US 11,970,216 B2
Worm gear hub
Jeffrey E. Beyerlein, Frankenmuth, MI (US); Alan G. Turek, Mayville, MI (US); and Jesse A. Heather, Swartz Creek, MI (US)
Assigned to Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Saginaw, MI (US)
Filed by Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Saginaw, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/715,657.
Application 17/715,657 is a division of application No. 15/799,551, filed on Oct. 31, 2017, abandoned.
Application 15/799,551 is a division of application No. 14/449,737, filed on Aug. 1, 2014, granted, now 9,868,459, issued on Jan. 16, 2018.
Application 14/449,737 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/818,675, filed on Jun. 18, 2010, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/218,801, filed on Jun. 19, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2022/0227411 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. B62D 3/04 (2006.01); B21K 1/30 (2006.01); B23P 15/14 (2006.01); B29C 70/74 (2006.01); B62D 5/04 (2006.01); F16H 55/06 (2006.01); F16H 55/17 (2006.01); F16H 55/22 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/44 (2006.01); B29K 305/12 (2006.01); B29L 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 3/04 (2013.01) [B23P 15/14 (2013.01); B29C 70/74 (2013.01); B62D 5/0409 (2013.01); F16H 55/06 (2013.01); F16H 55/17 (2013.01); F16H 55/22 (2013.01); B21K 1/30 (2013.01); B29C 65/44 (2013.01); B29C 66/0344 (2013.01); B29C 66/74283 (2013.01); B29K 2305/12 (2013.01); B29L 2015/003 (2013.01); F16H 2055/065 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49469 (2015.01); Y10T 74/1987 (2015.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric power steering system comprising:
a steering shaft connected to a handwheel at one end and a rack and pinion steering mechanism at an opposite end;
a steering assist unit comprising an electric motor operated by a controller and driving a worm and a worm gear interposed between said worm and said steering shaft, said worm having worm teeth and said worm gear fitted on said steering shaft;
said worm gear further comprising:
a disk having a first face axially disposed opposite a second face;
a first plurality of individual lugs formed on said first face circumferentially adjacent an outer circumferential edge of said disk, the outer circumferential edge being a continuous and seamless edge having a constant diameter, wherein each lug of said first plurality of individual lugs having a lug inner edge formed on said first face along a first retaining diameter, said first retaining diameter less than a disk diameter, circumferentially adjacent lugs of said first plurality of individual lugs having a first circumferential spacing therebetween, each of the first plurality of individual lugs having a pair of lug lateral edges, a lug outer edge and the lug inner edge, wherein the raised lateral edges protrude axially away from the first face and the second face;
a ring overlaying a portion of said disk including said first plurality of individual lugs, said ring having an outer diameter, said outer diameter greater than said disk diameter; and
a plurality of gear teeth on an outer edge surface of said ring for meshing with said worm teeth.