Yoke apparatus for rack and pinion
US5845532A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 2, 1996 |
| Grant date | Dec 8, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 2, 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 along an adjustment axis. 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. In addition, elastomeric means for compliantly biasing the bearing disc in a lateral direction orthogonal to a plane defined by the adjustment and translation axes toward a preferred central location are disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.