Yoke apparatus for rack and pinion
US5802919A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 8, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/1967
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A yoke assembly for a rack and pinion steering system includes a bearing disc member having a pair of bearing surfaces for slidingly supporting and urging the rack toward the pinion. The bearing disc member is kinematically supported by an elastomeric member. The elastomeric forces are conically applied toward an apex located well within the rack and away from the bearing surfaces. This results in the bearing disc member rotating slightly in a contra-pitch direction and forming a lubrication wedge whenever the rack moves along its axis of translation. The yoke assembly is of a compact design that can be substituted for the yoke assembly of any conventional rack and pinion steering system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.