Steven C Hallman

US Patent:

47414090, May 3, 1988

Filed:

Jun 25, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/066655

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Westercamp - Frankenmuth MI
Steven J. Hallman - Saginaw MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B62D 504

US Classification:

180 791

Abstract:

An electric steering system for automobiles includes a tubular main housing disposed on a transverse axis of the vehicle between two steerable road wheels. A left steering rack is slidably disposed in the main housing and connected to the left road wheel. A right steering rack is slidably disposed in the main housing and connected to the right road wheel. A pair of reversible electric motors at opposite ends of the main housing drive the steering racks independently of each other through corresponding pinion drive assemblies. The inboard end of the left steering rack telescopes into a bore in the inboard end of the right steering rack. The inboard end of the left steering rack has an annular shoulder which is captured in the bore by a rack rack nut on the inboard end of the right steering rack so that withdrawal of the left steering rack from the bore is prevented. The telescopic connection permits enough relative movement between the steering racks to allow an electronic control to optimally position each road wheel during steering maneuvers but is sufficiently small that the wheels can be acceptably steered together by one motor if the other becomes inoperative.