Reaction torque generator for vehicle steering system

Claim 1

A reaction torque generator for a steering system for a vehicle having a manually rotatable steering shaft and source means operative to supply fluid at a pressure which increases with the vehicle speed, said generator comprising: a casing defining therein a chamber having a first stop formed on the inner surface thereof; a shaft having a first section rotatable within said chamber and a second section sealingly extending externally through said casing for rotatable engagement with the steering shaft, said first section having a second stop formed thereon and arranged such that the steering shaft is in a position to steer the vehicle in a straight line when said first and second stops are angularly aligned; and first and second members slidably disposed in said chamber, each being exposed at one end thereof to fluid from the source means, said first member being engagable at its other end with the sides of said first and second stops facing in one direction about the axis of said shaft and said second member being engagable with the sides of said first and second stops facing in the opposite direction about the axis of said shaft to urge said second stop toward angular alignment with said first stop.