Steering Ball Screw Pivot Bearing With Play-Free Spring Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering systems with recirculating ball thread and transmission nuts are complex due to the need for a complex loading apparatus to compensate for plastic deformation and play in the pivoting bearing, leading to increased structural complexity and friction.
Innovation Solution
A steering system with a recirculating ball thread interacting via spherical transmission elements with a transmission nut, where the pivoting bearing is decoupled from the pivot bearing by configuring it on the mechanism wheel, using an elastically deformed spring ring and a plain bearing layer to minimize play and friction, and potentially incorporating a sliding coating or lubricant to reduce frictional resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex loading apparatus with prestressed spring elements is used to compensate for plastic deformation and maintain play-free operation, then the pivoting bearing maintains freedom from play over service life, but the device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex loading apparatus with prestressed spring elements from the system. Instead of using an active compensation mechanism, the patent achieves play-free operation through the self-centering effect of the recirculating ball thread and the inherent elasticity of the transmission nut material, which automatically compensates for plastic deformation without requiring additional active components.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission nut is designed to self-compensate for plastic deformation and maintain freedom from play through its own elastic properties and the self-centering mechanism of the recirculating ball thread. The system uses itself to compensate for wear and deformation, eliminating the need for external loading apparatus.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a separate plastic plain bearing layer is arranged between joint sections to reduce friction, then the pivoting bearing achieves low friction, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the plain bearing function directly into the joint sections themselves. The joint sections are configured with bearing surfaces that directly contact each other, eliminating the need for a separate plain bearing layer. The recirculating ball thread and joint section geometry provide the necessary low-friction movement without additional components.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the mechanism wheel is attached fixedly to the pivot bearing to prevent tilting, then the pivoting bearing stability improves, but the ability to accommodate transmission nut pivoting movements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the functions of stability and adaptability into different components. The pivot bearing provides stable support for the mechanism wheel, while the transmission nut and joint sections provide the necessary pivoting adaptability. The recirculating ball thread decouples these functions, allowing the mechanism wheel to remain stable while the transmission nut pivots independently through the joint sections.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution simplifies the steering system structure, reduces friction, and eliminates play, resulting in a robust, inexpensive, and low-friction steering system that maintains functionality over the service life without the need for a complex loading apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a steering motor which acts on the steering rod via a ball screw drive, to which end the steering rod configures a recirculating ball thread in at least one section which interacts via spherical transmission elements with a transmission nut
Implementation Method 2
at least one elastically deformed spring ring, in particular an elastomer ring, is arranged between the joint sections
Implementation Method 3
a plain bearing layer is arranged between the joint sections, by way of which a movement capability with as low a friction as possible of the pivoting bearing is to be realized
Data Source
AI summary
A steering system has a steering rod longitudinally displaceable in a housing and a steering motor acting on the steering rod via a ball screw drive. The steering rod has a recirculating ball thread interacting via spherical transmission elements with a transmission nut driven by the steering motor and that is rotatably mounted by a bearing arrangement with a pivot bearing having an inner ring to which a mechanism wheel is fixedly attached. The transmission nut is pivotably mounted on the mechanism wheel about a pivot axis oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the steering rod, and has a curved joint section which interacts with a curved joint section of the mechanism wheel to form a pivoting bearing. An elastically deformed spring ring arranged between the joint sections provides freedom from play of the pivoting joint.