Load-compensated vehicle steering wheel apparatus

Claim 2

An automatic recentering apparatus for recentering a member movable offcenter in two different directions, comprising: a. a cylinder having a bore therein and means at one end for connection to a support; b. a piston rod in said cylinder extending through the opposite end thereof for connection to said member; c. a pair of pistons in said bore, each axially movable in a sealed manner on said piston rod; d. a pair of followers on said piston rod so disposed as to define the maximum distance between said pistons when each piston is engaged with a corresponding one of said followers; e. a pair of axially spaced piston stop means in said bore, each engageable with a corresponding one of said pistons on the same side as the corresponding follower, said pair of stop means spaced apart a distance such that both pistons are engaged with the corresponding one of said pair of stop means and the corresponding one of said followers when said member is disposed in the center position, and f. port means in said cylinder for communicating fluid pressure with said bore between said pistons.

Claim 3

An automatic recentering apparatus, as recited in claim 1, in which said port means is communicable with a pressure-regulated source of fluid pressure.

Claim 4

A load-compensated recentering apparatus for use with steering apparatus on a vehicle having a frame supported on air spring means, the steering apparatus including a member movable offcenter in either of two opposing directions to turn the vehicle wheels in opposite directions relative to the center position, said load-compensated recentering device comprising: a. a fluid-pressure-operated cylinder device having a bore therein and means on one end for attachment to the vehicle frame at a predetermined point relative said two opposing directions; b. a piston rod in said cylinder and extending through the other end thereof for attachment to said member at a point, said predetermined point on said frame and said member relatively positioned as to substantially align the axis of said cylinder with said two opposing directions; c. a pair of pistons in said bore, each axially movable in a sealed manner on said piston rod; d. a pair of followers on said piston rod so disposed as to define the maximum distance between said pistons when each piston is engaged with a corresponding one of said followers; e. a pair of axially spaced piston stop means in said bore, each engageable with a corresponding one of said pistons on the same side as the corresponding follower, said pair of stop means spaced apart a distance such that both pistons are engaged with the corresponding one of said pair of stop means and the corresponding one of said followers when said member is disposed in the center position; f. port means in said cylinder for communicating fluid pressure with said bore between said pistons; and g. double check valve means including a delivery port communicating with said port means, a first supply port for communicating with a pressure-regulated source of fluid pressure supply, and a second supply port for communicating with said air spring means.

Claim 5

A load-compensated recentering apparatus for use with steering apparatus on a vehicle having a frame supported on air spring means, the steering apparatus including a member movable offcenter in either of two opposing directions to turn the vehicle wheels in opposite directions relative to the center position, said load-compensated recentering device comprising: a. a fluid-pressure-operated cylinder device having a bore therein and means on one end for attachment to the vehicle frame at a predetermined point relative said two opposing directions; b. a piston rod in said cylinder and extending through the other end thereof for attachment to said member at a point, said predetermined point on said frame and said member relatively positioned as to substantially align the axis of said cylinder with said two opposing directions; c. a pair of pistons in said bore, each axially movable in a sealed manner on said piston rod; d. a pair of followers on said piston rod so disposed as to define the maximum distance between said pistons when each piston is engaged with a corresponding one of said followers; e. a pair of axially spaced piston stop means in said bore, each engageable with a corresponding one of said pistons on the same side as the corresponding follower, said pair of stop means spaced apart a distance such that both pistons are engaged with the corresponding one of said pair of stop means and the corresponding one of said followers when said member is disposed in the center position; f. port means in said cylinder for communicating fluid pressure with said bore between said pistons; and g. double check valve means including a delivery port communicating with said port means, a first supply port for communicating with a pressure-regulated source of fluid pressure supply, and a second supply port for communicating with said air spring means.

Claim 6

A load-compensated recentering apparatus, as recited in claim 3, further including a second double check valve device having a delivery port communicating with said second supply port of said double check valve means, and a pair of supply ports each communicable with a different one of a pair of air springs in said air spring means.

Claim 7

A load-compensated recentering apparatus for use with steering apparatus on a vehicle having a frame supported on air spring means, the steering apparatus including a member movable offcenter in either of two substantially opposing directions to turn the vehicle wheels in opposite directions relative to the center position, said load-compensated recentering device comprising: a. a fluid-pressure-operated cylinder device having means on one end for attachment to the vehicle frame at a predetermined point, and having a piston rod therein extending through the other end thereof for attachment to said member at a predetermined point, b. said predetermined point on each of said frame and said member being disposed relative said substantially opposite directions to substantially align said cylinder device relative said substantially opposite directions; c. port means in said cylinder device for communication with a continuous source of regulated fluid pressure; d. piston means in said cylinder device cooperative with said cylinder device and said piston rod in response to said continuous pressure so as to return said piston rod from either a relatively retracted position or a relatively extended position to a predetermined center position, upon removal of a force on said member applied in either of said substantially opposite directions to override said continuous pressure; and e. means for communicating said port means with the pressure in said air spring means only so long as the pressure in said air spring means is greater than said continuous source of regulated fluid pressure.

Claim 8

A load-compensated recentering apparatus for use with steering apparatus on a vehicle having a frame supported on air spring means, the steering apparatus including a member movable offcenter in either of two substantially opposing directions to turn the vehicle wheels in opposite directions relative to the center position, said load-compensated recentering device comprising: a. a fluid-pressure-operated cylinder device having means on one end for attachment to the vehicle frame at a predetermined point, and having a piston rod therein extending through the other end thereof for attachment to said member at a predetermined point, b. said predetermined point on each of said frame and said member being disposed relative said substantially opposite directions to substantially align said cylinder device relative said substantially opposite directions; c. port means in said cylinder device for communication with a continuous source of regulated fluid pressure; d. piston means in said cylinder device cooperative with said cylinder device and said piston rod in response to said continuous pressure so as to return said piston rod from either a relatively retracted position or a relatively extended position to a predetermined center position, upon removal of a force on said member applied in either of said substantially opposite directions to override said continuous pressure; and e. means for communicating said port means with the pressure in said air spring means only so long as the pressure in said air spring means is greater than said continuous source of regulated fluid pressure.