US3564975A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power steering gear
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1968-11-20
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1988-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A fluid power steering gear unit for automotive vehicles of the type generally including a double-acting fluid servomotor for assisting reduction gear mechanism of the unit in turning the vehicle dirigible wheels and controlled by a four-way valve for selectively pressurizing either side of the servomotor piston while communicating the other side thereof to fluid sump, is further provided with a bleed valve and a slave valve for assisting the control valve in quickly relieving the pressurized side of the servomotor of pressure fluid upon completion of the desired fluid assist to thereby permit the quick return of the steering gear unit from any power actuated offcenter position back to its neutral or centered condition.
Inventors
- 👤 James H Moran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:22
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15B; F15B9/00; F15B9/02; F15B9/08; B; B62; B62D; B62D5/00; B62D5/06; B62D5/20; B62D5/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
In fluid power steering apparatus for an automotive vehicle having steering gear mechanism for selectively turning the vehicle dirigible wheels in opposite directions from a centered condition to either of two extreme turn positions, the combination comprising, a double acting fluid motor, means connecting said motor with said steering gear mechanism, a source of pressurized fluid, a fluid sump, four-way control valve means, passage means connecting said control valve means between the two sides of said motor, said source and said sump and actuable from a neutral substantially nonpressurizing condition to effect varying degrees of pressurization on a selected side of said motor by said source while connecting the other side thereof with said sump, bleed valve means, conduit means connecting said bleed valve means with said sump independently of said control valve means, slave valve means, means connecting said slave valve means with said steering gear mechanism for response to movement of the latter in either direction from the centered condition thereof and having fluid connection with said bleed valve means whereby to connect a respective side of said motor with said sump through said bleed valve means in accordance with the position of the steering gear mechanism either side of said centered condition thereof, and means responsive to selected actuation of said control valve means for closing said bleed valve means against connection between said motor and said sump when said control valve is actuated from said neutral condition thereof and for opening said bleed valve means when said control valve means is in said neutral condition thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
260 words
In fluid power steering apparatus for an automotive vehicle having steering gear mechanism for selectively turning the vehicle dirigible wheels in opposite directions from a centered condition to either of two extreme turn positions, the combination comprising, a double acting fluid motor, means connecting said motor with said steering gear mechanism, a source of pressurized fluid, a fluid sump, four-way control valve means, passage means connecting said control valve means between the two sides of said motor, said source and said sump and actuable from a neutral substantially nonpressurizing condition to effect varying degrees of pressurization on a selected side of said motor by said source while connecting the other side thereof with said sump, bleed valve means, conduit means connecting said bleed valve means with said sump independently of said control valve means, slave valve means, means connecting said slave valve means with said steering gear mechanism for response to movement of the latter in either direction from the centered condition thereof and having fluid connection with said bleed valve means whereby to connect a respective side of said motor with said sump through said bleed valve means in accordance with the position of the steering gear mechanism either side of said centered condition thereof, and means responsive to selected actuation of said control valve means for closing said bleed valve means against connection between said motor and said sump when said control valve is actuated from said neutral condition thereof and for opening said bleed valve means when said control valve means is in said neutral condition thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
309 words
In fluid power steering apparatus for an automotive vehicle having steering gear mechanism for selectively turning the vehicle dirigible wheels in opposite directions from a centered condition to either of two extreme turn positions, the combination comprising, a double acting fluid motor, means connecting said motor with said steering gear mechanism, a source of pressurized fluid, a fluid sump, four-way control valve means, passage means connecting said control valve means between the two sides of said motor, said source and said sump, and actuable to effect varying degrees of pressurization on a selected side of said motor by said source while connecting the other side thereof with said sump, a bleed valve means, conduit means connecting said bleed valve means with said sump independently of said control valve means, slave valve means including a valve member, means connecting said slave valve means with said steering gear mechanism for movement relative to a fixed valve body in response to movement of said steering gear mechanism in either direction from said centered condition thereof, said slave valve means having fluid connection through further passage means with said bleed valve means whereby to connect a respective side of said motor with said sump through said bleed valve means in accordance with the position of the steering gear mechanism either side of said centered condition thereof, and pilot means operative upon said bleed valve means and in fluid circuit between said source and said control valve means to be responsive to selected pressurizing actuation of said control valve means whereby to close said bleed valve means against connection between said motor and said sump when said control valve means are in a condition of predetermined pressurization between said source and said motor and to open said bleed valve means when said control valve means is in pressurizing conditions below said predetermined pressuriZing condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
