초록 ▼

An isolation system for a ball-screw assembly including: a ball-screw; a ball-screw nut wherein the ball-screw is configured to engage the ball-screw nut, the ball-screw nut is enclosed in a ball-screw nut container; and a member disposed between the ball-screw nut and the ball-screw nut container,

An isolation system for a ball-screw assembly including: a ball-screw; a ball-screw nut wherein the ball-screw is configured to engage the ball-screw nut, the ball-screw nut is enclosed in a ball-screw nut container; and a member disposed between the ball-screw nut and the ball-screw nut container, the member having selected properties.A method of providing a degree of freedom to a steering mechanism, the method including: selecting a member, the member having selected properties; and interposing the member between a ball-screw nut and a ball-screw nut container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A steering system for a vehicle, comprising:a rack assembly coupled to a road wheel; a rotary to linear mechanism coupled to said rack assembly and in operable communication with an electric motor, said rotary to linear mechanism includes a rotary component and a linear component, said electric m

1. A steering system for a vehicle, comprising:a rack assembly coupled to a road wheel; a rotary to linear mechanism coupled to said rack assembly and in operable communication with an electric motor, said rotary to linear mechanism includes a rotary component and a linear component, said electric motor providing an actuating force to said rotary-to-linear mechanism, said actuating force causing said rack assembly to move linearly; and an isolation system in operable communication with said rotary-to-linear mechanism and disposed at said rotary-to-linear mechanism, wherein said isolation system comprises a member positioned radially outwardly from said rotary component, said member having selected properties. 2. The steering system of claim 1, further comprising a container surrounding said rotary to linear mechanism, said member is positioned so as to contact along an inside surface of said container.3. The steering system of claim 2, wherein said container comprises a first shell and a second shell.4. The steering system of claim 2, wherein said container includes a cover.5. The steering system of claim 2, wherein said container is an aluminum alloy.6. The steering system of claim 2, wherein said member is secured to said container by an adhesive.7. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said rotary to linear mechanism is a ball-screw assembly that comprises:a ball-screw integrated with said rack assembly; and a ball-screw nut wherein said ball-screw is configured to engage said ball-screw nut, said ball-screw nut enclosed in said container. 8. The steering system of claim 7, wherein said member is positioned so as to contact along an inside surface of said container and an outside surface of said ball-screw nut.9. The steering system of claim 7, wherein said rotary-to-linear mechanism further comprises a pulley fixably secured to a shaft of said motor, said pulley being in mechanical communication with said container.10. The steering system of claim 9, further comprising a belt in operable communication with said pulley and said container.11. The steering system of claim 7, wherein said ball-screw nut is flanged.12. The steering system of claim 7, further comprising a star washer disposed at an end of said ball-screw nut.13. The steering system of claim 7, further comprising a ring disposed at an end of said ball-screw nut.14. The steering system of claim 7, further comprising a bumper disposed at an end of said ball-screw nut.15. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said selected properties are compliant properties.16. The steering system of claim 15, wherein said cut out section includes a selected pattern to facilitate said member having selected properties.17. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said member includes a cut out section having a shape.18. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said member is made from an elastomer material.19. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said member includes a selected material or materials having a hardness or a plurality of hardness values having selected properties.20. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said member has a plurality of hardness values.21. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said member contacts said rotary component.22. A steering system for a vehicle, comprising:a hand wheel; a steering mechanism for transmitting a steering operation of said hand wheel to vary the angular configuration of a road wheel; a power assist mechanism for providing an assisting force to said steering mechanism, said power assist mechanism being activated in response to said steering operation of said hand wheel, said power assist mechanism includes a rotary component and a linear component; and an isolation system being operatively coupled to said power assist mechanism, wherein said isolation system comprises a member positioned radially outwardly from said rotary component, said member having selected properties. 23. The steering system as of claim 22, wherein said rotary component is a ball-screw nut and said linear component is a ball screw, said power assist mechanism further comprises:an electric motor for providing a rotational force to a shaft; a pulley fixably secured to said shaft; a belt in operable communication with said pulley and a ball-screw nut container; and said ball-screw is configured to engage said ball-screw nut, said ball-screw nut is enclosed in said ball-screw nut container. 24. The steering system of claim 23, wherein said ball-screw nut is flanged.25. The steering system of claim 23, wherein said ball-screw nut container comprises a first shell and a second shell.26. The steering system of claim 23, wherein said ball-screw nut container comprises a container and a cover.27. The steering system of claim 23, wherein said ball-screw nut container is an aluminum alloy.28. The steering system of claim 23, wherein said member is disposed between said ball-screw nut and said ball-screw nut container.29. The steering system of claim 22, wherein said selected properties are compliant properties.30. The steering system of claim 29, wherein said cut out section includes a selected pattern to facilitate said member having selected properties.31. The steering system of claim 22, wherein said member includes a cut out section having a shape.32. The steering system of claim 22, wherein said member is made from an elastomer material.33. The steering system of claim 22, wherein said member includes a selected material or materials having a hardness or a plurality of hardness values having selected properties.34. The steering system of claim 22, wherein said member has a plurality of hardness values.35. The steering system of claim 22, wherein said member is secured to said ball-screw nut container by an adhesive.36. The steering system of claim 22, further comprising a star washer disposed at an end of said ball-screw nut.37. The steering system of claim 22, further comprising a ring disposed at an end of said ball-screw nut.38. The steering system of claim 22, further comprising a bumper disposed at an end of said ball-screw nut.39. The steering system of claim 22, further comprising a container surrounding said rotary to linear mechanism, said member is positioned so as to contact along an inside surface of said container.40. The steering system of claim 22, wherein said member contacts said rotary component.41. The steering system of claim 22, wherein said member contacts said ball-screw nut.42. A steering system for a vehicle, comprising:a rack assembly coupled to a road wheel; a ball-screw assembly enclosed in a ball-screw nut container being coupled to said rack assembly and an electric motor, said electric motor providing an actuating force to said ball screw assembly, said actuating force causing said rack assembly to move linearly; and a member disposed between said ball-screw assembly and said ball-screw nut container, said member is positioned radially outwardly from said ball-screw assembly. 43. The steering system as of claim 42, wherein said actuating force being further accomplished by a pulley fixedly secured to a rotatable shaft of said motor, said pulley being coupled to said ball-screw nut container.44. The steering system as of claim 43, wherein said pulley is coupled to said ball-screw nut container by a belt.45. The steering system as of claim 42, further comprising a plurality of sensors for providing signals to a controller, said controller controlling the activation and deactivation of said electric motor.46. The steering system of claim 42, wherein said ball-screw nut container comprises a first shell and a second shell.47. The steering system of claim 42, said ball-screw nut container comprises a container and a cover.48. The steering system of claim 42, wherein said ball-screw nut container is an aluminum alloy.49. The steering system of claim 42, wherein said member is secured to said ball-screw nut container by an adhesive.50. The steering system of claim 42, wherein said ball-screw assembly comprises:a ball-screw; and a ball-screw nut wherein said ball-screw is configured to engage said ball-screw nut. 51. The steering system of claim 50, wherein said ball-screw nut is flanged.52. The steering system of claim 42, wherein said member is positioned so as to contact along an inside surface of said ball-screw nut container.53. An isolation system for a ball-screw assembly comprising:a ball-screw; a ball-screw nut wherein said ball-screw is configured to engage said ball-screw nut, said ball-screw nut is enclosed in a ball-screw nut container; and a member disposed between said ball-screw nut and said ball-screw nut container, said member having selected properties, said member is positioned radially outwardly from said ball-screw nut. 54. The isolation system of claim 53, wherein said selected properties are compliant properties.55. The isolation system of claim 53, wherein said member includes a cut out section having a shape.56. The isolation system of claim 54, wherein said cut out section includes a selected pattern to facilitate said member having selected properties.57. The isolation system of claim 53, wherein said member is made from an elastomer material.58. The isolation system of claim 53, wherein said member includes a selected material or materials having a hardness or a plurality of hardness values having selected properties.59. The isolation system of claim 53, wherein said member has a plurality of hardness values.60. The isolation system of claim 53, further comprising a rack assembly integrated with said ball-screw nut.61. The isolation system of claim 53, further comprising a pulley fixably secured to a shaft of an electric motor, said pulley being in mechanical communication with said ball-screw nut container.62. The isolation system of claim 61, further comprising a belt in operable communication with said pulley and said ball-screw nut container.63. The isolation system of claim 53, wherein said ball-screw nut is flanged.64. The isolation system of claim 53, wherein said ball-screw nut container comprises a first shell and a second shell.65. The isolation system of claim 53, wherein said ball-screw nut container comprises a container and a cover.66. The isolation system of claim 53, wherein said ball-screw nut container is an aluminum alloy.67. The isolation system of claim 53, wherein said member is secured to said ball-screw nut container by an adhesive.68. The isolation system of claim 53, further comprising a star washer disposed at an end of said ball-screw nut.69. The isolation system of claim 53, further comprising a ring disposed at an end said ball-screw nut.70. The isolation system of claim 53, further comprising a bumper disposed at an end of said ball-screw nut.71. The isolation system of claim 53, wherein said member is positioned so as to contact along an inside surface of said ball-screw nut container.72. The isolation system of claim 53, wherein said member contacts said ball-screw nut.73. A steering system fur a vehicle, comprising:a rack assembly coupled to a road wheel; a rotary-to-linear mechanism coupled to said rack assembly and in operable communication with an electric motor, said rotary to linear mechanism includes a rotary component and a linear component, said electric motor providing an actuating force to said rotary-to-linear mechanism, said actuating force causing said rack assembly to move linearly; a container surrounding said rotary-to-linear mechanism; and means for interrupting a vibration at said rotary-to linear mechanism, wherein said means for interrupting comprises a member positioned radially outwardly from said rotary component, said member contacts said container, said member having selected properties. 74. A method of providing a degree of freedom to a steering mechanism, said method comprising:selecting a member, said member having selected properties; interposing said member between a ball-screw nut and a ball-screw nut container; and positioning said member radially outwardly from said ball-screw nut, said member contacts said ball-screw nut container. 75. The method of claim 74, further comprising engaging said ball-screw nut with a ball-screw.76. The method of claim 74, further comprising integrating said ball-screw with a rack assembly.77. The method of claim 74, wherein said selecting said member includes selecting a material or materials having a hardness or a plurality hardness values having selected properties.78. The method of claim 74, wherein said selecting said member includes selecting an elastomeric material.79. The method of claim 74, further comprising removing a material from said member in a selected pattern to facilitate said member having selected properties.80. The method of claim 74, further comprising cutting out a section of said member, said section having a shape.81. The method of claim 74, further comprising supporting said ball screw assembly by disposing a star washer at an end of said ball-screw nut.82. The method of claim 74, further comprising supporting said ball screw assembly by disposing a bumper at an end of said ball-screw nut.83. The method of claim 74, further comprising supporting said ball screw assembly by disposing a ring at an end of said ball-screw nut.84. The method of claim 74, further comprising securing said member to said ball-screw nut.85. A ball-screw nut isolated by a member in contact therewith said member having selected degrees of freedom properties, said member positioned radially outwardly from said ball-screw nut and in contact with said ball-screw nut.86. A ball-screw nut isolated by a member in contact therewith said member having selected vibration dampening properties, said member positioned radially outwardly from said ball-screw nut and in contact with said ball-screw nut.