Power-Assist Boot Assembly for Flexible Steering Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing road-wheel actuator (RWA) units in steer-by-wire and electric power steering systems face limitations due to packaging requirements, restricting flexibility and operational parameters.
Innovation Solution
A power-assist assembly with a housing and drive axle portion, featuring an input gear and gear assist housing, along with a boot assembly that includes an extension sleeve, boot sleeve, and retaining ring, allowing for adjustable and adaptable steering system configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a typical RWA unit configuration is used, then the steering system provides operational benefits, but packaging flexibility is limited due to specific assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The boot assembly is divided into multiple separable components: a boot sleeve, an extension sleeve, and a retaining ring. This segmentation allows each component to be independently positioned and assembled, enabling flexible packaging arrangements while maintaining structural integrity and protective functions.
2Reliability
If the boot sleeve is positioned close to the housing, then protection is maximized, but the extension sleeve length becomes insufficient for proper sealing and protection
Solution Approach 1:
The extension sleeve extends the boot assembly in the axial dimension, allowing the boot sleeve to maintain its protective position near the housing while the extension sleeve provides additional length for proper sealing and protection of the drive axle portion and connection ends.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the boot assembly is integrated directly into the housing, then structural strength is maximized, but adaptability to different packaging requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The boot sleeve is positioned within or adjacent to the housing, with the extension sleeve extending from the housing connection end. This nested arrangement allows the boot assembly to be structurally integrated with the housing while maintaining adaptability through the modular extension sleeve that can be adjusted for different packaging configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A power-assist assembly comprising a housing including a drive axle portion extending between a pair of extension sleeve connection ends spaced along a first axis and an input gear portion extending along a second axis transverse to the first axis. A gear assist housing is connected to the input gear portion. A boot assembly connected to at least one of the extension sleeve connection ends. The boot assembly includes an extension sleeve connected to the extension sleeve connection end, a boot sleeve connected to the extension sleeve and spaced from the extension sleeve connection end of the housing by at least a portion of a length of the extension sleeve, and a boot retaining ring connected to the boot sleeve opposite the extension tube.