GB2165332A - Rack and pinion steering mechanism - Google Patents

Rack and pinion steering mechanism Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2165332A
GB2165332A GB08524345A GB8524345A GB2165332A GB 2165332 A GB2165332 A GB 2165332A GB 08524345 A GB08524345 A GB 08524345A GB 8524345 A GB8524345 A GB 8524345A GB 2165332 A GB2165332 A GB 2165332A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
rack bar
rack
yoke
pinion
housing
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08524345A
Other versions
GB8524345D0 (en
Inventor
Kunio Takeuchi
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.)
Tokai TRW and Co Ltd
Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
Original Assignee
Tokai TRW and Co Ltd
TRW Inc
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 Tokai TRW and Co Ltd, TRW Inc filed Critical Tokai TRW and Co Ltd
Publication of GB8524345D0 publication Critical patent/GB8524345D0/en
Publication of GB2165332A publication Critical patent/GB2165332A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • 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
    • B62D3/123—Steering gears mechanical of rack-and-pinion type characterised by pressure yokes
    • 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
    • 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
    • F16H55/285—Special devices for taking up backlash using pressure yokes with rollers or balls to reduce friction

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

Abstract

A rack and pinion steering mechanism comprises a housing 11, a pinion 10 rotatably supported within said housing and having one end connected to a steering wheel (not shown), a rack bar 13 having teeth 14 in engagement with the pinion 10 and having opposite ends to which wheels are connected, and support means supporting the side of said rack bar 13 opposite from the rack teeth 14. The support means comprises a yoke 20 movably supported within said housing 11 for engaging and disengaging from said rack bar 13 and having a rack bar abutment face 23. A roller 21 rotatably supported within the housing 11 has a rack bar abutment face 24. A spring 22 normally biases the yoke 20 to cause said rack bar abutment face 23 on the yoke to contact the rack bar 13, whereby when a low load is applied to said rack bar 13 the rack bar is supported solely by the rack bar abutment face 23 on the yoke, and when a high load is applied the rack bar 13 moves against the force of said spring 22 so as to be supported by the rack bar abutment face 24 on said roller 21. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rack and pinion steering mechanism This invention relates to improvements in rack and pinion steering mechanisms and more particularly, to support means for supporting the side of a rack bar opposite from a pinion.
Generally, in a rack and pinion steering mechanism comprising a pinion connected to a steering wheel and a rack bar having Rack teeth meshing the pinion and the opposite ends to which wheels are connected, it has been known that means adapted to support the side of the rack bar opposite from the pinion is provided.
When the vehicle runs straight, it is desirable that such support means applies a suitable frictional force to the rack bar to impart a suitable degree of load to the steering wheel.
As the vehicle is turned with the load applied to the steering wheel, the frictional force decreases gradually resulting in gradual reduction in the load applied to the steering wheel.
Conventionally, such support means has been so designed that a support member is caused to frictionally or rollably contact the rack bar and the frictional or rolling engagement is maintained even when the rack bar moves over the full displacement distance or when the vehicle runs straight and is then turned sharply. However, with such a conventional support means, when the support member is caused to frictionally contact the rack bar, there is a drawback in that both at the time of straight running and of full steering, a high load is applied to the steering wheel such as to lower the steering efficiency.On the other hand, when the support member is caused to rollably contact the rack bar, there is a drawback in that the steering wheel is rotated quite lightly to the extent that a suitable degree of load is not applied to the steering wheel, this resulting in unstable support of the rack bar.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved rack and pinion steering mechanism which can effectively eliminate the drawbacks inherent in the prior art rack and pinion steering mechanism referred to hereinabove and which can fully satisfy the above-mentioned demand.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved rack and pinion steering mechanism having a high steering efficiency.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved rack and pinion steering mechanism wherein damage and wear of the support means of the rack bar can be eliminated.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, according to the present invention, when the rack bar has a high load applied thereto, the roller rollably contacts the rack bar to support the rack bar and when the steering wheel has a low load applied thereto, the yoke frictionally contacts the rack bar to support the rack bar.
Other object, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a vertically sectional view of the steering mechanism according to the present invention showing the supporting condition of the rack bar when a low load is applied the bar; and Figure 2 is a similar to Fig. 1, but shows the supporting condition of the rack bar when a high load is applied to the bar.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a rack and pinion steering mechanism embodying the present invention.
The rack and pinion steering mechanism comprises a pinion 10. The pinion 10 is rotatably supported in a housing 11 and has one end 1 0a to which a steering wheel (not shown) is connected through a suitable shaft (not shown). A rack 12 meshes with the pinion 10. The rack 12 consists of a rack bar 13 and rack teeth 14 formed on one side of the rack bar for engagement with teeth on the pinion 10. Wheels (not shown) are connected to the opposite ends of the rack bar 13 through a suitable link means.
Support means for supporting the rack bar 13 is provided within the housing 11 and the support means is positioned to support the side of the rack bar 13 opposite from the rack teeth 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the support means consists of a yoke 20 mounted within the housing 11 for movement to engage and disengage from the rack bar 13, a roller 21 rotatably mounted within the housing 11 and urging means normally urging the yoke 20 towards to the rack bar 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the urging means comprises a coil spring 22. The urging means may be a hydraulic means.
The yoke 20 has a rack bar abutment face 23 and the roller 21 has a rack bar abutment face 24. The abutment faces 23 and 24 comprise concaves corresponding to the periphery of the rack bar. The spring 22 contacts at one end one end of the yoke 20 and is supported at the other end by urging-force controlling means. The controlling means comprises a spring receiving cap 25. The cap 25 is secured to the housing 11 by means of screws. A force of the spring is controlled by rotating the cap 25. The cap is fixed to the housing by a ring 40. The roller 21 is rotatably supported on a pin 26 through a bearing 30. The pin 26 is in turn secured to a bearing 27. The bearing 27 is secured to the cap 25 by means of a bolt 28.
When a low load is applied to the rack bar 13, the spring 22 urges the rack bar 13 against the pinion 10 as shown in Fig. 1 whereby the rack abutment face 23 on the yoke 20 contacts the rack bar 13 and the rack bar abutment face 24 on the roller 21 disengages from the rack bar 13. Thus, the rack bar 13 is solely supported by the yoke 20. When a high load is applied to the rack bar 13, the rack bars 13 tend to disengage from the pinion 10 against the force of the spring 22 such as to principally contact the rack bar abutment faces 24 on the roller 21 and principally be supported by the roller 21 (Fig. 2).
The arrangement is attained by suitably setting the strength of the spring and the position of the roller.
Generally, when the vehicle runs straight, the rack bar has a low load applied thereto and as the vehicle is turned, the load applied to the rack bar increases gradually.
Thus, according to the present invention, when the vehicle runs straight (when a low load is applied to the rack bar), only the yoke 20 resiliently and frictionally supports the rack bar and when the vehicle is turned or the rack bar has a high load applied thereto, the roller 21 supports the rack bar.
Therefore, according to the present invention, when the vehicle runs straight, since the yoke frictionally contacts the rack bar to support the bar and when the vehicle is turned, the roller rollably contacts the rack bar to support the bar, the steering efficiency is high and the parts of the support means are relatively free from wear and/or damage.
While there has been disclosed a particular embodiment of the present invention, other embodiments will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and, accordingly, this invention should be considered to be limited in scope only by the accompanying claims.

