GB1581227A - Rack and pinion gear assembly - Google Patents

Rack and pinion gear assembly Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB1581227A
GB1581227A GB1932876A GB1932876A GB1581227A GB 1581227 A GB1581227 A GB 1581227A GB 1932876 A GB1932876 A GB 1932876A GB 1932876 A GB1932876 A GB 1932876A GB 1581227 A GB1581227 A GB 1581227A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
pinion
rack
casing
cylinder
assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
GB1932876A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TRW Steering Systems Ltd
Original Assignee
TRW Steering Systems Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TRW Steering Systems Ltd filed Critical TRW Steering Systems Ltd
Priority to GB1932876A priority Critical patent/GB1581227A/en
Priority to DE19772720813 priority patent/DE2720813A1/en
Priority to IT2337577A priority patent/IT1078695B/en
Priority to FR7714449A priority patent/FR2351328A1/en
Publication of GB1581227A publication Critical patent/GB1581227A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H19/00—Gearings comprising essentially only toothed gears or friction members and not capable of conveying indefinitely-continuing rotary motion
    • F16H19/02—Gearings comprising essentially only toothed gears or friction members and not capable of conveying indefinitely-continuing rotary motion for interconverting rotary or oscillating motion and reciprocating motion
    • F16H19/04—Gearings comprising essentially only toothed gears or friction members and not capable of conveying indefinitely-continuing rotary motion for interconverting rotary or oscillating motion and reciprocating motion comprising a rack
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D3/00—Steering gears
    • B62D3/02—Steering gears mechanical
    • B62D3/12—Steering gears mechanical of rack-and-pinion type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D5/00—Power-assisted or power-driven steering
    • B62D5/06—Power-assisted or power-driven steering fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle
    • B62D5/20—Power-assisted or power-driven steering fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle specially adapted for particular type of steering gear or particular application
    • B62D5/22—Power-assisted or power-driven steering fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle specially adapted for particular type of steering gear or particular application for rack-and-pinion type
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H55/00—Elements with teeth or friction surfaces for conveying motion; Worms, pulleys or sheaves for gearing mechanisms
    • F16H55/02—Toothed members; Worms
    • F16H55/26—Racks
    • F16H55/28—Special devices for taking up backlash
    • F16H55/283—Special devices for taking up backlash using pressure yokes

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)

Description

(54) RACK AND PINION GEAR ASSEMBLY (71) We, CAM GEARS LIMITED, a British Company, of 45 Wilbury Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 OTU, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a rack and pinion gear assembly, and particularly to a rack and pinion steering gear assembly for a vehicle.
In previously proposed vehicle steering gear assemblies of the rack and pinion type, the pinion is disposed on either the righthand or left-hand side of the rack bar central region. If the pinion is disposed at the central region of the rack bar there is of course the advantage that the steering gear assembly can be fitted either to a left-hand or righthand drive vehicle. However, when the pinion is centrally mounted in this way difficulties can arise in adjusting the degree of mesh of the rack and pinion gears.
It is an aim of the invention to at least reduce this difficulty, and accordingly there is provided a rack and pinion gear assembly in which the rack and the pinion each has its respective support mounting; the assembly comprising resilient spacing means located between the two support mountings, and mesh adjustment means operable to vary the separation distance of the two support mountings against the action of the spacing means to adjust the degree of mesh of the rack and pinion.
In a preferred assembly, the rack support mounting may comprise a cylinder through which the rack bar slides, and the pinion support mounting may comprise a housing surrounding a portion of the rack cylinder.
The spacing means may consist of spacing rings made of resilient material which are located in recesses in an inner surface of the pinion housing.
The mesh adjustment means may be in screw-threaded engagement with the pinion housing to bear upon the rack cylinder whereby screw-threaded adjustment of the spacing means provides the necessary adjustment of the rack and pinion mesh.
Two rack and pinion steering gear assemblies of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of part of one gear assembly; Figure 2 is a section along the line 2 - 2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section of another steering gear assembly of the invention, and Figure 4 is a section along the line 4 - 4 of Figure 3.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, one rack and pinion steering gear assembly of the invention includes a rack housing cylinder 2 through which extends a rack bar 4, supported in end housings 6 located at opposite ends of the cylinder. The rack bar 4, is slidably movable relative to the cylinder 2, and is supported in bearings 8 and associated seals 10 located in the cylinder end housings 6.
The rack bar 4, is provided with lateral gear teeth 12 over its central portion, and the rack bar ends are articulately connected to tie rods 14 through which steering movement of the rack bar 4 is transmitted to the vehicle road wheels. Sealing bags or bellows (not shown) enclose the rack bar ends to exlude dust and other foreign matter.
Pistons 16 in which are housed respective piston rings 18, are mounted to the rack bar 4, at either end of its central toothed portion, for slidable movement within the rack housing cylinder 2, and these pistons 16, the end housings 6 and the housing cylinder 2 define two hydraulic pressure chambers 20. When the vehicle steering wheel (not shown) is turned hydraulic fluid is directed by a suit-.
able control valve 22 to an appropriate one of the chambers 20 to provide power assistance to the required movement of the rack bar 4.
A pinion shaft 26 has longitudinal teeth which engage the teeth 12 of the rack bar 4.
The shaft 26 extends through the control valve 22 and is splined at 24 for connection to a steering column (not shown). The pinion 26 passes through co-linear apertures 27 in the rack cylinder 2, and is rotatably mounted in a pinion casing 28, by means of bearings 30. The pinion casing 28 is in the form of a tubular jacket which surrounds the rack cylinder 2, and is secured by bolts to the control valve 22. The pinion casing 28 is spaced from the rack cylinder 2, by two spacing rings 30 made of a resilient material such as microcellular polyurethane which are housed in annular recesses in the inner surface of the pinion casing 28 to bear upon the rack cylinder 2.
Two pegs 32 are pressed or screwed into the wall of the pinion casing 28 to project into respective holes in the rack cylinder 2; these pegs 32 being located along a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rack cylinder 2. An adjustable peg 34 is screwed into the pinion casing 28 to project into a dimple in the rack cylinder wall diametrically opposite to the two pegs 32. The rack cylinder 2 and the pinion casing 28 are dimensioned so that there is a radial clearance of for example 0.50 mm between the outer surface of the rack cylinder 2 and the inner surface of the pinion casing 28 when they are coaxial. A lock nut 36 is mounted on the outer end of the screw-threaded peg.
The apertures 27 in the rack cylinder 2 have a radius greater than that of the pinion 26 passing through the apertures 27 so that the pinion can be adjusted towards or away from the rack bar 4 without fouling the rack cylinder wall. If the peg 34 is partly screwed in the pinion casing 28, the spacing rings 30 ensure that the pinion casing 28 and rack cylinder 2 are substantially coaxial. If the respective teeth of the rack bar 4 and the pinion 26 do not fully engage when the rack cylinder 2 and pinion casing 28 are coaxial, then the peg 34 is screwed further into the pinion casing 28 to bear against the rack cylinder 2 thereby moving the pinion casing 28 downwardly relative to the rack cylinder 2 as illustrated in Figure 1. It will be appreciated that this relative movement of the pinion casing 28 and rack cylinder 2 increases the degree of engagement of the rack and pinion teeth. When the correct degree of engagement has been achieved, the lock nut 36 is screwed tightly against the pinion casing 28 to maintain this correct degree of tooth engagement.
A modified rack and pinion gear system is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, and for clarity the same components will be given the same reference numerals as in the system of Figures 1 and 2.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the modified gear assembly differs from the assembly of Figures 1 and 2 only in the means for adjusting the degree of engagement of the rack and pinion teeth. A yoke housing 38 is screwed into the pinion casing 28 to project through an adjacent hole in the rack cylinder 2. A yoke 40 is slideably mounted in the yoke housing 38, and is biassed by a compression spring 42 to bear against the rack bar 4 opposite the rack teeth.
To increase the degree of engagement of the rack and pinion teeth, the yoke housing 38 is screwed further into the pinion casing 28 thereby pulling down the pinion casing relative to the rack cylinder 2. It will be appreciated that this relative movement of the pinion casing and rack cylinder increases the degree of engagement of the rack and pinion teeth. When the correct degree of tooth engagement has been established, a lock nut 44 mounted on the yoke housing 38 is tightened against the pinion casing 28 to maintain the correct degree of tooth engagment.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A rack and pinion gear assembly in which the rack and the pinion each has its respective support mounting; the assembly comprising resilient spacing means located between the two support mountings, and mesh adjustment means operable to vary the separation distance of the two support mountings against the action of the spacing means to adjust the degree of mesh of the rack and pinion.
