Patent US4095482A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4095482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rack and pinion steering apparatus
Assignee: Volkswagen AG
•
Filing: 1976-11-22
•
Granted: 1978-06-20
•
Expires: 1996-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A rack and pinion steering apparatus is provided with a compression spring mechanism bearing against the rack and urging the rack into engagement with a pinion connected to the steering wheel. The compressing spring mechanism is maintained against the pinion with a self-adjusting mechanism for removing play resulting from wear.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Kirschner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:20
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H55/00; F16H55/02; F16H55/26; F16H55/28; F16H55/283; B; B62; B62D; B62D3/00; B62D3/02; B62D3/12; B62D3/123; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/1967
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
Steering appartus for a motor vehicle comprising a housing, a rack, displaceable along a longitudinal axis and engaged with a rotatable pinion in said housing, compression spring means in said housing urging said rack into engagement with said pinion and having an adjusted compression distance, and a self-adjusting mechanism arranged between said compression means and said housing, for eliminating play between said compression means and said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
Steering appartus for a motor vehicle comprising a housing, a rack, displaceable along a longitudinal axis and engaged with a rotatable pinion in said housing, compression spring means in said housing urging said rack into engagement with said pinion and having an adjusted compression distance, and a self-adjusting mechanism arranged between said compression means and said housing, for eliminating play between said compression means and said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
Steering apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said compression means comprises a pressure member for contacting said rack, a base in contact with said self-adjusting mechanism, a spring urging said pressure member and said base apart by said compression distance and a screw arranged between said pressure member and said base for adjusting said compression distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
Steering apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said self-adjusting mechanism comprises a self-locking screw, arranged to have an effective screw length between said housing and said compression means, and a prestressed spring acting upon said screw to urge said screw into a greater effective screw length thereby to eliminate play between said compression means and said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3623379A
Cited
US3630099A
Cited
US3792624A
Cited
US3844181A
Cited
US3844182A
Cited
US3979968A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-06-19 | 1981-12-19 | 1982-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-19 | 1985-12-19 | 1986-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-19 | 1989-12-19 | 1990-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |