Patent ID: 7527122

Claim:
An electric power steering system comprising: a housing; a steering shaft positioned in the housing; a worm wheel mounted on the steering shaft; a worm shaft, the worm wheel being positioned on an upper circumference of the worm shaft; a worm gear formed on the worm shaft so as to mesh with the worm wheel; a motor for driving the worm shaft; a worm shaft bearing positioned on an end of the worm shaft to support the worm shaft; and an elastic member positioned only under a lower peripheral surface of the worm shaft bearing to apply force to the worm shaft bearing in a vertical direction so that the elastic member displaces the worm shaft toward the worm wheel to compensate for a clearance between the worm shaft and the worm wheel, the elastic member being formed by double-folding a leaf spring in an approximately U-shaped configuration, both ends of the U-shaped elastic member being supported by a lower portion of the housing, a central portion of the U-shaped elastic member abutting the lower peripheral surface of the worm shaft bearing.