Power steering system
First Claim
1. A power steering system for linearly displacing a tie rod for actuating at least one wheel of a vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a rack member extending in a longitudinal direction and coupled to said tie rod;
(b) a rack housing being displaceable in said longitudinal direction responsive to engagement of said rack member and said rack housing;
(c) elastic displacement means coupled to said rack housing and a frame of said vehicle for returning said rack housing to a predetermined position subsequent to said rack housing displacement;
(d) power drive means coupled to said rack housing being actuatably responsive to said rack housing displacement; and
,(e) displacement means coupled to said power drive means and said tie rod for responsive movement of said tie rod upon actuation of said power means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved power steering system for displacing a tie rod connected to a wheel of a vehicle for rotational actuation of the vehicle wheel. Rotational actuation of a steering wheel of the vehicle correspondingly rotatively displaces a pinion gear mounted within a rack housing. The pinion gear matingly engages rack teeth of a rack member which is slidingly mounted within the rack housing. Relative displacement between the rack housing and vehicle frame actuates a hydraulic valve secured to the frame of the vehicle. Actuation of the hydraulic valve permits fluid under pressure to egress from the hydraulic valve through one of two outlet ports. The high pressure fluid is inserted into a power cylinder which drives a cylinder rod in a longitudinal direction. The cylinder rod is secured to a stabilizer tube mechanism which has a fork member secured to a movable element of the stabilizer tube and extending in a transverse direction to the longitudinal direction. The fork member is secured to an inner ball joint socket on the end of the rack for reversibly displacing the rack and two tie rods in the longitudinal direction.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A power steering system for linearly displacing a tie rod for actuating at least one wheel of a vehicle, comprising:
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(a) a rack member extending in a longitudinal direction and coupled to said tie rod; (b) a rack housing being displaceable in said longitudinal direction responsive to engagement of said rack member and said rack housing; (c) elastic displacement means coupled to said rack housing and a frame of said vehicle for returning said rack housing to a predetermined position subsequent to said rack housing displacement; (d) power drive means coupled to said rack housing being actuatably responsive to said rack housing displacement; and
,(e) displacement means coupled to said power drive means and said tie rod for responsive movement of said tie rod upon actuation of said power means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification