Steering mechanism

Claim 2

A steering device comprising a first bevel gear and a steering spindle secured thereto for manual rotation thereof; a second bevel gear supported in mesh with said first bevel gear for rotation thereby and of larger diameter so as to effect a predetermined mechanical advantage ratio; a nut secured to said second bevel gear and rotative therewith; a steering actuator rod passing through said nut and means whereby said rod is supported to be reciprocally and nonrotatively movable; a thread engagement means intermediate said nut and rod whereby rotation of said nut in either direction effects linear movement of said rod in a respective direction; rotation of said steering spindle thus effecting movement of said rod to achieve a vehicle steering force; and housing means comprising a first and second elongated housing sections joined in axial relationship with a third housing section therebetween; a thrust support wall extending transversely across the plane of juncture of said second and third housing sections; said first housing section having a chamber for housing and supporting said first bevel gear with the rotational axis thereof normal to the axis of said other housing sections; said third housing section and transverse wall effecting a chamber for housing and supporting said nut whereby said second bevel gear is supported in mesh engagement with said first bevel gear.

Claim 3

A hydraulic steering device comprising a first bevel gear and a steering spindle secured thereto for manual rotation thereof; a second bevel gear supported in mesh with said first bevel gear for rotation thereby and of larger diameter so as to effect a predetermined mechanical advantage rotio; a nut secured to said second bevel gear and rotative therewith; a steering actUator rod passing through said nut and means whereby said rod is supported to be reciprocally and non-rotatively movable; a thread engagement means intermediate said nut and rod whereby rotation of said nut in either direction effects linear movement of said rod in a respective direction; rotation of said steering spindle thus effecting manual effort movement of said rod to achieve a vehicle steering force; a housing, and said rod extending sealingly into said housing, said rod being adapted for connection to a steering mechanism; means sealing said housing for holding pressure fluid; a piston on said rod, and said housing and said piston effecting a double acting pressure cylinder to drive said rod by fluid pressure in one direction and the opposite direction for steering a vehicle independently of manual effort.

Claim 4

A hydraulic steering device comprising a first bevel gear and a steering spindle secured thereto for manual rotation thereof; a second bevel gear supported in mesh with said first bevel gear for rotation thereby and of larger diameter so as to effect a predetermined mechanical advantage rotio; a nut secured to said second bevel gear and rotative therewith; a steering actUator rod passing through said nut and means whereby said rod is supported to be reciprocally and non-rotatively movable; a thread engagement means intermediate said nut and rod whereby rotation of said nut in either direction effects linear movement of said rod in a respective direction; rotation of said steering spindle thus effecting manual effort movement of said rod to achieve a vehicle steering force; a housing, and said rod extending sealingly into said housing, said rod being adapted for connection to a steering mechanism; means sealing said housing for holding pressure fluid; a piston on said rod, and said housing and said piston effecting a double acting pressure cylinder to drive said rod by fluid pressure in one direction and the opposite direction for steering a vehicle independently of manual effort.

Claim 5

A hydraulic steering device comprising a first bevel gear and a steering spindle secured thereto for manual rotation thereof; a second bevel gear supported in mesh with said first bevel gear for rotation thereby and of larger diameter so as to effect a predetermined mechanical advantage ratio; a nut secured to said second bevel gear and rotative therewith; a steering actuator rod passing through said nut and means whereby said rod is supported to be reciprocally and non-rotatively movable; a thread engagement means intermediate said nut and rod whereby rotation of said nut in either direction effects linear movement of said rod in a respective direction; rotation of said steering spindle thus effecting movement of said rod to achieve a vehicle steering force by manual effort, including a housing and said actuator rod having a portion slidably movable therein; a piston on said actuator rod and said housing effecting a pressure fluid chamber means for driving said piston; said housing effecting support of said gears and said pressure chamber means having flow communication for pressure fluid access to said gears and nut for lubrication thereof, wherein said piston can effect movement of said rod under fluid pressure independently of manual effort.

Claim 6

A hydraulic steering device comprising a first bevel gear and a steering spindle secured thereto for manual rotation thereof; a second bevel gear supported in mesh with said first bevel gear for rotation thereby and of larger diameter so as to effect a predetermined mechanical advantage ratio; a nut secured to said second bevel gear and rotative therewith; a steering actuator rod passing through said nut and means whereby said rod is supported to be reciprocally and non-rotatively movable; a thread engagement means intermediate said nut and rod whereby rotation of said nut in either direction effects linear movement of said rod in a respective direction; rotation of said steering spindle thus effecting movement of said rod to achieve a vehicle steering force by manual effort, including a housing and said actuator rod having a portion slidably movable therein; a piston on said actuator rod and said housing effecting a pressure fluid chamber means for driving said piston; said housing effecting support of said gears and said pressure chamber means having flow communication for pressure fluid access to said gears and nut for lubrication thereof, wherein said piston can effect movement of said rod under fluid pressure independently of manual effort.

