BALL SCREW DRIVE AND MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH SAME

摘要

The invention relates to a ball screw drive (10) used in a steering system. The ball screw drive (10) includes a lead screw (2a) for converting an auxiliary torque produced by an electric motor (M) into an auxiliary translational force which acts on a steering rack (2b) in the steering system of a motor vehicle. One end of the lead screw (2a) and one end of the steering rack (2b) are each connected to a track rod (3, 3') via an axial link (G), and the ball screw drive (10) has a ball nut (5) mounted in a housing (GH) with a fixed bearing (4). In order to withstand strong lateral loads or lateral forces coming from the track rod or rods (3, 3') and acting in the radial direction (y) there is provided between the end of the lead screw (2a) connected to the track rod (3) and the ball screw drive (10) a plain bearing element (20) which supports the lead screw (2a) radially against the housing (GH). The support is provided by an adjustable radial clearance, and the plain bearing element is preferably in the form of a sleeve (20) which surrounds the lead screw (2a), the sleeve (20) having a conically shaped portion (22) which is conically shaped on its outer periphery in the axial direction (x) and lies against a conically formed inner wall (23) in the housing (GH).