Patent ID: 9533701
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: B62D,F16C,F16H

Claim:
1. A power-assisted steering system comprising: a control shaft arranged along a control shaft axis and coupled to a vehicle structure for rotation about the control shaft axis; an assist drive shaft arranged in a plane that is substantially transverse to the control shaft axis, the assist drive shaft being supported relative to the vehicle structure by a first bearing assembly and a second bearing assembly and defining a drive shaft axis; a worm disposed about the assist drive shaft; and a worm gear coupled to the control shaft, the worm gear and control shaft being configured for rotation about the control shaft axis; the worm gear is configured for engaging the worm such that rotation of the worm and the assist drive shaft about the drive shaft axis causes rotation of the worm gear and the control shaft about the control shaft axis; the first bearing assembly is retained within the vehicle structure by a snap ring disposed about the first bearing assembly, the first bearing assembly is configured as an eccentric bearing assembly comprising a plurality of nested eccentric rings comprising a first eccentric housing and a second eccentric housing, the second eccentric housing is nested within the first eccentric housing; and the first eccentric housing and the second eccentric housing are configured to provide for cancellation of adjustment contributions in a first direction while providing for reinforcement of adjustment contributions in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction when the first eccentric housing is rotated in opposition to a rotation of the second eccentric housing; further comprising a drive retainer positioned and configured for facilitating rotation of the first eccentric housing and the second eccentric housing as the assist drive shaft is driven about the drive shaft axis until a predetermined criteria relating to the proper positioning of the worm is met; the drive retainer is configured as a bolt having threads, the threads being disposed and configured so as to interact with teeth disposed on the first eccentric housing such that the drive retainer is configured for causing the first eccentric housing to rotate about the drive shaft axis, wherein the drive retainer further facilitates rotation of the second eccentric housing the second eccentric housing is arranged so as to interact with the drive retainer such that as the drive retainer is rotated, the first eccentric housing and the second eccentric housing are caused to rotate.