Patent ID: 6273211
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: B62D,F16H

Abstract:
An electric power-steering apparatus for use in motor vehicles, comprising:a harmonic drive (2);a steering shaft (1) which forms an input for said harmonic drive (2);a steering element (3) driven by said harmonic drive (2) in response to said steering shaft (1);wherein said harmonic drive (2) further comprises:an elastically deformable, sleeve-shaped flexible rotor (4) having external teeth (8) and being connected fixed in terms of rotation to the steering shaft (1) and to the steering element (3);an annular stator (5) being secured to a pinion connector (18) of a steering casing (14) and having internal teeth (9) for matingly engaging said external teeth (8);an electric motor (10) being electronically responsive to torque applied to said steering shaft (1) and arranged coaxially with respect to the steering shaft (1) and the steering element (3) and fixed in terms of rotation within said elastically deformable, sleeve-shaped flexible rotor (4), said electric motor (10) being permanently connected to the steering shaft (1) and further connected fixed in terms of rotation to the steering shaft (1) and to the steering element (3); andan ellipsoidal generator (6) directly driven by said electric motor (10) to drivingly engage said elastically deformable, sleeve-shaped flexible rotor (4).