US3585875A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rack and pinion assembly
Assignee: TRW Steering Systems Ltd
•
Filing: 1969-12-04
•
Granted: 1971-06-22
•
Expires: 1989-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A rack and pinion assembly, especially suited for automotive steering linkages, having at least one yoke member slidably supporting the rack bar on the side remote from the rack, and preferably directly opposite that portion of the rack engaging the pinion, wherein the yoke is urged against the rack bar by a spring biased slipper in wedge-fitting, sliding relationship with the yoke. The slipper and yoke have inclined mating surfaces which establish a nonreversing wedge angle relationship so that the spring bias need only be sufficient to take up looseness and wear without supporting the load on the yoke.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick J Adams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:42
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H19/00; F16H19/02; F16H19/04; B; B62; B62D; B62D3/00; B62D3/02; B62D3/12; B62D3/123; F16H55/00; F16H55/02; F16H55/26; F16H55/28; F16H55/283; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18056; Y10T74/18088; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/1955; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/1967
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A rack and pinion assembly having a housing rotatably mounting a pinion and receiving a rack bar therethrough with a rack in meshed engagement with the pinion, a yoke slidably mounted in the housing on the side of the rack bar remote from the rack and slidably supporting the rack bar, said yoke member having an abutment surface inclined relative to the plane of the rack and on the end thereof remote from the rack bar, a wedgeshaped slipper member in said housing having an abutment surface mating with the inclined surface of the yoke, means closing the housing confining the slipper member against the yoke, and spring means biasing said slipper member up the inclined surface of the yoke to hold the yoke against the rack bar and the rack in meshed engagement with the pinion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A rack and pinion assembly having a housing rotatably mounting a pinion and receiving a rack bar therethrough with a rack in meshed engagement with the pinion, a yoke slidably mounted in the housing on the side of the rack bar remote from the rack and slidably supporting the rack bar, said yoke member having an abutment surface inclined relative to the plane of the rack and on the end thereof remote from the rack bar, a wedgeshaped slipper member in said housing having an abutment surface mating with the inclined surface of the yoke, means closing the housing confining the slipper member against the yoke, and spring means biasing said slipper member up the inclined surface of the yoke to hold the yoke against the rack bar and the rack in meshed engagement with the pinion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a rack and pinion assembly including a housing rotatably mounting a pinion and receiving a rack bar therethrough with a rack in meshed engagement with the pinion and a yoke slidably mounted in the housing having a recess slidably supporting the rack bar on the side thereof remote from the pinion, the improvement of a wedge member slidable in the housing in wedge relationship with the yoke for urging the yoke against the rack bar, and spring means biasing said wedge to take up looseness and compensate for wear of the yoke and parts supported thereby.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a rack and pinion assembly including a housing rotatably mounting a pinion and receiving a rack bar therethrough with a rack in meshed engagement with the pinion and a yoke slidably mounted in the housing having a recess slidably supporting the rack bar on the side thereof remote from the pinion, the improvement of a wedge member slidable in the housing in wedge relationship with the yoke for urging the yoke against the rack bar, and spring means biasing said wedge to take up looseness and compensate for wear of the yoke and parts supported thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The rack and pinion assembly of claim 1 where the angle of inclination of the mating wedge surfaces is from 10*-20* and the spring bias load is less than the load supported by the wedge slipper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the slipper member has a channel receiving the spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the slipper member is composed of a plastics material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the slipper member is bottomed on a resilient cushion to accommodate slight movement of the yoke under shock loads imposed on the rack and pinion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein a resilient cushion is interposed between the closed end of the housing and the slipper member capable of absorbing shock loads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing has a port accommodating insertion of a probe to release the wedge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing space between the yoke and closed end is sealed to retain lubricant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly of claim 2 wherein the wedge is a slipper having a flat bottom and a wedge surface inclined at a wedge angle relative to said bottom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly of claim 2 wherein the wedge locks the yoke member against movement away from the rack bar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2168215A
Cited
US2467066A
Cited
US2883875A
Cited
BE555924A
Cited
US3157061A
Cited
US3352170A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |