Patent ID: 6470993
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
An electric power steering apparatus, comprising:a column shaft connected to a steering wheel; a pinion shaft connected to said column shaft on which a pinion gear is located; a rack shaft having rack teeth engaging with the pinion gear and arranged to move in the axial direction within a range of its moving stroke corresponding to the formed length of the rack teeth in response to a rotational movement of said pinion shaft, wherein the rack teeth are formed so that the pressure angle thereof reduces toward both ends of the moving stroke; an electric motor for steering assistance; and a hypoid gear pair provided between said electric motor and said column shaft or said pinion shaft so that a rotational force of said electric motor is reduced in speed and increased in power, and then is transmitted to said column shaft or said pinion shaft, wherein said electric power steering apparatus assists a steering operation that is carried out by the movement of said rack shaft by transmitting the rotational force of said electric motor to said column shaft or said pinion shaft through said hypoid gear pair; further comprising a housing and a bearing, the hypoid gear pair including a gear of larger size which is supported at an outer circumferential position, in a radial direction, by the housing via the bearing.