Vehicle power steering gear with lateral acceleration feedback means

Claim 2

In vehicle-steering mechanism, a steering input shaft, an output shaft adapted for connection with the dirigible wheels of the vehicle, and means drivingly connecting said shafts for torque transmission therebetween including a lateral vehicle acceleration feedback mass operative under centrifugal force thereon to apply reaction torque to said input shaft proportional to the lateral acceleration experienced by the vehicle.

Claim 3

In vehicle power steering mechanism, a steering input shaft, a lateral acceleration feedback pendulum, means drivingly connecting said input shaft with said pendulum for torque transmission therebetween such that input rotation on said shaft at all times is met with the resistance of said pendulum to movement from an equilibrium position to provide road feel within said shaft, said connecting means being operative to apply lateral vehicle acceleration forces experienced by said pendulum as a reaction torque to said shaft.

Claim 4

In vehicle power steering mechanism, a steering input shaft, a lateral acceleration feedback pendulum, means drivingly connecting said input shaft with said pendulum for torque transmission therebetween such that input rotation on said shaft at all times is met with the resistance of said pendulum to movement from an equilibrium position to provide road feel within said shaft, said connecting means being operative to apply lateral vehicle acceleration forces experienced by said pendulum as a reaction torque to said shaft.

Claim 5

In vehicle power steering mechanism, a steering input shaft, an output shaft, a fluid-operated servomotor connected with said output shaft, a pair of relatively movable valve elements, one of said elements being connected with said output shaft and the other of said elements being connected with said input shaft whereby input rotation on said input shaft moving said other valve element from a neutral relation with said one valve element and said output shaft causes operation of said servomotor, lateral acceleration feedback and valve centering means normally located in an equilibrium position, and means operatively connecting said lateral acceleration feedback and valve-centering means between said valve elements such that input rotation on said input shaft moving said valve elements from neutral relation at all times deflects said lateral acceleration feedback and valve centering means from equilibrium position providing road feel to said input shaft and further such that followup movement in said output shaft under operation of said servomotor returns said lateral acceleration feedback and valve-centering means to said equilibrium position, said connecting means being operative to apply lateral vehicle acceleration forces experienced by said lateral acceleration feedback and valve centering means as a reaction torque to said input shaft.

Claim 6

In vehicle power steering mechanism, a steering input shaft, an output shaft, a fluid-operated servomotor connected with said output shaft, a pair of relatively movable valve elements, one of said elements being connected with said output shaft and the other of said elements being connected with said input shaft whereby input rotation on said input shaft moving said other valve element from a neutral relation with said one valve element and said output shaft causes operation of said servomotor, lateral acceleration feedback and valve centering means normally located in an equilibrium position, and means operatively connecting said lateral acceleration feedback and valve-centering means between said valve elements such that input rotation on said input shaft moving said valve elements from neutral relation at all times deflects said lateral acceleration feedback and valve centering means from equilibrium position providing road feel to said input shaft and further such that followup movement in said output shaft under operation of said servomotor returns said lateral acceleration feedback and valve-centering means to said equilibrium position, said connecting means being operative to apply lateral vehicle acceleration forces experienced by said lateral acceleration feedback and valve centering means as a reaction torque to said input shaft.

Claim 7

The combination recited in claim 3 wherein said connecting means includes means limiting relative rotation between said input and output shafts for establishing driving connection therebetween operative in the event of power failure in said servomotor.

Claim 8

In vehicle power steering mechanism, a steering input shaft, an output shaft, a fluid operated servomotor connected with said output shaft, a pair of relatively movable valve elements, one of said elements being connected with said output shaft and the other of said elements being connected with said input shaft whereby input rotation on the latter moving said other valve element from a neutral relation with said one valve element and said output shaft causes operation of said servomotor, a lateral acceleration feedback and valve-centering pendulum normally located in an equilibrium position, and planetary gear means operatively connecting said input shaft, said output shaft and said pendulum including input gear means connected with said input shaft and output gear means connected with said output shaft, said input gear means under input rotation on said input shaft being operable in lost motion relative to said output gear means with road load on the latter to deflect said pendulum from its equilibrium position concurrently with movement of said other valve element from neutral relation to provide road feel in said input shaft, said output gear means under followup rotation of said output shaft caused by operation of said servomotor being operable in lost motion relative to said input gear means with load on the latter to returN said pendulum to equilibrium position concurrently with followup of said one valve element to neutral relation, said planetary gear means being operative to apply lateral vehicle acceleration forces experienced by said pendulum as a reaction torque to said input shaft.

Claim 9

In vehicle power steering mechanism, a steering input shaft, an output shaft, a fluid operated servomotor connected with said output shaft, a pair of relatively movable valve elements, one of said elements being connected with said output shaft and the other of said elements being connected with said input shaft whereby input rotation on the latter moving said other valve element from a neutral relation with said one valve element and said output shaft causes operation of said servomotor, a lateral acceleration feedback and valve-centering pendulum normally located in an equilibrium position, and planetary gear means operatively connecting said input shaft, said output shaft and said pendulum including input gear means connected with said input shaft and output gear means connected with said output shaft, said input gear means under input rotation on said input shaft being operable in lost motion relative to said output gear means with road load on the latter to deflect said pendulum from its equilibrium position concurrently with movement of said other valve element from neutral relation to provide road feel in said input shaft, said output gear means under followup rotation of said output shaft caused by operation of said servomotor being operable in lost motion relative to said input gear means with load on the latter to returN said pendulum to equilibrium position concurrently with followup of said one valve element to neutral relation, said planetary gear means being operative to apply lateral vehicle acceleration forces experienced by said pendulum as a reaction torque to said input shaft.

Claim 10

In vehicle power steering mechanism: support housing means; an input shaft rotatably mounted within said housing means; an output shaft rotatably mounted within said housing means and adapted for connection with the vehicle dirigible wheels; an hydraulic servomotor operatively connected with said output shaft; a pair of relatively rotatable valve elements mounted within said housing, one of said elements being connected for rotation with said output shaft and the other of said elements being connected for rotation with said input shaft whereby input rotation on said input shaft moving said other valve elements from a neutral relation with said one valve element and said output shaft serves for operation of said servomotor; a lateral vehicle acceleration feedback pendulum rotatably mounted on said housing means and normally located in an equilibrium position with respect thereto; and a double planetary gear torque transmission connection including a first sun gear connected with said pendulum, a first ring gear connected with said input shaft and cooperative as a set with said first sun gear, a second sun gear fixed on said housing means, a second ring gear connected with said output shaft and said one valve element and cooperative as a set with said second sun gear, carrier means rotatably mounted on said housing means and carrying a plurality of pinion gear pairs each including a pinion gear respective to each of said first and second sun and ring gear sets, said double planetary gear connection being operative under input rotation on said input shaft against road load on said output shaft to cause relative movement of said valve elements from said neutral relation thereof for operation of said servomotor concurrently with deflection of said pendulum from said equilibrium position thereof providing road feel in said input shaft, followup rotation of said output shaft under operation of said servomotor causing said double planetary gear connection to return said valve elements to neutral relation and to return said pendulum to equilibrium position, said planetary gear connection being further operative to apply lateral vehicle acceleration forces experienced by said pendulum as a reaction torque to said input shaft.

Claim 11

In vehicle power steering mechanism: support housing means; an input shaft rotatably mounted within said housing means; an output shaft rotatably mounted within said housing means and adapted for connection with the vehicle dirigible wheels; an hydraulic servomotor operatively connected with said output shaft; a pair of relatively rotatable valve elements mounted within said housing, one of said elements being connected for rotation with said output shaft and the other of said elements being connected for rotation with said input shaft whereby input rotation on said input shaft moving said other valve elements from a neutral relation with said one valve element and said output shaft serves for operation of said servomotor; a lateral vehicle acceleration feedback pendulum rotatably mounted on said housing means and normally located in an equilibrium position with respect thereto; and a double planetary gear torque transmission connection including a first sun gear connected with said pendulum, a first ring gear connected with said input shaft and cooperative as a set with said first sun gear, a second sun gear fixed on said housing means, a second ring gear connected with said output shaft and said one valve element and cooperative as a set with said second sun gear, carrier means rotatably mounted on said housing means and carrying a plurality of pinion gear pairs each including a pinion gear respective to each of said first and second sun and ring gear sets, said double planetary gear connection being operative under input rotation on said input shaft against road load on said output shaft to cause relative movement of said valve elements from said neutral relation thereof for operation of said servomotor concurrently with deflection of said pendulum from said equilibrium position thereof providing road feel in said input shaft, followup rotation of said output shaft under operation of said servomotor causing said double planetary gear connection to return said valve elements to neutral relation and to return said pendulum to equilibrium position, said planetary gear connection being further operative to apply lateral vehicle acceleration forces experienced by said pendulum as a reaction torque to said input shaft.