2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which the rack support mounting comprises a cylinder through which the rack bar slides, and the pinion support mounting comprises a housing surrounding a portion of the rack cylinder.
3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2, in which the spacing means comprises spacing rings made of resilient material which are located in recesses in an inner surface of the pinion housing.
4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the mesh adjustment means is in screw-threaded engagement with the pinion housing.
5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4, in which the mesh adjustment means is operable to provide the necessary adjustment of the rack and pinion mesh by bearing on the rack cylinder.
6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which the mesh adjustment means is a peg screwed into the pinion housing.
7. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4, in which the mesh adjustment means is operable to provide the necessary adjustment of
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. able control valve 22 to an appropriate one of the chambers 20 to provide power assistance to the required movement of the rack bar 4. A pinion shaft 26 has longitudinal teeth which engage the teeth 12 of the rack bar 4. The shaft 26 extends through the control valve 22 and is splined at 24 for connection to a steering column (not shown). The pinion 26 passes through co-linear apertures 27 in the rack cylinder 2, and is rotatably mounted in a pinion casing 28, by means of bearings 30. The pinion casing 28 is in the form of a tubular jacket which surrounds the rack cylinder 2, and is secured by bolts to the control valve 22. The pinion casing 28 is spaced from the rack cylinder 2, by two spacing rings 30 made of a resilient material such as microcellular polyurethane which are housed in annular recesses in the inner surface of the pinion casing 28 to bear upon the rack cylinder 2. Two pegs 32 are pressed or screwed into the wall of the pinion casing 28 to project into respective holes in the rack cylinder 2; these pegs 32 being located along a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rack cylinder 2. An adjustable peg 34 is screwed into the pinion casing 28 to project into a dimple in the rack cylinder wall diametrically opposite to the two pegs 32. The rack cylinder 2 and the pinion casing 28 are dimensioned so that there is a radial clearance of for example 0.50 mm between the outer surface of the rack cylinder 2 and the inner surface of the pinion casing 28 when they are coaxial. A lock nut 36 is mounted on the outer end of the screw-threaded peg. The apertures 27 in the rack cylinder 2 have a radius greater than that of the pinion 26 passing through the apertures 27 so that the pinion can be adjusted towards or away from the rack bar 4 without fouling the rack cylinder wall. If the peg 34 is partly screwed in the pinion casing 28, the spacing rings 30 ensure that the pinion casing 28 and rack cylinder 2 are substantially coaxial. If the respective teeth of the rack bar 4 and the pinion 26 do not fully engage when the rack cylinder 2 and pinion casing 28 are coaxial, then the peg 34 is screwed further into the pinion casing 28 to bear against the rack cylinder 2 thereby moving the pinion casing 28 downwardly relative to the rack cylinder 2 as illustrated in Figure 1. It will be appreciated that this relative movement of the pinion casing 28 and rack cylinder 2 increases the degree of engagement of the rack and pinion teeth. When the correct degree of engagement has been achieved, the lock nut 36 is screwed tightly against the pinion casing 28 to maintain this correct degree of tooth engagement. A modified rack and pinion gear system is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, and for clarity the same components will be given the same reference numerals as in the system of Figures 1 and 2. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the modified gear assembly differs from the assembly of Figures 1 and 2 only in the means for adjusting the degree of engagement of the rack and pinion teeth. A yoke housing 38 is screwed into the pinion casing 28 to project through an adjacent hole in the rack cylinder 2. A yoke 40 is slideably mounted in the yoke housing 38, and is biassed by a compression spring 42 to bear against the rack bar 4 opposite the rack teeth. To increase the degree of engagement of the rack and pinion teeth, the yoke housing 38 is screwed further into the pinion casing 28 thereby pulling down the pinion casing relative to the rack cylinder 2. It will be appreciated that this relative movement of the pinion casing and rack cylinder increases the degree of engagement of the rack and pinion teeth. When the correct degree of tooth engagement has been established, a lock nut 44 mounted on the yoke housing 38 is tightened against the pinion casing 28 to maintain the correct degree of tooth engagment. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. A rack and pinion gear assembly in which the rack and the pinion each has its respective support mounting; the assembly comprising resilient spacing means located between the two support mountings, and mesh adjustment means operable to vary the separation distance of the two support mountings against the action of the spacing means to adjust the degree of mesh of the rack and pinion.
2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which the rack support mounting comprises a cylinder through which the rack bar slides, and the pinion support mounting comprises a housing surrounding a portion of the rack cylinder.
3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2, in which the spacing means comprises spacing rings made of resilient material which are located in recesses in an inner surface of the pinion housing.
4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the mesh adjustment means is in screw-threaded engagement with the pinion housing.
5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4, in which the mesh adjustment means is operable to provide the necessary adjustment of the rack and pinion mesh by bearing on the rack cylinder.
6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which the mesh adjustment means is a peg screwed into the pinion housing.
7. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4, in which the mesh adjustment means is operable to provide the necessary adjustment of
the rack and pinion mesh by bearing on the rack.
8. An assembly as claimed in Claim 7, in which the mesh adjustment means includes a yoke biased into engagement with the rack.
9. An assembly as claimed in Claim 8, in which the yoke is slidably located in a yoke housing screwed into the pinion housing.
10. A rack and pinion gear assembly substantially as herein described and shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
GB1932876A 1976-05-11 1976-05-11 Rack and pinion gear assembly Expired GB1581227A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1932876A GB1581227A (en) 1976-05-11 1976-05-11 Rack and pinion gear assembly
DE19772720813 DE2720813A1 (en) 1976-05-11 1977-05-09 RACK DRIVE FOR A VEHICLE STEERING GEAR
IT2337577A IT1078695B (en) 1976-05-11 1977-05-10 RACK AND PINION STEERING COMPLEX
FR7714449A FR2351328A1 (en) 1976-05-11 1977-05-11 RACK GEAR DEVICE