309 words
In fluid power steering apparatus for an automotive vehicle having steering gear mechanism for selectively turning the vehicle dirigible wheels in opposite directions from a centered condition to either of two extreme turn positions, the combination comprising, a double acting fluid motor, means connecting said motor with said steering gear mechanism, a source of pressurized fluid, a fluid sump, four-way control valve means, passage means connecting said control valve means between the two sides of said motor, said source and said sump, and actuable to effect varying degrees of pressurization on a selected side of said motor by said source while connecting the other side thereof with said sump, a bleed valve means, conduit means connecting said bleed valve means with said sump independently of said control valve means, slave valve means including a valve member, means connecting said slave valve means with said steering gear mechanism for movement relative to a fixed valve body in response to movement of said steering gear mechanism in either direction from said centered condition thereof, said slave valve means having fluid connection through further passage means with said bleed valve means whereby to connect a respective side of said motor with said sump through said bleed valve means in accordance with the position of the steering gear mechanism either side of said centered condition thereof, and pilot means operative upon said bleed valve means and in fluid circuit between said source and said control valve means to be responsive to selected pressurizing actuation of said control valve means whereby to close said bleed valve means against connection between said motor and said sump when said control valve means are in a condition of predetermined pressurization between said source and said motor and to open said bleed valve means when said control valve means is in pressurizing conditions below said predetermined pressuriZing condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
286 words
In fluid power steering apparatus for an automotive vehicle having steering gear mechanism for selectively turning the vehicle dirigible wheels in opposite directions from a centered condition to either of two extreme turn positions, the combination comprising, a double acting fluid motor, means connecting said motor with said steering gear mechanism, a source of pressurized fluid, a fluid sump, a four-way open center configuration control valve means, passage means connecting said control valve means between the two sides of said motor, said source and said sump, said control valve being actuable from a low system pressure neutral condition to effect varying degrees of higher pressurization on a selected side of said motor by said source while connecting the other side thereof with said sump, a bleed valve means, conduit means connecting said bleed valve means with said sump independently of said control valve means, pilot means operative upon said bleed valve means and in fluid circuit between said source and said control valve means to be responsive to selected pressurizing actuation of said control valve means whereby to close said bleed valve means against connection between said motor and said sump when said control valve means are in a condition of predetermined pressurization between said source and said motor higher than said low system pressure of said neutral condition and to open said bleed valve means when said control valve means is in pressurizing conditions below said predetermined pressurizing condition, and means responsive to positioning of said dirigible wheels in a condition deflected either side of said centered position thereof to connect the pressure side of said servomotor corresponding to said deflected position with said bleed valve means and selectively through the latter to said sump.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
286 words
In fluid power steering apparatus for an automotive vehicle having steering gear mechanism for selectively turning the vehicle dirigible wheels in opposite directions from a centered condition to either of two extreme turn positions, the combination comprising, a double acting fluid motor, means connecting said motor with said steering gear mechanism, a source of pressurized fluid, a fluid sump, a four-way open center configuration control valve means, passage means connecting said control valve means between the two sides of said motor, said source and said sump, said control valve being actuable from a low system pressure neutral condition to effect varying degrees of higher pressurization on a selected side of said motor by said source while connecting the other side thereof with said sump, a bleed valve means, conduit means connecting said bleed valve means with said sump independently of said control valve means, pilot means operative upon said bleed valve means and in fluid circuit between said source and said control valve means to be responsive to selected pressurizing actuation of said control valve means whereby to close said bleed valve means against connection between said motor and said sump when said control valve means are in a condition of predetermined pressurization between said source and said motor higher than said low system pressure of said neutral condition and to open said bleed valve means when said control valve means is in pressurizing conditions below said predetermined pressurizing condition, and means responsive to positioning of said dirigible wheels in a condition deflected either side of said centered position thereof to connect the pressure side of said servomotor corresponding to said deflected position with said bleed valve means and selectively through the latter to said sump.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |