US3661032A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering arrangements for motor vehicles
Assignee: Adwest Engineering Ltd
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Filing: 1969-11-10
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1989-11-10
Abstract
Abstract Rack-and-pinion steering mechanism for a motor vehicle, comprising a rack housing having a radial projection thereon, and resilient means arranged on opposite sides of the outward projection, the resilient means on each side of the outward projection being located between the outward projection and a part separate from the rack housing, the arrangement being such that when the pinion is rotated to move the rack the resilient means on one side of said outward projection will be compressed to provide, in effect, lost-motion between the pinion and the rack to a varying degree according to the amount of rotation of the pinion, so varying the steering ratio.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie Richard Jenvey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:36
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D5/00; B62D5/06; B62D5/20; B62D5/22; B62D3/00; B62D3/02; B62D3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A rack and pinion steering mechanism for a motor vehicle having a chassis, the mechanism comprising: a rack housing; a toothed rack mounted for longitudinal movement in said rack housing; a pinion in meshing engagement to said toothed rack so that rotation of said pinion imparts longitudinal movement to said toothed rack; and lost-motion means for providing lost-motion between said pinion and said toothed rack, said lost-motion means comprising a projection extending outwards of said rack housing and having a surface extending generally laterally from said rack housing, said projection being moveable relative to said rack, at least one resilient member, and means for mounting said resilient member in compressible relationship between said surface of said projection and a member moveable to a limited extent relative to said rack housing whereby rotation of said pinion from a dead-center position causes compression of said resilient member between said projection and said separate member thereby providing lost-motion between said rack and said pinion for varying the steering ratio, the extent of motion of said member relative to said rack housing being dependent upon the compression of said resilient member and establishing the amount of said lost-motion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A rack and pinion steering mechanism for a motor vehicle having a chassis, the mechanism comprising: a rack housing; a toothed rack mounted for longitudinal movement in said rack housing; a pinion in meshing engagement to said toothed rack so that rotation of said pinion imparts longitudinal movement to said toothed rack; and lost-motion means for providing lost-motion between said pinion and said toothed rack, said lost-motion means comprising a projection extending outwards of said rack housing and having a surface extending generally laterally from said rack housing, said projection being moveable relative to said rack, at least one resilient member, and means for mounting said resilient member in compressible relationship between said surface of said projection and a member moveable to a limited extent relative to said rack housing whereby rotation of said pinion from a dead-center position causes compression of said resilient member between said projection and said separate member thereby providing lost-motion between said rack and said pinion for varying the steering ratio, the extent of motion of said member relative to said rack housing being dependent upon the compression of said resilient member and establishing the amount of said lost-motion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A steering mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which said lost-motion means includes two resilient members, the first resilient member being compressed by rotation of said pinion from the dead-center position in a first direction and the second resilient member being compressed by rotation of said pinion from the dead-center position in the other direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A steering mechanism in accordance with claim 2 in which each resilient member comprises an annulus, said annulus being circular in cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A steeRing mechanism in accordance with claim 2, in which each resilient member comprises an annulus, said annulus being substantially conical in cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
A rack and pinion steering mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein said projection extends radially outwards of the rack housing and is rigidly connected thereto, said resilient members arranged on opposite sides of said outward projection, whereby when the pinion is rotated out of its center position the resilient means on one side of said outward projection will be compressed to provide, in effect, lost-motion between the pinion and the rack to a varying degree according to the amount of rotation of the pinion, thereby varying the steering ratio.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A rack and pinion steering mechanism according to claim 5, and further comprising a housing for the pinion, said resilient means being located between the said outward projection and the housing for the pinion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A rack and pinion steering mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said outward projection comprises a collar mounted on the rack housing and said resilient means comprise elastomeric rings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A rack and pinion steering mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said outward projection comprises a mounting bracket and wherein said resilient means are carried by mounting means adapted to be fixedly secured to a vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A rack and pinion steering mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said outward projection is slidably mounted on a pin carried by the mounting means so that the rack housing is capable of limited movement in the axial direction of the rack.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A rack and pinion steering mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said resilient means are of resilient material and have voids therein shaped and dimensioned to give each said resilient member a desired rate of compression with rotation of said pinion from the dead-center position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A rack and pinion steering mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said resilient means are of substantially conical form.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A steering arrangement as claimed in accordance with claim 1, in which the resilient material has one or more voids in it each shaped and dimensioned to give the resilient member a desired rate of compression with rotation of the pinion from the dead-center position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A rack and pinion mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said resilient member is positioned between a portion of said housing and a portion of said chassis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
A steering mechanism in accordance with claim 1 and further including a pinion housing for rotably mounting said pinion, one only of said rack housing and said pinion housing moving relative to said chassis upon rotation of said pinion from a dead-center position; and wherein said resilient member has a resiliency such that as the pinion is rotated from the dead-center to a full-lock position, there is progressively less movement of said one only of said rack housing and said pinion housing relative to the chassis per unit rotation of the pinion.
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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) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |