Abstract A power steering apparatus in which an oil pump is selectively connected to opposite chambers of a power steering cylinder by an operation valve driven by a steering handle. The operation valve comprises a rotary disk enclosed in a valve chamber having supply and return lines in one side surface thereof, the disk having fluid conducting openings in the form of through bores to connect the supply and return lines together in a neutral steering position, and to connect them respectively to the opposite chambers in the power steering cylinder in right and left steering positions. The opposite side surface of the valve chamber is formed with areas on which the oil acts which are symmetrical with the supply and return openings at the other side of the valve chamber and these areas are in communication with the supply and return openings via through bores in the rotary disk.
Power steering apparatus for a vehicle comprising a fluid pump, a power steering cylinder having a piston with chambers on opposite sides thereof, an operation valve driven by a steering handle and regulating flow from the pump to said chambers to effect corresponding steering of the vehicle, said operation valve comprising a rotary disk enclosed in a valve chamber having fluid supply and fluid return openings in one side surface thereof, said disk having fluid conducting openings communicating the fluid supply and return openings in a neutral steering position, and respectively connecting the supply and return openings with said chambers of said power steering cylinder in left and right steering positions, said conducting openings being through bores passing through the rotary disk, said valve chamber having an opposite side surface on the other side of said rotary disk, which opposite side surface is provided with openings which are symmetrical with said supply and return openings and have the same areas there as to balance forces acting on opposite sides of said disk, said disk having further circular bores therein providing communication between said supply and return openings and the symmetrical opeNings in the opposite side surface of the valve chamber, said supply and return openings having enlarged diameters where they open into said valve chamber, said openings in said opposite side surface of the valve chamber being equal in diameter to the enlarged diameters of the supply and return openings, said supply and return openings being grouped in diametrically opposed pairs at right angles to one another, said fluid conducting bores in said disk having the same diameter as the enlarged diameters of the supply and return openings and in said neutral steering position overlap said openings whereby fluid passes from the supply to the return openings without passing to the power steering cylinder, said fluid conducting bores being also grouped in diametrically opposed pairs at right angles to one another, said further bores communicating the supply and return openings with the symmetrical openings in the opposite side surface of the valve chamber are disposed between respective fluid conducting bores, and said openings in said opposite side surface of the valve chamber being constituted as circular cavities.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
367 words
Power steering apparatus for a vehicle comprising a fluid pump, a power steering cylinder having a piston with chambers on opposite sides thereof, an operation valve driven by a steering handle and regulating flow from the pump to said chambers to effect corresponding steering of the vehicle, said operation valve comprising a rotary disk enclosed in a valve chamber having fluid supply and fluid return openings in one side surface thereof, said disk having fluid conducting openings communicating the fluid supply and return openings in a neutral steering position, and respectively connecting the supply and return openings with said chambers of said power steering cylinder in left and right steering positions, said conducting openings being through bores passing through the rotary disk, said valve chamber having an opposite side surface on the other side of said rotary disk, which opposite side surface is provided with openings which are symmetrical with said supply and return openings and have the same areas there as to balance forces acting on opposite sides of said disk, said disk having further circular bores therein providing communication between said supply and return openings and the symmetrical opeNings in the opposite side surface of the valve chamber, said supply and return openings having enlarged diameters where they open into said valve chamber, said openings in said opposite side surface of the valve chamber being equal in diameter to the enlarged diameters of the supply and return openings, said supply and return openings being grouped in diametrically opposed pairs at right angles to one another, said fluid conducting bores in said disk having the same diameter as the enlarged diameters of the supply and return openings and in said neutral steering position overlap said openings whereby fluid passes from the supply to the return openings without passing to the power steering cylinder, said fluid conducting bores being also grouped in diametrically opposed pairs at right angles to one another, said further bores communicating the supply and return openings with the symmetrical openings in the opposite side surface of the valve chamber are disposed between respective fluid conducting bores, and said openings in said opposite side surface of the valve chamber being constituted as circular cavities.