Patent ID: 7575091
Filing Date: 2009-08-18
Classification: B62D,F16C

Abstract:
1. An electric power steering apparatus comprising: an input shaft coupled to a steering member; an output shaft coupled so as to be relatively rotatable with the input shaft; a transmission mechanism for transmitting driving force of a steering assisting electric motor to a steering mechanism; and a housing that accommodates the transmission mechanism, wherein the transmission mechanism includes a driving gear driven by the electric motor, a driven gear engaged with the driving gear and coupled so as to be rotatable together with the output shaft, and first and second bearings that rotatably support the driven gear, the driven gear is arranged between the first and second bearings in an axial direction of the output shaft, one of the first and second bearings includes an inner ring coupled so as to be rotatable together with the output shaft, an outer ring held on the housing, and a rolling element interposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and one of the inner ring and the outer ring includes an annular elastic plate giving a preload to the rolling element.