Patent ID: 6637541
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A steering system comprising:a housing having a first end and a second end; a first steering motor and a second steering motor operatively connected to the housing; a first gear set operatively connected to the first steering motor and having a first screw device operatively connected thereto; a second gear set operatively connected to the second steering motor and having a second screw device operatively connected thereto; a first rack operatively connected to the first gear set and slidably connected to the first end of the housing; a second rack operatively connected to the second gear set and slidably connected to the second end of the housing; a differential operatively connected to the housing and capable of selectively mechanically coupling the first steering motor and the second steering motor together to form a mechanically coupled steering motor unit; and the mechanically coupled steering motor unit operable to allow the mechanically coupled steering motor unit to move both the first rack and the second rack together with minimal lost motion between the mechanically coupled steering motor unit, the first rack and the second rack.