Patent ID: 6918457
Filing Date: 2005-07-19
Classification: B62D,F16C,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An electric power steering system comprising: a first bevel gear, including a first axis, driven into rotation by an electric motor; a second bevel gear, including a second axis, meshed with the first bevel gear with the axes intersecting each other and allowed to move toward the first bevel gear; a biasing member for biasing the second bevel gear toward the first bevel gear; a rack shaft linearly moved thereby steering steerable road wheels; a rotary element rotatably supported by a rack housing via a rolling bearing as enclosing the rack shaft and operating to transmit the rotation of the electric motor via the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear; and a power conversion mechanism formed between the rotary element and the rack shaft for converting the rotary motion of the rotary element to the linear motion of the rack shaft; wherein the rack housing comprises a first housing for supporting one end of the rotary element as allowing for a relative axial movement thereof, and a second housing for supporting the other end of the rotary element as inhibiting relative axial movement thereof, and wherein a housing adjuster provides for adjustment of relative axial positions of the first housing and the second housing with respect to the rack shaft.