US3593592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering gear
Assignee: TRW Steering Systems Ltd
•
Filing: 1969-12-05
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Granted: 1971-07-20
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Expires: 1989-12-05
Abstract
Abstract Rack and pinion steering gear with fluid damping to absorb undesirable feedback from the rack bar to the steering column. The damping may be controlled from a maximum in the median or straight-ahead steering range to a minimum as the two extremities of the steering range are approached.
Inventors
- 👤 Fredrick J Adams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:06
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D3/00; B62D3/02; B62D3/12; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/1967
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
In a rack and pinion vehicle steering gear including a rack bar having a rack, a pinion meshed with the rack for longitudinally shifting the rack bar and a housing surrounding the rack bar, the improvement of means for damping feedback forces from the rack bar to the pinion including opposed pressure chambers in the housing surrounding the rack bar, piston means moving with the rack bar to displace liquid between the chambers, and a damping passage connecting the chambers for controlling liquid flow therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a rack and pinion vehicle steering gear including a rack bar having a rack, a pinion meshed with the rack for longitudinally shifting the rack bar and a housing surrounding the rack bar, the improvement of means for damping feedback forces from the rack bar to the pinion including opposed pressure chambers in the housing surrounding the rack bar, piston means moving with the rack bar to displace liquid between the chambers, and a damping passage connecting the chambers for controlling liquid flow therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The rack and pinion gear of claim 1 including a liquid reservoir connected to each chamber for maintaining liquid in the chambers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The rack and pinion steering gear of claim 2 in which the reservoir is connected to each chamber through a one-way valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The rack and pinion steering gear of claim 2 in which the reservoir is connected to each chamber by a one-way passage through unidirectionally operating pistons on the rack bar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The rack and pinion steering gear of claim 1 including a reservoir for liquid mounted on the housing and connected to the pressure chambers through one-way valves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
A rack and pinion vehicle steering gear assembly comprising a tubular housing, a rack bar slidable through said housing, longitudinally spaced pistons secured on said rack bar sealingly engaging said housing and providing a sealed chamber therebetween surrounding the rack bar, seal means dividing said chamber into two cOmpartments and having a damping passage connecting the compartments, means for maintaining said chamber filled with liquid, and a pinion shifting said rack bar in said housing to displace liquid from one compartment to the other through said passage whereby feedback forces on the rack bar to the pinion will be damped.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
A rack and pinion vehicle steering gear assembly comprising a tubular housing, a rack bar slidable through said housing, longitudinally spaced pistons secured on said rack bar sealingly engaging said housing and providing a sealed chamber therebetween surrounding the rack bar, seal means dividing said chamber into two cOmpartments and having a damping passage connecting the compartments, means for maintaining said chamber filled with liquid, and a pinion shifting said rack bar in said housing to displace liquid from one compartment to the other through said passage whereby feedback forces on the rack bar to the pinion will be damped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The rack and pinion gear of claim 6 wherein the seal means is fixed to the housing and has a passageway therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The rack and pinion gear of claim 6 wherein the seal means is fixed to the rack bar and the pistons are fixed to the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The rack and pinion gear of claim 1 including means on the rack bar effective to vary the size of the damping passage as the rack bar is shifted to vary the damping rate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The steering gear of claim 1 wherein the damping passage is in a bypass duct external to the housing and has an externally accessible control for adjusting the size of the passage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The rack and pinion gear of claim 1 wherein the rack bar has grooves of increasing cross-sectional area extending from opposite sides of the damping passage to increase the damping passage as the rack bar is shifted towards the extremities of its operating positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The steering gear of claim 1 wherein the damping passage includes a movable bushing accommodating misalignment of the rack bar and housing without substantially affecting the damping action.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-19 | 1975-01-18 | 1975-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-19 | 1979-01-18 | 1979-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-19 | 1983-01-18 | 1983-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |