Patent US3756340A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3756340A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering mechanism for motor vehicles
Assignee: Adwest Engineering Ltd
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Filing: 1972-05-03
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1992-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering mechanism for a motor vehicle, the mechanism comprising a housing, a pinion rotatably mounted in the housing and adapted for connection to the steering control of a motor vehicle for rotation thereby, a rack assembly reciprocable within the housing and adapted for connection to the steerable road wheels of a motor vehicle to impart steering thereto, the rack assembly comprising two pistons spaced from one another and a toothed rack pivotally mounted eccentrically of said pistons, the rack assembly being free to rotate about the axis of the pistons to engage the teeth of the toothed rack with the pinion and the toothed rack being free to pivot about an axis parallel with the axis of the pistons to ensure proper meshing of the teeth of the toothed rack with the teeth of the pinion, and means urging the toothed rack into engagement with the pinion.
Inventors
- 👤 B Millard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:19
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D5/00; B62D5/06; B62D5/20; B62D5/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering mechanism for a motor vehicle, the mechanism comprising a housing, a pinion rotatably mounted in the housing and adapted for connection to the steering control of a motor vehicle for rotation thereby, a rack assembly reciprocable within said housing and adapted for connection to the steerable road wheels of a motor vehicle to impart steering thereto, the rack assembly comprising two pistons spaced from one another and a toothed rack mounted between said pistons, the rack assembly being rotatable about the axis of said pistons to engage the teeth of the toothed rack with the pinion and the toothed rack being rotatable about an axis parallel with the axis of the pistons to align the teeth of the toothed rack with the teeth of thE pinion, and means urging the toothed rack into engagement with the pinion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering mechanism for a motor vehicle, the mechanism comprising a housing, a pinion rotatably mounted in the housing and adapted for connection to the steering control of a motor vehicle for rotation thereby, a rack assembly reciprocable within said housing and adapted for connection to the steerable road wheels of a motor vehicle to impart steering thereto, the rack assembly comprising two pistons spaced from one another and a toothed rack mounted between said pistons, the rack assembly being rotatable about the axis of said pistons to engage the teeth of the toothed rack with the pinion and the toothed rack being rotatable about an axis parallel with the axis of the pistons to align the teeth of the toothed rack with the teeth of thE pinion, and means urging the toothed rack into engagement with the pinion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A steering mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the toothed rack is pivotally connected to each of said pistons by way of a pivot pin inserted into a bore in the piston.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A steering mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a tie bar is provided which connects said pistons one with the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A steering mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a piston rod is associated with each said piston, said piston rods extending in opposite directions and being adapted for connection to the steerable road wheels of a motor vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
A steering mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the means urging the toothed rack into engagement with the pinion comprises a pad having a planar face portion engaging a face portion of the toothed rack and a hemispherical seat portion, a support member having a hemispherical seating in which is received the seat portion of said pad, and a helical compression spring interposed between said support member and said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A steering mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the toothed rack is capable of limited axial movement relative to said pistons.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A steering mechanism according to claim 6, wherein a thrust washer is interposed between each of said pistons and the toothed rack.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A steering mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a balancing bar is provided which extends between said pistons, the balancing bar being located diametrically opposite the toothed rack.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A steering mechanism according to claim 8, wherein a thrust washer is interposed between each of said pistons and the balancing bar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
A steering mechanism according to claim 1, comprising a hollow piston rod associated with each piston, a tie bar extending through apertures provided centrally of said pistons and through said hollow piston rods, and a nut housed in that end of each piston rod remote from its associated piston and making screw-threaded engagement with the adjacent end portion of said tie bar to connect said pistons together.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A steering mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the tie bar is of non-circular cross-section and extends through a complementary aperture in each piston, thereby preventing relative rotation between the pistons and the tie bar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A steering mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the toothed rack has a cross-sectional configuration such that it partially embraces the tie bar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |