US3646852A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Detent mechanism for rack and pinion power steering
Assignee: Bendix Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-17
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Granted: 1972-03-07
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Expires: 1990-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A rack and pinion power-steering unit is disclosed which includes a detent mechanism that couples the sleeve used in units of this type to the rack when the vehicle wheels are turned in one direction, but permits relative movement between the rack and the sleeve when the vehicle wheels are turned in the opposite direction. The detent includes a spherical force transmitting element which is normally carried in a recess in the housing, but which is urged into a position interconnecting the sleeve and the rack when the wheels of the vehicle are turned in the one direction. When the vehicle wheels are turned in the opposite direction, the force-transmitting element couples the sleeve to the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin A Shields
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:41
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D5/00; B62D5/06; B62D5/20; B62D5/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
In a power-steering mechanism: a housing defining a bore therewithin: a double-acting piston slidable in said bore defining first and second chambers between opposite sides of the piston and corresponding ends of the bore; an elongated rack movable with said piston; a rotatable pinion meshing with said rack for concomitantly moving the latter and said piston in the same direction with reference to a base position; means for rotating said pinion; means for selectively admitting pressurized fluid into said chambers upon rotation of said pinion to act against said piston to assist movement of said rack; a sleeve coaxial with said rack and movable with the latter when the rack is moved in one direction with reference to said base position; and coupling means releasably joining said sleeve to said rack during movement of the latter in said one direction and during return of the rack to said base position after movement in said one direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
In a power-steering mechanism: a housing defining a bore therewithin: a double-acting piston slidable in said bore defining first and second chambers between opposite sides of the piston and corresponding ends of the bore; an elongated rack movable with said piston; a rotatable pinion meshing with said rack for concomitantly moving the latter and said piston in the same direction with reference to a base position; means for rotating said pinion; means for selectively admitting pressurized fluid into said chambers upon rotation of said pinion to act against said piston to assist movement of said rack; a sleeve coaxial with said rack and movable with the latter when the rack is moved in one direction with reference to said base position; and coupling means releasably joining said sleeve to said rack during movement of the latter in said one direction and during return of the rack to said base position after movement in said one direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 1: said coupling means locking said sleeve against movement relative to the housing when the rack is moved in said other direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention of claim 1: said coupling means including an opening in said sleeve, a force-transmitting element in said opening and means on said rack for engaging said force-transmitting elements to thereby couple the sleeve to the rack.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 3; and the wall of said bore being provided with an axially extending groove, a recess, and a ramp interconnecting the recess and the groove; said force-transmitting element being forced up said ramp and into said groove upon movement of the rack from said base position in said one direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention of claim 3: said force-transmitting element being a sphere.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention of claim 5: said engaging means being a recess in said rack adapted to receive said force-transmitting element; said force-transmitting element being forced through the opening in the sleeve into the recess in the rack upon movement of the latter in said one direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The invention of claim 5: the wall of said bore having a recess; said force-transmitting element being dispoSed in said recess when the rack is disposed in said bore position or moved in said other direction; the depth of the recess in the bore being less than the diameter of the force-transmitting element whereby the latter projects from the last-named recess into the recess in the sleeve thereby locking the sleeve against movement relative to the bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The invention of claim 7: the wall of said bore being provided with a groove extending axially from the recess in the bore and a ramp interconnecting the recess and the groove; the depth of the groove being substantially less than the depth of the recess; said force-transmitting element being forced up said ramp and into said groove upon movement of the rack from said base position in said one direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
The invention of claim 8; and abutment means projecting from said rack adapted to engage the sleeve upon movement of the rack away from the base position in said one direction; said engaging means being a recess in said rack positioned to overlie the recess in the sleeve when the abutment means engages the latter; said force-transmitting element having a diameter greater than the bottom of the groove and the inner surface of the sleeve whereby the force-transmitting element extends into the recess in the rack to couple the sleeve to the rack for movement therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-07 | 1975-09-06 | 1976-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-07 | 1979-09-06 | 1980-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-07 | 1983-09-06 | 1984-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |