Electrically actuated steering for motor vehicle has rack with adjustable pinion for return to mechanical operation if electrical actuation fails

摘要

The steering rack (32) is displaced by a pinion which can be decoupled from the steering column (16) by a mechanical coupling (78,100,108) controlled by an electronic module. When decoupled an electric motor (42) displaces the pinion in response to a position signal from the steering wheel. If the electric drive fails the electric motor is decoupled and the mechanical coupling actuated.