Patent ID: 7493986

Claim:
An electric power steering apparatus for an automobile comprising: a steering shaft connected to a steering wheel of the automobile; a pinion shaft having an upper end connected to the steering shaft; a torque sensor for sensing torque generated by rotation of the steering shaft; an electronic control unit adapted to receive an electrical signal from the torque sensor; a motor, driving of the motor being controlled by the electronic control unit; a reduction mechanism having a worm shaft and a worm wheel, the worm shaft having a worm formed on an outer peripheral surface of the worm shaft, the worm shaft being contained in a housing, the worm wheel being formed on a side of the steering shaft, the reduction mechanism being driven by the motor; a support member for enclosing an axial end of the worm shaft; and an elastic member for applying elastic force to the support member in a direction slanted away from an axial direction of the worm shaft, wherein the elastic member is positioned at an angle relative to the axial direction of the worm shaft and is adapted to apply elastic force to the worm shaft in the axial direction of the worm shaft to deflect the worm shaft towards the worm wheel, and wherein the support member has a slanted surface formed on a side of the support member and has a support groove formed on the slanted surface, and an upper end of the elastic member is in the support groove.