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US4932492A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Steering mechanism with variable gear reduction controlled by the speed of the vehicle

Assignee: Renault SA
•
Filing: 1988-11-10
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Granted: 1990-06-12
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Expires: 2008-11-10
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Abstract

Abstract A steering mechanism with variable gear reduction controlled by the speed of the vehicle of the type is disclosed which includes an electric motor for driving an element for adjusting the gear reduction ratio and whose power supply is controlled by the speed of the vehicle, characterized by the fact that the steering column includes an input shaft (1) and output shaft (2) to which are rigidly connected input pinions (4) and output pinions (5) meshed with planet pinions (6, 8-7, 9) of a planet carrier (10) which extends axially by a hub (11) placed concentrically to one of the shafts (1, 2) on which is mounted an element (12) for driving and regulating the gear reduction ratio actuated by a variable speed electric motor (13).

Inventors

  • 👤 Jean-Claude Sauvageot
  • 👤 Dany Desrus

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 11:43
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D6/00; B62D6/02; B62D5/00; B62D5/008

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 149 words
A steering mechanism with variable gear reduction controlled by the speed of the vehicle of the type, comprising: an electric motor for driving an element for adjusting the gear reduction ratio and whose power supply is controlled by the speed of the vehicle; a steering column which comprises an input shaft and an output shaft to which are respectively rigidly connected input pinions and output pinions, a planet carrier having planet pinions meshed with said input pinions and said output pinions; a hub axially extending from said planet carrier, said hub being concentrically positioned with respect to one of said shafts; an element mounted on said hub concentrically with one of said shafts for driving and regulating the gear reduction by moving the planet carrier ratio; and wherein said electric motor is a variable speed electric motor for actuating said element for driving and regulating the gear reduction ratio.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 149 words
A steering mechanism with variable gear reduction controlled by the speed of the vehicle of the type, comprising: an electric motor for driving an element for adjusting the gear reduction ratio and whose power supply is controlled by the speed of the vehicle; a steering column which comprises an input shaft and an output shaft to which are respectively rigidly connected input pinions and output pinions, a planet carrier having planet pinions meshed with said input pinions and said output pinions; a hub axially extending from said planet carrier, said hub being concentrically positioned with respect to one of said shafts; an element mounted on said hub concentrically with one of said shafts for driving and regulating the gear reduction by moving the planet carrier ratio; and wherein said electric motor is a variable speed electric motor for actuating said element for driving and regulating the gear reduction ratio.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
A steering mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor is fed in response to the input signals provided by a sensor for sensing the speed of the vehicle and sensors for sensing the angular position of the shafts.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR2552387A1 Cited
FR2563795A1 Cited
US4650019A Cited
US4556116A Cited
FR2579547A1 Cited
JPS6223869A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-06-11 1993-12-11 1994-06-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-06-11 1997-12-11 1998-06-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-06-11 2001-12-11 2002-06-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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