Claims (4)

1. A rack and pinion steering mechanism comprising a housing, a pinion rotatably supported within said housing and having one end connected to a steering wheel, a rack bar having teeth in engagement with said pinion and having the opposite ends to which wheels are connected and support means supporting the side of said rack bar opposite from said rack teeth on the rack bar, said support means having a yoke movably supported within said housing for engaging and disengaging from said rack bar and having a rack bar abutment face, a roller rotatably supported within said housing and having a rack bar abutment face and urging means biasing said yoke to cause said rack bar abutment face on the yoke to contact said rack bar.
2. The rack and pinion steering mechanism of Claim 1 wherein said support means has urging-force controlling means for controlling a yoke biasing force of the urging means.
3. The rack and pinion steering mechanism of Claim 1 wherein said urging means comprises a coil spring.
4. The rack and pinion steering mechanism of Claim 1 wherein said rack bar abutment faces of the yoke and roller comprise concaves corresponding to the periphery of the rack bar.
GB08524345A 1984-10-06 1985-10-02 Rack and pinion steering mechanism Withdrawn GB2165332A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP59210232A JPS6189168A (en) 1984-10-06 1984-10-06 Rack-pinion steering mechanism

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8524345D0 GB8524345D0 (en) 1985-11-06
GB2165332A true GB2165332A (en) 1986-04-09

Family

ID=16585969

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08524345A Withdrawn GB2165332A (en) 1984-10-06 1985-10-02 Rack and pinion steering mechanism

Country Status (5)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS6189168A (en)
KR (1) KR860003133A (en)
AU (1) AU4819785A (en)
DE (1) DE3535552A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2165332A (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19647797A1 (en) 1996-11-19 1998-05-20 Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Rack and pinion power steering
DE10049548B4 (en) * 1999-10-06 2007-03-22 Honda Giken Kogyo K.K. Electric power steering device
DE102004051494A1 (en) * 2004-10-21 2006-04-27 Thyssenkrupp Presta Steertec Gmbh steering gear

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2096729A (en) * 1981-03-24 1982-10-20 Cam Gears Ltd A rack bar and pinion assembly and a steering gear including such an assembly

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2096729A (en) * 1981-03-24 1982-10-20 Cam Gears Ltd A rack bar and pinion assembly and a steering gear including such an assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS6189168A (en) 1986-05-07
KR860003133A (en) 1986-05-21
AU4819785A (en) 1986-04-10
DE3535552A1 (en) 1986-04-10
GB8524345D0 (en) 1985-11-06

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)