Pressure distributor valve construction for power steering gear mechanisms

Claim 1

A power steering gear assembly comprising a cylinder, a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in said cylinder, a driven shaft mounted for rotary motion about an axis transversely disposed with respect to the direction of motion of said piston, a geared connection between said piston And said driven shaft, said driven shaft being adapted to be connected to driven portions of a power steering system, a driving shaft disposed within said piston, a threaded connection between said driving shaft and said piston whereby rotary motion of said driving shaft produces an axial force on said piston, a steering shaft, a torsion rod defining in part a motion transmitting connection from said steering shaft to said driven shaft, a valve spool surrounding said steering shaft, a valve housing, a valve chamber in said housing receiving said valve spool, said valve spool having formed thereon valve lands adapted to register with internal valve lands in said valve chamber which are in fluid communication with said cylinder on either side of said piston, a spool valve actuator ring having a marginal portion surrounding one end of said driving shaft, a sliding connection between said steering shaft and said ring including registering teeth on said steering shaft and on said ring, said teeth extending generally axially in the direction of the axis of said steering shaft, a threaded connection between a portion of said driving shaft and said actuator ring whereby rotary motion of said actuator ring relative to said driving shaft effects axial motion of said actuator ring relative to said steering shaft, and a valve spring means for biasing said valve spool against said actuator ring whereby said valve spool follows the motion of said actuator ring upon deflection of said torsion rod.