US3908479A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable ratio rack and pinion power steering gear
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-12-10
•
Granted: 1975-09-30
•
Expires: 1993-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A rack and pinion power steering gear for small sports type cars having a conventional rack and pinion with a ratio changing gear floating between them. The ratio changing gear is a conventional circular gear having an eccentrically positioned pin carried in bearings which are arranged to slide in slots centered on and aligned with a perpendicular to the rack passing through the center of the pinion. The ratio changing gear is proportioned to make one revolution for approximately full stroke of the rack. The pinion is proportioned to give the number of steering wheel turns desired from lock-to-lock. The eccentricity of the shaft predetermines the effective ratios at the center and at the locks. A modified form of the invention employs a swinging yoke to position the ratio changing gear on an arc which approximates the aforesaid perpendicular.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley I Macduff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:21
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D5/00; B62D5/06; B62D5/20; B62D5/22; B62D3/00; B62D3/02; B62D3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A vehicle steering gear comprising: a housing having walls; a pinion gear rotatable in said housing; a rack spaced from the pinion gear and slidable in said housing; and a ratio changing gear positioned between the rack and the pinion gear, said ratio changing gear having an eccentric pin, and means in engagement with said housing to constrain said eccentric pin to move in a path approximating a line perpendicular to the pitch line of said rack and passing through the center of said pinion gear.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A vehicle steering gear comprising: a housing having walls; a pinion gear rotatable in said housing; a rack spaced from the pinion gear and slidable in said housing; and a ratio changing gear positioned between the rack and the pinion gear, said ratio changing gear having an eccentric pin, and means in engagement with said housing to constrain said eccentric pin to move in a path approximating a line perpendicular to the pitch line of said rack and passing through the center of said pinion gear.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said means comprises slots in the walls of said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of clAim 1 in which said means comprises slots in the walls of said housing and bearing blocks journaled on said eccentric pin and slidable in said slots.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention of claim 3 in which the steering gear includes a power cylinder having a piston and a piston rod attached to said rack, an input shaft, and valve means for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to said power cylinder interposed between said input shaft and said pinion gear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said means comprises a yoke having said eccentric pin journaled in one end and having the other end of the yoke swingably attached to said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 5 in which said yoke constrains said eccentric pin to move in an arc having said perpendicular line forming a chord thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention of claim 6 in which the steering gear includes a power cylinder having a piston and a piston rod attached to said rack, an input shaft, and valve means for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to said power cylinder interposed between said input shaft and said pinion gear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the steering gear includes a power cylinder having a piston and a piston rod attached to said rack, an input shaft, and valve means for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to said power cylinder interposed between said input shaft and said pinion gear.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
The invention of claim 8 in which said valve means comprises: the said housing being formed with a valve bore intersected by pump ports and cylinder ports; a rotor formed integrally with said pinion gear and having longitudinal slots; a sleeve in sealing engagement with said valve bore surrounding the rotor, said sleeve being formed with cooperating longitudinal slots forming selective fluid paths with the slots of said rotor, and having annular grooves on its outer surface communicating fluid to said pump ports and cylinder ports; said sleeve and rotor having adjacent ends formed with aligned slots; the said input shaft having a spline formed across its end in operative engagement with the slots of the sleeve and rotor; a bearing seated in said valve bore and supporting said input shaft; and a torsion bar interconnecting said valve rotor and said input shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A steering gear comprising a housing, a rack positioned in the housing, a pinion positioned in the housing and spaced from said rack, and ratio varying means positioned between and in engagement with said rack and pinion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A steering gear comprising a housing, a rack positioned in the housing, a pinion positioned in the housing and spaced from said rack, and ratio varying means positioned between and in engagement with said rack and pinion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention of claim 10 in which said ratio varying means is a gear having an eccentric rotational axis, and means to constrain said eccentric axis to move in a path approximating a line perpendicular to the pitch line of said rack and intersecting the center of said pinion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 11 in which said means includes an element having linear sliding engagement with said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2973658A
Cited
US3064491A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |