Claims
- 1. A linear differential gear system comprising:
an input sun gear fixed to a differential input shaft; an output sun gear fixed to a differential output shaft; an input differential planet gear mounted to a differential carrier and meshed with said input sun gear; an output differential planet gear mounted to said differential carrier, meshed with said input differential planet gear and meshed with said output sun gear; a worm gear fixed to said differential carrier and disposed at said input differential shaft so that said worm gear rotates independently from said input differential shaft; and a worm meshed with said worm gear with said worm being disposed at a worm shaft.
- 2. A linear differential gear system in claim 1 comprising a motor in operable communication with said worm shaft to drive said worm shaft.
- 3. A linear differential gear system in claim 2, wherein said motor is in electrical communication with a controller.
- 4. A linear differential gear system in claim 1 further comprising a pin disposed at said worm gear.
- 5. A linear differential gear system in claim 1, wherein there are two input differential planet gears.
- 6. A linear differential gear system in claim 1, wherein there are two output differential planet gears.
- 7. A steering system for a motor vehicle comprising:
a hand wheel; a steering column connecting said hand wheel to road wheels of said motor vehicle; and a selectively actuable steering ratio adjuster disposed at said steering column and disposed operably between said hand wheel and said road wheels.
- 8. A steering system in claim 7 further comprising a motor in operable communication with said steering ratio adjuster.
- 9. A steering system in claim 8, wherein said motor is in electrical communication with a controller.
- 10. A steering system in claim 7, wherein said steering column comprises:
an input gear disposed at an input shaft; a differential input gear in operable communication with a differential input shaft and meshed with said input gear; a differential output gear in operable communication with a differential output shaft and meshed with an idler gear; wherein said steering ratio adjuster in operable communication with said differential input shaft and said differential output shaft; and an output gear in operable communication with an output shaft and meshed with said idler gear.
- 11. A steering system in claim 7, wherein said steering ratio adjuster is a gear assembly.
- 12. A steering system in claim 7, wherein said steering ratio adjuster is a linear differential gear system.
- 13. A steering system in claim 12, wherein said linear differential gear system comprises:
an input sun gear fixed to said differential input shaft; an output sun gear fixed to said differential output shaft; an input differential planet gear mounted to a differential carrier and meshed with said input sun gear; an output differential planet gear mounted to said differential carrier, meshed with said input differential planet gear and meshed with said output sun gear; a worm gear fixed to said differential carrier and mounted to said input differential shaft so that said worm gear rotates independently from said input differential shaft; and a worm meshed with said worm gear with said worm being disposed at a worm shaft.
- 14. A steering system in claim 13 further comprising a pin disposed at said worm gear.
- 15. A steering system in claim 13, wherein there are two input differential planet gears.
- 16. A steering system in claim 13, wherein there are two output differential planet gears.
- 17. A steering system in claim 10, further comprising a torque ratio differential of said input gear to said differential input gear is 1:3.
- 18. A steering system in claim 10, wherein a torque ratio differential of said differential output gear to said output gear is 3:1.
- 19. A steering system in claim 10, wherein said steering column further comprising a housing.
- 20. A method of adjusting steering output as compared to steering input comprising:
powering a motor in operable communication with a worm and worm gear mechanism; rotating said worm and said worm gear mechanism fixed to a differential carrier; rotating said differential carrier comprising: an input sun gear meshed with input differential planet gear; an input differential planet gear meshed with an output differential planet gear; an output sun gear meshed with said output differential planet gear; and rotating said output sun gear fixed to a differential output shaft.
- 21. A method in claim 20 wherein said rotating said differential carrier comprises two input differential planet gears.
- 22. A method in claim 20 wherein said rotating said differential carrier comprises two output differential planet gears.
- 23. A method in claim 20 wherein said rotating said differential carrier comprising achieving a variable ratio as compared from said steering input to said steering output.
- 24. A method in claim 23 wherein said achieving said variable ratio is from 1:1 to 1:20.
- 25. A method in claim 20 further comprising stopping said rotation of said worm gear and said differential carrier by a pin disposed at said worm gear.
- 26. A gear assembly comprising a linear differential disposed at said gear assembly wherein said linear differential has a predetermined ratio from an input shaft to an output shaft, said ratio being adjustable by axially rotating said linear differential.
- 27. A gear assembly in claim 26 wherein said linear differential comprises:
an input sun gear fixed to a differential input shaft; an output sun gear fixed to a differential output shaft; an input differential planet gear mounted to a differential carrier and meshed with said input sun gear; and an output differential planet gear mounted to said differential carrier, meshed with said input differential planet gear and meshed with said output sun gear.
- 28. A gear assembly in claim 27 wherein a worm gear is fixed to said differential carrier.
- 29. A gear assembly in claim 28 wherein said differential carrier is in operable communication with a motor through a worm meshed with said worm gear.
- 30. A gear assembly in claim 27 wherein said ratio is variable and adjusted from 1:1 to 1:20 based on rotation of said differential carrier.
- 31. A gear assembly in claim 29 wherein said motor is in electrical communication with a controller.
- 32. A gear assembly in claim 28 further comprising a pin disposed at said worm gear.
- 33. A gear assembly in claim 27 wherein there are two input differential planet gears.
- 34. A gear assembly in claim 27 wherein there are two output differential planet gears.
- 35. A linear differential gear system comprising means for adjusting steering output as compared to steering input by axially rotating a differential carrier comprising:
an input sun gear fixed to a differential input shaft; an output sun gear fixed to a differential output shaft; an input differential planet gear mounted to a differential carrier and meshed with said input sun gear; and an output differential planet gear mounted to said differential carrier, meshed with said input differential planet gear and meshed with said output sun gear.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon, and claims the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/193,113 filed Mar. 30, 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60193113 |
Mar 2000 |
US |