An improved steering shaft assembly is provided. The steering shaft assembly further includes an output shaft that is rotatable with respect to the input shaft. The output shaft includes a rotary valve portion and a longitudinal portion. The steering shaft assembly further includes a torsion bar coupled to the input shaft and coupled to the output shaft distal from the input shaft. The steering shaft assembly further includes a mid-coupler extending around about the longitudinal portion of the output shaft and adapted to cooperate with the rotary valve portion of the output shaft. The steering shaft assembly further includes a screw mechanism extending about the longitudinal portion of the output shaft and adapted to cooperate with the mid-coupler. The screw mechanism is adapted to move laterally relative to the output shaft to maintain transfer of power from between output shaft and the screw mechanism despite misalignments therebetween.

In a power steering system employing an end of travel system including valve actuating rings disposed about a Pitman arm shaft, a device is provided for setting the positions of the rings on the shaft. The device includes a fixed member positioned about, and fixed against movement along, a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the shaft's rotational axis and a movable member that moves along the longitudinal axis relative to the fixed member. The movable member defines a pin at one end configured for engagement with the circumferential ends of the actuating rings. A positioning force applied to one of the members causes the movable member to move between set and reset positions in which the pin engages corresponding ends of the actuating rings during rotation of the shaft and a running position in which the pin remains disengaged from the ends of the actuating ring during rotation of the shaft.

In a power steering system employing an end of travel system including valve actuating rings disposed about a Pitman arm shaft, a device is provided for setting the positions of the rings on the shaft. The device includes a fixed member positioned about, and fixed against movement along, a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the shaft's rotational axis and a movable member that moves along the longitudinal axis relative to the fixed member. The movable member defines a pin at one end configured for engagement with the circumferential ends of the actuating rings. A positioning force applied to one of the members causes the movable member to move between set and reset positions in which the pin engages corresponding ends of the actuating rings during rotation of the shaft and a running position in which the pin remains disengaged from the ends of the actuating ring during rotation of the shaft.

The invention relates to a method for compensating a stick-slip effect in the case of a recirculating ball steering system (20) having a steering housing (22), in which a steering piston (24) is supported between a first working chamber (34) and a second working chamber (36), wherein the steering piston (24) has a toothed region (26) on the steering-piston outer wall of the steering position, with which toothed region teeth (28) of a segment shaft (30) mesh, the steering piston (24) can he moved along a longitudinal axis X-X, the working chambers (34, 36) are connected to a control valve (39) by means of pressure-medium lines in order to provide steering assistance, the control valve (39) is connected to a processor unit (40), by means of which valves of the control valve (39) can be actuated, and the processor unit (40) is connected to a sensor (42), which determines rotation of the steering column both in a first direction of rotation and in a second, opposite direction of rotation. When a rotational motion of the steering column in a first direction occurs and thereafter the rotational motion in said direction nearly or completely stops, the valves of the control valve (39) are opened by the processor unit (40) in such a way that the pressure in the working chamber (34, 36) of the steering piston (24) facing away from the direction of motion of the steering piston (24) is reduced and immediately thereafter the pressure in the same working chamber (34, 36) is increased again.

The invention relates to a method for compensating a stick-slip effect in the case of a recirculating ball steering system (20) having a steering housing (22), in which a steering piston (24) is supported between a first working chamber (34) and a second working chamber (36), wherein the steering piston (24) has a toothed region (26) on the steering-piston outer wall of the steering position, with which toothed region teeth (28) of a segment shaft (30) mesh, the steering piston (24) can he moved along a longitudinal axis X-X, the working chambers (34, 36) are connected to a control valve (39) by means of pressure-medium lines in order to provide steering assistance, the control valve (39) is connected to a processor unit (40), by means of which valves of the control valve (39) can be actuated, and the processor unit (40) is connected to a sensor (42), which determines rotation of the steering column both in a first direction of rotation and in a second, opposite direction of rotation. When a rotational motion of the steering column in a first direction occurs and thereafter the rotational motion in said direction nearly or completely stops, the valves of the control valve (39) are opened by the processor unit (40) in such a way that the pressure in the working chamber (34, 36) of the steering piston (24) facing away from the direction of motion of the steering piston (24) is reduced and immediately thereafter the pressure in the same working chamber (34, 36) is increased again.

A steering gear component for a vehicle, comprising: a worm, which is mounted so as to be rotatably and axially non-displace able, wherein the worm has a ball screw for receiving a row of balls, and a ball nut, which is drivingly connected to the worm by way of the row of balls, and wherein the ball nut acts as a piston of a cylinder for steering force assistance, wherein a signal transmitter for a sensing element is arranged on the steering spindle and the sensing element is arranged on the worm, or wherein the sensing element is arranged on the steering spindle and the signal transmitter for the sensing element is arranged on the worm.

A steering gear component for a vehicle, comprising: a worm, which is mounted so as to be rotatably and axially non-displace able, wherein the worm has a ball screw for receiving a row of balls, and a ball nut, which is drivingly connected to the worm by way of the row of balls, and wherein the ball nut acts as a piston of a cylinder for steering force assistance, wherein a signal transmitter for a sensing element is arranged on the steering spindle and the sensing element is arranged on the worm, or wherein the sensing element is arranged on the steering spindle and the signal transmitter for the sensing element is arranged on the worm.

A steering assistance device for a vehicle includes an input shaft for introducing a torque from a steering column of the vehicle into the steering assistance device; a torque sensor, wherein the torque sensor is configured to detect the torque introduced via the input shaft and to provide a sensor signal which represents the detected torque; an output shaft for conducting the torque out of the steering assistance device; a gear unit, wherein the gear unit is configured to mechanically transmit the torque from the input shaft to the output shaft, wherein the gear unit is arranged within a steering housing; and a drive unit, wherein the drive unit is configured to charge the gear unit with a hydraulic working medium in a manner dependent on the sensor signal. The drive unit and the torque sensor are arranged so as to be in mechanical contact with the steering housing.

A steering assistance device for a vehicle includes an input shaft for introducing a torque from a steering column of the vehicle into the steering assistance device; a torque sensor, wherein the torque sensor is configured to detect the torque introduced via the input shaft and to provide a sensor signal which represents the detected torque; an output shaft for conducting the torque out of the steering assistance device; a gear unit, wherein the gear unit is configured to mechanically transmit the torque from the input shaft to the output shaft, wherein the gear unit is arranged within a steering housing; and a drive unit, wherein the drive unit is configured to charge the gear unit with a hydraulic working medium in a manner dependent on the sensor signal. The drive unit and the torque sensor are arranged so as to be in mechanical contact with the steering housing.

A shaft arrangement for a steering gear has an input shaft, an output shaft and a torsion rod. The torsion rod is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the input shaft in an input-side connection region of the shaft arrangement. The torsion rod is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the output shaft in an output-side connection region of the shaft arrangement. The input-side connection region is spaced apart from the output-side connection region. The shaft arrangement has a rotation prevention member, wherein the rotation prevention member limits a rotation of the input shaft relative to the output shaft to a maximum rotation angle and, when the maximum rotation angle is reached, can transmit a torque from the input shaft to the output shaft.