Patent ID: 6725964
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: B62D,F16C,F16D,F16H,H02K

Abstract:
An electric power assisted steering system comprising a housing, an electric motor fixed relative to said housing having a stator and a rotor, and input shaft operatively connected to said rotor, an output shaft operatively connected to a steering column, and a torque sensor adapted to produce an output signal indicative of said torque in said output shaft, said motor being adapted to apply a torque to said output shaft dependent upon the output signal from said torque sensor through a worm gear provided on said input shaft which is adapted to mesh with a wheel gear on said output shaft, wherein said input shaft is operatively connected to said motor rotor by a flexible coupling, and wherein said flexible coupling comprises a plurality of radially extending arms defining a plurality of substantially radially extending drive faces, at least one of the drive faces co-operating with at least one said drive faces co-operating with drive faces defined on said input shaft.