US3572744A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive steering stabilizers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-05-16
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Granted: 1971-03-30
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Expires: 1989-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A double-acting hydraulic cylinder and piston positioned between, and connected to, the steering tie rod and the front axle of a vehicle. A bypass valve assembly, installed in the steering wheel drag link of said vehicle, hydraulically connected to opposite ends of said cylinder so that axial tension and axial pressure in said drag link will actuate said assembly to bypass hydraulic fluid to and from opposite ends of said cylinder.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:09
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D7/00; B62D7/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A steering stabilizer, for application to the type of automotive steering systems having a front axle, a steering tie rod extending substantially parallel to said axle, and a steering-wheel-actuated drag link arm imparting reciprocal longitudinal movements to said tie rod, comprising: a. a double-acting fluid-filled hydraulic cylinder having a reciprocal piston rod projecting from one of its extremities; b. means for mounting said cylinder and piston rod to, and between, said axle and said tie rod so that the reciprocal movements of the latter will be imparted to said piston rod; c. a bypass valve assembly; d. conduits connecting the opposite ends of said cylinder with said bypass assembly so that said assembly will control the flow of fluid between the opposite extremities of said cylinder in consequence of actuation of said piston rod; e. a forward drag link portion fixedly mounted in said bypass assembly and extending forwardly therefrom to said drag link arm to actuate the latter; f. a rear drag link portion slidably mounted in said bypass assembly rearwardly of an in axial alignment with said forward drag link portion and arranged, when drawn rearwardly from said forward portion, to open the bypass valve assembly; and g. spring means in said assembly urging said rear portion axially toward said forward portion to close the bypass valve assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
A steering stabilizer, for application to the type of automotive steering systems having a front axle, a steering tie rod extending substantially parallel to said axle, and a steering-wheel-actuated drag link arm imparting reciprocal longitudinal movements to said tie rod, comprising: a. a double-acting fluid-filled hydraulic cylinder having a reciprocal piston rod projecting from one of its extremities; b. means for mounting said cylinder and piston rod to, and between, said axle and said tie rod so that the reciprocal movements of the latter will be imparted to said piston rod; c. a bypass valve assembly; d. conduits connecting the opposite ends of said cylinder with said bypass assembly so that said assembly will control the flow of fluid between the opposite extremities of said cylinder in consequence of actuation of said piston rod; e. a forward drag link portion fixedly mounted in said bypass assembly and extending forwardly therefrom to said drag link arm to actuate the latter; f. a rear drag link portion slidably mounted in said bypass assembly rearwardly of an in axial alignment with said forward drag link portion and arranged, when drawn rearwardly from said forward portion, to open the bypass valve assembly; and g. spring means in said assembly urging said rear portion axially toward said forward portion to close the bypass valve assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
A steering stabilizer as described in claim 1 having: a. a cam notch formed in said rear portion; and b. a forward outwardly opening check valve and a rear outwardly opening check valve in said assembly each check valve being spring loaded and having valve-opening means extending into said notch so that when said rear drag link portion is forced forwardly in said assembly the rear check valve will be opened to allow fluid to flow from one end of said cylinder and when pulled rearwardly in said assembly the forward check valve will be opened to allow fluid to flow from the other end of said cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A steering stabilizer as described in claim 2 having: a. a bypass passage in said assembly communicating between said conduits and bypassing said forward and rear check valves; and b. a manually actuated bypass valve controlling said latter passage independently of the control exerted by said check valves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
121 words
A steering stabilizer as described in claim 2 in which the spring means comprises: a. a spring-receiving portion formed in said forward drag link portion; b. a spring cavity in said assembly about said spring-receiving portion; c. a washer axially positioned about said spring receiving portion at each end of the latter; d. a cylindrical spiral compression spring surrounding said spring-receiving portion and urging said washers resiliently apart against the ends of said cavity; and e. spring-actuating means projecting from said drag link portion beyond the ends of said spring to alternately engage each washer and urge it against the bias of said spring toward the other washer as said drag link portion is moved forward and back in said assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A steering stabilizer as described in claim 4 having stop means fixedly positioned on said spring-receiving portion between and in spaced relation to said projecting means for limiting the distance each washer may travel toward the other washer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A steering stabilizer as described in Claim 5 in which the ends of said cavity, the spring-actuating means and the cam notch are relatively and axially spaced from each other so that when the two washers are both in contact with ends of said cavity the valve opening means of both said check valves will be positioned in the cam notch so that both valves will be resiliently closed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A steering stabilizer as described in claim 6 in which the stop means of claim 5 is spaced from the adjacent washers at a distance which will permit the drag link portion to move only sufficiently to open one check valve at the termination of its movement in each direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A steering stabilizer as described in claim 7 in which the spring-receiving portion is of less diameter than said drag link portion so that the increase in diameter at the extremities of the spring-receiving portion will form the spring-actuating means of claim 4.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US1747768A
Cited
US1958810A
Cited
US2178073A
Cited
US2261821A
Cited
US3074515A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-29 | 1974-09-28 | 1975-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-29 | 1978-09-28 | 1979-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-29 | 1982-09-28 | 1983-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |