Patent · US Active

Mesh control for a rack and pinion steering system

US7775135B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
45References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 28, 2005
Grant dateAug 17, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 27, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/1967
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A steering mechanism is provided, including a rack, a rotatable support member, and an automatically-adjustable support member. The rack includes a rack gear portion and the pinion includes a pinion gear portion coupled with the rack gear portion. The rotatable support member is positioned with respect to the rack or the pinion such that rotation of the rotatable support member adjusts an overlap distance between the rack gear portion and the pinion gear portion. The automatically-adjustable support member automatically urges together the rack and the pinion along an urging direction. The urging direction remains substantially constant throughout the rotation of the rotatable support member within a desired angular range.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.