US4271716A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Loading mechanism for rack and pinion steering
Assignee: Renault SA
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Filing: 1979-05-30
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Granted: 1981-06-09
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Expires: 1999-05-30
Abstract
Abstract A loading mechanism in which the portion of the loading mechanism facing the rack carries a cradle consisting of a support upon which are fashioned two oval-shaped bearing races and a retainer for securing alternately loaded and non-loaded ball-bearings. The retainer includes slots allowing the loaded ball-bearings to contact the rack.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Jacques Carduner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:02
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C29/00; F16C29/04; F16C29/06; F16C29/0614; F16C29/0616; B; B62; B62D; B62D3/00; B62D3/02; B62D3/12; B62D3/123; F16C29/002; F16H; F16H19/00; F16H19/02; F16H19/04; F16H55/00; F16H55/02; F16H55/26; F16H55/28; F16H55/283; F16H55/285; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/1967
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A vehicle steering mechanism including a housing, a drive pinion extending into said housing, a rack moveable within said housing and engageable with said drive pinion and a loading mechanism moveably supporting said rack within said housing, said loading mechanism comprising: a fixed ball-bearing support having two oval-shaped longitudinal tracks; a plurality of ball-bearings disposed in and substantially filling said tracks, said ball-bearings contacting said rack at two areas of contact on said tracks; and a ball-bearing retainer located between said ball-bearing support and said rack, said support and said retainer forming a cradle, said ball bearing retainer including retainer tabs secured to said ball bearing support to form a pre-assembled unit; wherein said ball-bearings are alternately loaded and unloaded as they move through said areas of contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A vehicle steering mechanism including a housing, a drive pinion extending into said housing, a rack moveable within said housing and engageable with said drive pinion and a loading mechanism moveably supporting said rack within said housing, said loading mechanism comprising: a fixed ball-bearing support having two oval-shaped longitudinal tracks; a plurality of ball-bearings disposed in and substantially filling said tracks, said ball-bearings contacting said rack at two areas of contact on said tracks; and a ball-bearing retainer located between said ball-bearing support and said rack, said support and said retainer forming a cradle, said ball bearing retainer including retainer tabs secured to said ball bearing support to form a pre-assembled unit; wherein said ball-bearings are alternately loaded and unloaded as they move through said areas of contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The loading mechanism of claim 1, wherein said rack is disposed in a housing and said loading mechanism further comprises a concave disk disposed within said housing, said concave disk including a peripheral lip which contacts said rack housing in an airtight manner, and said cradle resting upon said disk.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The loading mechanism of claims 1 or 2 wherein each of said tracks consists of two straight portions and two curved portions which connect the extremities of said straight portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The loading mechanism of claim 3 wherein said ball-bearing retainer is in the shape of a "V", the legs of which comprise slots exposing the balls which are in said areas of contact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The loading mechanism of claim 1 wherein said ball-bearing retainer has ratchet cells fitted over said ball-bearings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The loading mechanism of claim 1 wherein said loading mechanism is retained in said housing of said steering mechanism by means of a torsion spring consisting of an elastic coil rolled around an axis affixed to said housing, the extremities of said spring pressing upon said loading mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB949061A
Cited
FR1314946A
Cited
FR1487363A
Cited
US3436132A
Cited
GB1337523A
Cited
FR2139460A5
Cited
US3747429A
Cited
US3897982A
Cited
GB2013304A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-06-08 | 1984-12-08 | 1985-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-08 | 1988-12-08 | 1989-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-08 | 1992-12-08 | 1993-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |