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US4560023A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Power assisted steering gear

Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1984-07-12
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Granted: 1985-12-24
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Expires: 2004-07-12
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Abstract

Abstract A rack and pinion steering gear mechanism for a wheeled vehicle comprising an input shaft, a rotary fluid pressure control valve and a drive pinion for a rack wherein the pinion is located between the input shaft and the valve and wherein the pinion has a central opening for receiving therethrough a valve actuator rod and a torsion bar that connects the input shaft to the pinion.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ian G. Kirby

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 11:15
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D5/00; B62D5/06; B62D5/20; B62D5/22

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 114 words
A power assisted steering gear having a pinion meshing with a steering rack, an input shaft and a control valve for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid which, in use, moves the rack, the pinion and rack being positioned between the input shaft and the valve, the pinion being hollow and accommodating a torsion bar, the steering gear further comprising an input shaft extension which connects the input shaft to the valve, one end of the torsion bar being rotationally fast with respect to the input shaft and the other end being rotationally fast with respect to the pinions, the torsion bar being tubular, and the input shaft extension passing through the torsion bar.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 114 words
A power assisted steering gear having a pinion meshing with a steering rack, an input shaft and a control valve for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid which, in use, moves the rack, the pinion and rack being positioned between the input shaft and the valve, the pinion being hollow and accommodating a torsion bar, the steering gear further comprising an input shaft extension which connects the input shaft to the valve, one end of the torsion bar being rotationally fast with respect to the input shaft and the other end being rotationally fast with respect to the pinions, the torsion bar being tubular, and the input shaft extension passing through the torsion bar.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB1234032A Cited
US4010815A Cited
US4063490A Cited
US4391342A Cited
US4459896A Cited
US4449601A Cited
US4488475A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-12-23 1989-06-24 1989-12-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-12-23 1993-06-24 1993-12-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-12-23 1997-06-24 1997-12-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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