According to GlobalData’s company profile on ThyssenKrupp, hydrogen fuel cells was a key innovation area identified from patents. ThyssenKrupp's grant share as of June 2023 was 1%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Helical gear transmission for power-assisted steering mechanism

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: ThyssenKrupp AG

A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11679800B2) describes a helical gear transmission for an electromechanical power-assisted steering mechanism. The transmission includes a transmission housing, a helical gear, and a shaft that is meshed with the gear. The shaft has a first end mounted in a drive-side bearing assembly and a second end in a drive-distal bearing assembly. The drive-side bearing assembly includes a fixed bearing enclosed by two bearing shells, with a pair of spring elements asymmetrically pre-loading the fixed bearing. This pre-loading ensures that the pivot axis of the shaft, around which it is pivotable in the direction of the helical gear, is located in the region of the toothing plane of the shaft and the helical gear.

The patent also mentions that each of the bearing shells has a seat with at least one projecting step, which defines the pivot axis. The steps of the two bearing shells are identically oriented and mutually opposite, and they lie in the region of the helical gear. The spring elements are annular and have an external diameter similar to that of the fixed bearing. The fixed bearing is a roller bearing, and the spring elements are corrugated springs. The bearing shells have protrusions on their external circumferential side, which provide an anti-rotation safeguard by engaging in communicating recesses of the transmission housing.

Additionally, the patent describes an electromechanical power-assisted steering mechanism that incorporates the helical gear transmission. This mechanism includes an electric motor with a motor shaft and the helical gear transmission housing. The motor shaft drives the shaft of the helical gear transmission. The helical gear is fixed on the steering shaft of a motor vehicle.

Overall, this patent presents a novel design for a helical gear transmission in an electromechanical power-assisted steering mechanism. The asymmetric pre-loading of the fixed bearing ensures proper alignment and smooth operation of the shaft and helical gear, improving the performance and reliability of the steering mechanism.

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