screw in a linear direction during rotation of the ball screw. The system yet further includes a sliding joint in sliding contact with an outer surface of the ball nut, the sliding joint moveable in a non-parallel direction relative to the linear direction of the ball nut.

A recirculating ball power steering system includes an electric motor. The system also includes a ball screw rotatably driven by the electric motor. The system further includes a ball nut translatable along the ball screw in a linear direction during rotation of the ball screw. The system yet further includes a sliding joint in sliding contact with an outer surface of the ball nut, the sliding joint moveable in a non-parallel direction relative to the linear direction of the ball nut.

A scalable tractive power system for vehicles (car, truck, bus, semi-trailer), integrated with all-wheel steering system which leverage synergies between plurality of differently designed electric traction-motors and all-wheel electric steering-motors is configured with plurality of sensors to virtually eliminate wheel-dragging and EPS, as part of virtually 100% dynamic efficiency. A fully automated electronic clutch-system attached to selected electric traction motors is configured to carry out above 90% traction efficiency by coupling to wheels selected electric traction-motors in their high efficiency range of operation, and de-coupling and replacing electric traction-motors with another electric traction-motors while the vehicle is changing speed or when the vehicle requires higher or lower tractive-power, from forward-motion start to top-rated speed of the vehicle. A holistic controller is configured with multi-objective optimization design (MOOD) procedures computing complex variable values and parameters, finding the required trade-off among design objectives, and improving the pertinence of solutions, while complying with NHTSA's ‘fail operational systems’ for steer-by-wire.

A scalable tractive power system for vehicles (car, truck, bus, semi-trailer), integrated with all-wheel steering system which leverage synergies between plurality of differently designed electric traction-motors and all-wheel electric steering-motors is configured with plurality of sensors to virtually eliminate wheel-dragging and EPS, as part of virtually 100% dynamic efficiency. A fully automated electronic clutch-system attached to selected electric traction motors is configured to carry out above 90% traction efficiency by coupling to wheels selected electric traction-motors in their high efficiency range of operation, and de-coupling and replacing electric traction-motors with another electric traction-motors while the vehicle is changing speed or when the vehicle requires higher or lower tractive-power, from forward-motion start to top-rated speed of the vehicle. A holistic controller is configured with multi-objective optimization design (MOOD) procedures computing complex variable values and parameters, finding the required trade-off among design objectives, and improving the pertinence of solutions, while complying with NHTSA's ‘fail operational systems’ for steer-by-wire.

Rotary assist apparatus for recirculating ball steering gears are disclosed. An example motor vehicle steering system includes an input shaft to couple to a steering shaft of a motor vehicle, a worm gear, a first end of the worm gear coupled to the input shaft, a second end of the worm gear fixed to a helical spur gear, a ball nut surrounding a portion of the worm gear, the ball nut including ball bearings and ball guides, an intermediate gear fixed to a first pinion, the first pinion engaged with the helical spur gear, a motor fixed to a second pinion, the second pinion engaged with the intermediate gear, the motor to rotate the worm gear to translate the ball nut, and a sector gear engaged with the ball nut, the sector gear to rotate as the ball nut translates.