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1932876A GB1581227A (en) 1976-05-11 1976-05-11 Rack and pinion gear assembly

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB1581227A true GB1581227A (en) 1980-12-10

Family

ID=10127524

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1932876A Expired GB1581227A (en) 1976-05-11 1976-05-11 Rack and pinion gear assembly

Country Status (4)

Country Link
DE (1) DE2720813A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2351328A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1581227A (en)
IT (1) IT1078695B (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2155141A (en) * 1984-02-27 1985-09-18 Trw Cam Gears Ltd Rack and pinion gear assembly
GB2378163A (en) * 2001-07-06 2003-02-05 Visteon Global Tech Inc Rack-and -pinion steering mechanism for an automotive vehicle
CN102328687A (en) * 2011-08-03 2012-01-25 华南理工大学 Automobile hydraulic power-assisting active steering gear
CN102442341A (en) * 2011-12-15 2012-05-09 徐浩钟 Hydraulic plunger type steering transmission device

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2020776B (en) * 1978-05-08 1982-09-08 Cam Gears Ltd Rack and pinion gear housing
DE102010048341A1 (en) * 2010-10-13 2012-04-19 Gm Global Technology Operations Llc (N.D.Ges.D. Staates Delaware) Front axle support for vehicle, has steering gear, rack housing and toothed rack, where rack housing is rigidly connected with front axle support and forms carrier component of front axle support

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2155141A (en) * 1984-02-27 1985-09-18 Trw Cam Gears Ltd Rack and pinion gear assembly
GB2378163A (en) * 2001-07-06 2003-02-05 Visteon Global Tech Inc Rack-and -pinion steering mechanism for an automotive vehicle
GB2378163B (en) * 2001-07-06 2003-07-16 Visteon Global Tech Inc Steering mechanism for an automotive vehicle
US6722465B2 (en) 2001-07-06 2004-04-20 Visteon Global Technologies, Inc Steering mechanism for an automotive vehicle
CN102328687A (en) * 2011-08-03 2012-01-25 华南理工大学 Automobile hydraulic power-assisting active steering gear
CN102442341A (en) * 2011-12-15 2012-05-09 徐浩钟 Hydraulic plunger type steering transmission device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2351328B3 (en) 1980-02-29
DE2720813A1 (en) 1977-11-24
IT1078695B (en) 1985-05-08
FR2351328A1 (en) 1977-12-09

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PS Patent sealed
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee