Improvements in rack-and-pinion systems

Claim 2

A rack-and-pinion system including a rack and a toothed pinion in mutual meshing engagement, said rack comprising: a rigid longitudinal base having a proximal face with respect to the pinion; and a resilient longitudinal element having: a distal face with respect to the pinion, which distal face rests upon and is fixed to said proximal face of the said rigid longitudinal base, and a proximal face with respect to the pinion, which proximal face is shaped into corrugations adapted to engage the teeth of the pinion.

Claim 3

System as claimed in claim 1, wherein said proximal face of the rigid longitudinal base, and said distal face of the resilient longitudinal element which rests thereupon, are also both shaped into corrugations having the same pitch as and coextensive with the said corrugations of said proximal face of the resilient longitudinal element.

Claim 4

System as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rigid longitudinal base comprises a strip of corrugated sheet-metal having a proximal face with respect to the pinion, whereupon the said resilient longitudinal element rests, and a distal face with respect to the pinion.

Claim 5

System as claimed in claim 3, wherein said distal face of the strip of corrugated sheet-metal bounds a space, said system further comprising vibration-damping material filling said space.

Claim 6

System as claimed in claim 2, wherein the thickness of the said resilient longitudinal element, measured between the two corrugated faces of said element, is variable along a corrugation.

Claim 7

System as claimed in claim 5, wherein the thickness of the said resilient element is at a minimum in the region where the pitch circle of the pinion meets the rack, and increases from said region towards both the crest and the root of The said corrugation.

Claim 8

System as claimed in claim 1, wherein said proximal face of the rigid longitudinal base, and said distal face of the resilient longitudinal element which rests thereupon, are both substantially planar.

Claim 9

System as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lining which coats the said corrugated proximal face of the resilient longitudinal element, via which lining said corrugated face engages the teeth of the pinion.

Claim 10

System as claimed in claim 8, wherein said lining is made of hardened rubber-based material.

Claim 11

System as claimed in claim 8, wherein said lining comprises a strip of corrugated sheet-metal.

Claim 12

System as claimed in claim 10, wherein said strip of sheet-metal is of substantially uniform thickness.

Claim 13

System as claimed in claim 10, wherein said rigid longitudinal base comprises a substantially planar strip of sheet-metal which together with said strip of corrugated sheet-metal defines a space, which space is filled with said resilient longitudinal element.

Claim 14

System as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rack is coated with a substance which has a low coefficient of friction with respect to the teeth of the pinion.

Claim 15

System as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rack has a number of sections placed end-to-end, and wherein two consecutive sections of said rack are interconnected in the root region of a corrugation.

Claim 16

System as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rack has a number of sections placed end-to-end, and wherein two consecutive sections of said rack are interconnected in the crest region of a corrugation.

Claim 17

System as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilient longitudinal element is made of rubber-based material.

Claim 18

System as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilient longitudinal element is made of resilient silicone-based material.

Claim 19

A rack-and-pinion system for use as a means for driving a machine along a track, said system comprises a toothed pinion carried by the machine and a rack disposed along the track, said pinion and rack being in mutual meshing engagement, said rack comprising: a rigid longitudinal base having a proximal face with respect to the pinion; and a resilient longitudinal element having: a distal face with respect to the pinion, which distal face rests upon and is fixed to said proximal face of the said rigid longitudinal base, and a proximal face with respect to the pinion, which proximal face is shaped into corrugations adapted to engage the teeth of the pinion.

Claim 20

A rack-and-pinion system for use as a means for driving a machine along a track, said system comprises a toothed pinion carried by the machine and a rack disposed along the track, said pinion and rack being in mutual meshing engagement, said rack comprising: a rigid longitudinal base having a proximal face with respect to the pinion; and a resilient longitudinal element having: a distal face with respect to the pinion, which distal face rests upon and is fixed to said proximal face of the said rigid longitudinal base, and a proximal face with respect to the pinion, which proximal face is shaped into corrugations adapted to engage the teeth of the pinion.