Ronald J Hansen

US Patent:

6499369, Dec 31, 2002

Filed:

Sep 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/657918

Inventors:

Mark Stephen Piotrowski - Freeland MI
Randall S Hetzner - Birch Run MI
Ronald John Hansen - Frankenmuth MI

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

F16H 2702

US Classification:

74 8942, 74409, 384517

Abstract:

A ball nut drive assembly includes a ball nut having a bore extending axially therethrough, a ball screw extending through the bore of the ball nut and being cooperatively engaged with the ball nut, and a spring compliant member received on the ball screw and positioned adjacent the ball nut. The spring compliant member is tensioned to bias the ball nut in the axial direction along the ball screw. The ball nut is positioned within a housing, which is preferably fabricated of aluminum, and is generally rotatably supported therein by first and second sets of ball bearings. The spring compliant member is in intimate contact with a first inner surface of the housing and biases the ball nut against a second inner surface of the housing. Races encapsulating the first and second sets of bearings may be positioned adjacent the ball nut and in intimate contact with the first and second inner surfaces of the housing. The spring compliant member may be a spring wave washer, a Belleville washer, or some other type of spring compliant device.

US Patent:

7484759, Feb 3, 2009

Filed:

Jul 25, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/188425

Inventors:

Eric D. Pattok - Saginaw MI, US
Rolf E. Kleinau - Bay City MI, US
Donald J. Smith - Saginaw MI, US
Ronald J. Hansen - Frankenmuth MI, US

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

B62D 1/00

US Classification:

280771, 180428

Abstract:

A vehicle power steering assembly is provided. The vehicle power steering assembly includes an input shaft having first and second end portions that extend along an axis, and a first aperture that extends substantially axially into the first end portion. The vehicle power steering assembly further includes a torsion shaft having third and fourth end portions. The third end portion has a first plurality of splines and the fourth end portion has a second plurality of splines. The third end portion is disposed in the first aperture of the input shaft. The first plurality of splines on the third end portion fixedly couples the torsion shaft to the input shaft. The vehicle power steering assembly further includes an output shaft having fifth and sixth end portions, and a second aperture that extends substantially axially into the fifth end portion toward the sixth end portion. The fourth end portion of the torsion shaft is disposed in the second aperture of the output shaft. The second plurality of splines on the fourth end portion fixedly couples the torsion shaft to the output shaft.

US Patent:

20050126328, Jun 16, 2005

Filed:

Dec 14, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/011723

Inventors:

Mark Piotrowski - Freeland MI, US
Ronald Hansen - Frankenmuth MI, US
Jason Gierman - Marlette MI, US
William Georges - Saginaw MI, US

International Classification:

F16H001/04

US Classification:

074492000, 074498000

Abstract:

The invention provides a steering assembly () including a first shaft () having a first longitudinal axis (). The steering assembly () also includes a second shaft () having a second longitudinal axis (). The first and second longitudinal axis () are transverse and offset with respect one another. The first and second shafts () are engaged at an intersection () such that the second shaft () translates along the second longitudinal axis () in response to rotation of the first shaft () about the first longitudinal axis (). The steering assembly () also includes a bearing member () contacting the second shaft (). The bearing member () is moveable along a bearing axis () extending transverse to both of the first and second longitudinal axis () at the intersection () to support the second shaft (). The steering assembly () also includes an adjustment member () adjustably spaced from the bearing member () along the bearing axis (). The adjustment member () limits movement of the bearing member () along the bearing axis (). The steering assembly () also includes a post () disposed between the bearing member () and the adjustment member () along the bearing axis (). The post () prevents the bearing member () and the adjustment member () from contacting one another.