Patent ID: 9233709
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: B62D

Claim Text:
1. An electric power steering apparatus comprising: an output shaft which rotates to apply a steering angle to wheels; a gear housing having a through-hole inside which the output shaft is rotatably supported, the gear housing configured to accommodate a decelerator which reduces a speed of a rotation of a driving shaft of an electric motor to transmit the rotation to the output shaft; a first rolling bearing and a second rolling bearing spaced from each other in an axial direction of the output shaft to rotatably support the output shaft on the gear housing; a housing cover coupled to and secured to the gear housing, the housing cover configured such that an input shaft is inserted therein, the input shaft being rotated by a steering shaft to be rotated based on an operation of a steering wheel; and an intermediate plate provided in the gear housing, wherein the first rolling bearing is provided between an inner peripheral surface of the through-hole and an outer peripheral surface of the output shaft, wherein the second rolling bearing is provided between an inner peripheral surface of the intermediate plate and the outer peripheral surface of the output shaft, wherein the intermediate plate has a plurality of large diameter portions and a plurality of small diameter portions, the large diameter portions and the small diameter portions being alternately arranged in a circumferential direction on an outer peripheral portion of the intermediate plate, and wherein the large diameter portions are press-fitted to a rear portion of an inner peripheral surface of the gear housing by interference fit such that the intermediate plate is supported and fixed in the gear housing.