Fluid control valve for a hydrostatic power boosting mechanism for an automotive steering gear

Claim 2

A steering mechanism for use in maintaining control of the dirigible wheels of a vehicle comprising a driving member, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a steering shaft, a connection between said driving member and said piston whereby rotary motion of said driving member effects reciprocating motion of said piston, a valve body, said steering shaft being mounted within said valve body, a driving connection between said valve body and said driving member, a pair of movable elements in said valve body, a valve seat registering with each valve element, said piston and cylinder cooperating to define a pair of opposed pressure chambers, a pressure inlet port, a first pressure Pg,13 passage extending from said inlet port to one pressure chamber and a second pressure passage extending from said inlet port to the other pressure chamber, each valve seat and its cooperating valve element defining one of said pressure passages, said valve elements being engageable with said steering shaft whereby the latter actuates said valve elements into and out of registry with respect to their valve seats thereby controlling the degree of pressure distribution from said pressure port to said pressure chambers, and spring means for providing a yieldable connection between said steering shaft and said valve body whereby deflection of said steering shaft with respect to said valve body during turning maneuvers is opposed by a yielding force of said spring means thereby introducing a steering force sensation, said spring means being a C-spring encircling said valve body, one end of said C-spring being engageable with one valve element and the other end of said C-spring being engageable with the other valve element thereby tending normally to urge said valve elements against said steering shaft to maintain the latter in a centered, pressurebalanced condition with respect to said valve body.

Claim 3

A steering mechanism for use in maintaining control of the dirigible wheels of a vehicle comprising a driving member, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a steering shaft, a connection between said driving member and said piston whereby rotary motion of said driving member effects reciprocating motion of said piston, a valve body, said steering shaft being mounted within said valve body, a driving connection between said valve body and said driving member, a pair of movable valve elements in said valve body, a valve seat registering with each valve element, said piston and cylinder cooperating to define a pair of opposed pressure chambers, a pressure inlet port, a first pressure passage extending from said inlet port to one pressure chamber and a second pressure passage extending from said inlet port to the other pressure chamber, each valve seat and its cooperating valve element defining one of said pressure passages, each valve element being adapted to be actuated by said steering shaft whereby said valve elements are moved into and out of registry with respect to their valve seats thereby controlling the degree of pressure distribution from said inlet port to said pressure chambers, each valve element being a ball engageable with said steering shaft, a circular valve member defining said valve seat surrounding each ball valve element and defining a valve seat adapted to register with said ball valve, the center of each circular valve member being in fluid communication with said pressure inlet port whereby fluid pressure is distributed from said inlet port through said valve seats to said pressure chambers.

Claim 4

A steering mechanism for use in maintaining control of the dirigible wheels of a vehicle comprising a driving member, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a steering shaft, a connection between said driving member and said piston whereby rotary motion of said driving member effects reciprocating motion of said piston, a valve body, said steering shaft being mounted within said valve body, a driving connection between said valve body and said driving member, a pair of movable valve elements in said valve body, a valve seat registering with each valve element, said piston and cylinder cooperating to define a pair of opposed pressure chambers, a pressure inlet port, a first pressure passage extending from said inlet port to one pressure chamber and a second pressure passage extending from said inlet port to the other pressure chamber, each valve seat and its cooperating valve element defining one of said pressure passages, each valve element being adapted to be actuated by said steering shaft whereby said valve elements are moved into and out of registry with respect to their valve seats thereby controlling the degree of pressure distribution from said inlet port to said pressure chambers, each valve element being a ball engageable with said steering shaft, a circular valve member defining said valve seat surrounding each ball valve element and defining a valve seat adapted to register with said ball valve, the center of each circular valve member being in fluid communication with said pressure inlet port whereby fluid pressure is distributed from said inlet port through said valve seats to said pressure chambers.

Claim 5

A steering mechanism for use in maintaining control of the dirigible wheels of a vehicle comprising a driving member, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a steering shaft, a connection between said driving member and said piston whereby rotary motion of said driving member effects reciprocating motion of said piston, a valve body, said steering shaft being mounted within said valve body, a driving connection between said valve body and said driving member, a pair of movable valve elements in said valve body, a valve seat registering with each valve element, said piston and cylinder cooperating to define a pair of opposed pressure chambers, a pressure inlet port, a first pressure passage extending from said inlet port to one pressure chamber and a second pressure passage extending from said inlet port to the other pressure chamber, each valve seat and its cooperating valve element defining one of said pressure passages, said valve elements being engageable with said steering shaft whereby the latter actuates said valve elements into and out of registry with respect to their valve seats thereby controlling the degreE of pressure distribution from said pressure port to said pressure chambers, and spring means for providing a yieldable connection between said steering shaft and said valve body whereby deflection of said steering shaft with respect to said valve body during turning maneuvers is opposed by a yielding force of said spring means thereby introducing a steering force sensation, each valve element being a ball engageable with said steering shaft, a circular valve member defining said valve seat surrounding each ball valve element and defining a valve seat adapted to register with said ball valve, the center of each circular valve member being in fluid communication with said pressure inlet port whereby fluid pressure is distributed from said inlet port through said valve seats to said pressure chambers.

Claim 6

A steering mechanism for use in maintaining control of the dirigible wheels of a vehicle comprising a driving member, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a steering shaft, a connection between said driving member and said piston whereby rotary motion of said driving member effects reciprocating motion of said piston, a valve body, said steering shaft being mounted within said valve body, a driving connection between said valve body and said driving member, a pair of movable valve elements in said valve body, a valve seat registering with each valve element, said piston and cylinder cooperating to define a pair of opposed pressure chambers, a pressure inlet port, a first pressure passage extending from said inlet port to one pressure chamber and a second pressure passage extending from said inlet port to the other pressure chamber, each valve seat and its cooperating valve element defining one of said pressure passages, said valve elements being engageable with said steering shaft whereby the latter actuates said valve elements into and out of registry with respect to their valve seats thereby controlling the degreE of pressure distribution from said pressure port to said pressure chambers, and spring means for providing a yieldable connection between said steering shaft and said valve body whereby deflection of said steering shaft with respect to said valve body during turning maneuvers is opposed by a yielding force of said spring means thereby introducing a steering force sensation, each valve element being a ball engageable with said steering shaft, a circular valve member defining said valve seat surrounding each ball valve element and defining a valve seat adapted to register with said ball valve, the center of each circular valve member being in fluid communication with said pressure inlet port whereby fluid pressure is distributed from said inlet port through said valve seats to said pressure chambers.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each valve element is a ball engageable with said steering shaft, an circular valve member defining said valve member surrounding each ball valve element and defining a valve seat adapted to register with said ball valve, the center of each circular valve member being in fluid communication with said pressure inlet port whereby fluid pressure is distributed from said inlet port through said valve seats to said pressure chambers.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said circular valve member is adapted to be adjusted under the influence of fluid pressure in a direction transverse to the axis of said steering shaft, and means for limiting the degree of adjustment to provide a normally open valve seat permitting fluid circulation through said valve members when said steering shaft is centered with respect to said valve body.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said circular valve member is adapted to be adjusted under the influence of fluid pressure in a direction transverse to the axis of said steering shaft, and means for limiting the degree of adjustment to provide a normally open valve seat permitting fluid circulation through said valve members when said steering shaft is centered with respect to said valve body.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said circular valve member is adapted to be adjusted under the influence of fluid pressure in a direction transverse to the axis of said steering shaft, and means for limiting the degree of adjustment to provide a normally open valve seat permitting fluid circulation through said valve members when said steering shaft is centered with respect to said valve body.