Claim 7

A hydraulic steering device comprising a first bevel gear and a steering spindle secured thereto for manual rotation thereof; a second bevel gear supported in mesh with said first bevel gear for rotation thereby and of larger diameter so as to effect a predetermined mechanical advantage ratio; a nut secured to said second bevel gear and rotative therewith; a steering actuator rod passing through said nut and means whereby said rod is supported to be reciprocally and non-rotatively movable; a thread engagement means intermediate said nut and rod whereby rotation of said nut in either direction effect linear movement of said rod in a respective direction; rotation of said steering spindle thus effecting movement of said rod to achieve a vehicle steering force; and a housing having a first chamber for housing and supporting said first bevel gear; said housing having a second chamber for housing and supporting said nut whereby said second bevel gear is supported in mesh engagement with said first bevel gear; said housing having a fluid pressure cylinder portion and said actuator rod having a piston therein dividing said housing portion into pressure chambers for driving said piston by hydraulic fluid, one said pressure chamber being between said piston and said nut and means effecting flow communication of hydraulic fluid therefrom to said nut and bevel gears for lubrication thereof.

Claim 8

A hydraulic steering device comprising a first bevel gear and a steering spindle secured thereto for manual rotation thereof; a second bevel gear supported in mesh with said first bevel gear for rotation thereby and of larger diameter so as to effect a predetermined mechanical advantage ratio; a nut secured to said second bevel gear and rotative therewith; a steering actuator rod passing through said nut and means whereby said rod is supported to be reciprocally and non-rotatively movable; a thread engagement means intermediate said nut and rod whereby rotation of said nut in either direction effect linear movement of said rod in a respective direction; rotation of said steering spindle thus effecting movement of said rod to achieve a vehicle steering force; and a housing having a first chamber for housing and supporting said first bevel gear; said housing having a second chamber for housing and supporting said nut whereby said second bevel gear is supported in mesh engagement with said first bevel gear; said housing having a fluid pressure cylinder portion and said actuator rod having a piston therein dividing said housing portion into pressure chambers for driving said piston by hydraulic fluid, one said pressure chamber being between said piston and said nut and means effecting flow communication of hydraulic fluid therefrom to said nut and bevel gears for lubrication thereof.

Claim 9

A steering device comprising a first bevel gear and a steering spindle secured thereto for manual rotation thereof; a second bevel gear supported in mesh with said first bevel gear for rotation thereby and of larger diameter so as to effect a predetermined mechanical advantage ratio; a nut secured to said second bevel gear and rotative therewith; a steering actuator rod passing through said nut and means whereby said rod is supported to be reciprocally and non-rotatively movable; a thread engagement means intermediate said nut and rod whereby rotation of said nut in either direction effects linear movement of said rod in a respective direction; rotation of said steering spindle thus effecting movement of said rod to achieve a vehicle steering force; including an elongated housing having a central portion accommodating said gears and nut and having ends extending therefrom in opposite directions; said rod having an end extending into one of said housing ends and having a grooved member, said one housing end having a rail coacting with said grooved member whereby said rod is non-rotative; said rod being reciprocally sealed in said one end; the other end of said rod extending exteriorly through the other end of said housing and emerging therefrom with a seal in said other end of said housing sealing said other rod; said other rod end being free for connection to a steering mechanism.

Claim 10

A steering device comprising a first bevel gear and a steering spindle secured thereto for manual rotation thereof; a second bevel gear supported in mesh with said first bevel gear for rotation thereby and of larger diameter so as to effect a predetermined mechanical advantage ratio; a nut secured to said second bevel gear and rotative therewith; a steering actuator rod passing through said nut and means whereby said rod is supported to be reciprocally and non-rotatively movable; a thread engagement means intermediate said nut and rod whereby rotation of said nut in either direction effects linear movement of said rod in a respective direction; rotation of said steering spindle thus effecting movement of said rod to achieve a vehicle steering force; including an elongated housing having a central portion accommodating said gears and nut and having ends extending therefrom in opposite directions; said rod having an end extending into one of said housing ends and having a grooved member, said one housing end having a rail coacting with said grooved member whereby said rod is non-rotative; said rod being reciprocally sealed in said one end; the other end of said rod extending exteriorly through the other end of said housing and emerging therefrom with a seal in said other end of said housing sealing said other rod; said other rod end being free for connection to a steering mechanism.