US 12,441,392 B2
Electric actuator steering system for forklifts
Joseph Major, Indianapolis, IN (US); and Kevin Partridge, Columbus, IN (US)
Assigned to Toyota Material Handling, Inc., Columbus, IN (US)
Filed by Toyota Material Handling, Inc., Columbus, IN (US)
Filed on May 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/203,966.
Application 18/203,966 is a continuation of application No. 17/703,395, filed on Mar. 24, 2022, granted, now 11,685,427.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/173,695, filed on Apr. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0303155 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. B62D 5/04 (2006.01); F16H 25/20 (2006.01); F16H 25/22 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 5/0448 (2013.01) [B62D 5/0403 (2013.01); B62D 5/0481 (2013.01); F16H 25/2015 (2013.01); F16H 25/2214 (2013.01); F16H 2025/2031 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric actuator for a steering system, the electric actuator comprising
a linear actuation unit that includes an actuator rod that extends along an axis between a first end and a second end of the actuator rod and a ball screw nut arranged circumferentially around the actuator rod,
an electric motor coupled with the ball screw nut and configured to rotate the ball screw nut about the axis and cause the actuator rod to translate axially relative to the ball screw nut, and
a housing assembly arranged around and coupled with the electric motor, the housing assembly includes a case arranged around and coupled with the electric motor and a plurality of bushings engaged with the actuator rod and coupled with the case to facilitate translation of the actuator rod relative to the case, the plurality of bushings includes a first bushing, and a second bushing,
wherein the case has a body arranged around and coupled with the electric motor, a first discrete stop flange that extends axially away from the body to block the first end of the actuator rod from being pushed into the body in response to an external force being applied to the actuator rod, and a second discrete stop flange that extends axially away from the body to block the first end of the actuator rod from being pushed into the body in response to the external force being applied to the actuator rod and the second discrete stop flange is axially aligned with and circumferentially spaced apart from the first discrete stop flange.