Abstract: To provide a simple and quality improving manufacturing process for a bearing shell, particularly for rotatable and, to a limited extent, tiltable support of a ball pivot in a joint housing of a ball-and-socket joint comprising a one-piece ball socket (1) made of plastic, in which a ball above and below its equatorial plane (6) is supportable in form-fit manner at least in a spherical zone (7) along the inner surface (3) of the ball socket (1), it is proposed to provide the ball socket (1), which has a closed lateral surface (8), with elastically deformable segments (2) extending substantially meridionally in axial direction. Furthermore proposed is a ball-and-socket joint with a bearing shell (1) formed in this manner.

Abstract: To provide a particularly simple and cost effective design of a power-assisted steering unit for motor vehicles for supplying a servo-cylinder (3) with a hydraulic fluid as a function of the travelling speed and the steering rate, comprising a steering valve (1) by means of which the left and right chambers (16, 17) of the servo-cylinder (3) can be pressurized with hydraulic fluid via a pump (2) when there is a steering movement, and a bypass valve (10) connected in parallel to the servo-cylinder (3), by means of which a portion of the hydraulic fluid for pressurizing the servo-cylinder (3) that is directed past the servo-cylinder (3) is controlled, a throttling unit (26) is connected in series with the bypass valve (10). The hydraulic fluid inflow or return flow of the servo-cylinder (3) flows through this throttling unit (26) depending on the steering direction.

Abstract: A apparatus for use with an open center steering valve (3) of a hydraulic power-assisted steering unit of a motor vehicle. The apparatus comprises an electric motor operated pump (5) and a hydraulic accumulator (7) for storing a pressurized quantity of hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic accumulator (7) is hydraulically connected to the pump (5). The pump (5) supplies the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic accumulator (7). The apparatus further comprises a valve arrangement (10) for controlling hydraulic fluid flow from the hydraulic accumulator (7). The valve arrangement (10) has a riser (25), a slide valve (19), a valve seat (21), and an electromagnet. The riser (25) is hydraulically connected to the pump (5). The valve seat (21) has an opening which hydraulically connects the riser (25) and the hydraulic accumulator (7).

Abstract: To improve a rack and pinion steering of the generic type to reduce noise development upon opening of the pressure-relief bore as well as in steady-state operation, the invention proposes that at least one filter element forming a flow resistance be inserted between the additional bore and the pressure connection.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for manufacturing a ball joint composed of a ball-ended spindle (1), bearing shell (2) and socket, provided with a sealing boot (4) arranged between the socket and ball-ended spindle (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, by means of extrusion coating, with plastic in a split injection mold (6) the ball-ended spindle (1) provided with a bearing shell (2) placed on the ball (11). In order to create a ball joint which can withstand high stress and limit the assembly work required to complete the same, the housing-side opening bead (41) of the sealing boot (4) is positioned on the bearing shell (2), before loading the ball-ended spindle (1) in the injection mold (6), and is located between the bearing shell (2) and housing (3) by means of an extrusion coating.

Abstract: A shaft seal seals a shaft in a hydraulic steering valve. The seal is a sealing ring surrounding the shaft. The sealing ring has a sealing edge contacting the outer surface of the shaft to form a seal. The sealing edge extends circumferentially around the outer surface of the shaft in a sinusoidal fashion. The sealing ring has first and second surfaces which extend radially outward from the sealing edge and which diverge relative to each other as they extend radially outward from the sealing edge. The first and second surfaces extend entirely circumferentially around the outer surface of the shaft. The first surface extends at a constant first angle relative to said sealing edge throughout the entire circumferential extent of the first surface and the second surface extends at a constant second angle relative to the sealing edge throughout the entire circumferential extent of the second surface.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of manufacturing a joint housing, in particular for vehicle track rods, having an integral shaft with an internal thread designed to hold a longitudinal pin, the housing being produced from a blank with a ball-like enlargement at one end. In order to ensure low manufacturing costs and low consumption of energy and materials, a longitudinal cavity with a diameter exceeding that of the internal thread and a length exceeding that of the threaded section is first produced in the shaft of the blank by rearwards cup extrusion and the diameter of the threaded section subsequently reduced to that of the thread core while at the same time shaping the surface of the wall to give a flat key face, the overall process being a cold-forming one. Finally, both the external and internal features of the housing are produced by heading, cupping, punching and forming to size perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the region of the enlargement.

Abstract: A ball joint, particularly a steering joint for motor vehicles, with a joint housing (1) having a spherical ring-shaped bearing surface (1b), in which a ball (2c) arranged on a ball pin (2) is seated so as to be able to rotate and tilt to a limited extent and which is closed off by a lid (3) which is formed in the initial state with an outer diameter exceeding the inner diameter of a smooth-walled cylindrical drillhole (1a) of the joint housing (1) and which in the installed state is supported at its rim (3c) in a force fit on the inner surface of the smooth-walled cylindrical drillhole (1a) in the joint housing (1), characterized in that the lid (3) is formed with a spherical ring-shaped bearing surface (3a) for the ball (2c) on the side of the ball equator away from the spherical ring-shaped bearing surface (1b) of the joint housing (1).

Abstract: In order to reduce the number of components required and increase the service life by preventing friction resulting from large-diameter seals, a steering valve (1) is provided which has a closed center for supplying hydraulic pressure to an actuator and which comprises an input shaft (2), an output shaft (3), a torsionally resilient element (11) which is connected at one end to the input shaft (2) and at the other end to the output shaft (3), a control pressure switching arrangement (4), and an axial force conversion unit (19-23), wherein at least one hydraulic line (15) guides reaction pressure in the input shaft (2).

Abstract: A steering mechanism has an input shaft 2, a steering valve 1, an output shaft 3, and a torsionally elastic element 5. The input shaft 2 has a first longitudinal axis about which the input shaft 2 is rotatable, the input shaft 2 being rotatable about the first longitudinal axis to effect the steering of a vehicle. An end of the input shaft 2 is located in the steering valve 1. The output shaft 3 has a second longitudinal axis coaxial with the first longitudinal axis and a first end adjacent the end of the input shaft 2. The torsionally elastic element 5 flexibly connects the first end of the output shaft 3 and the end of the input shaft 2 such that the input 2 and output 3 shafts are able to rotate relative to each other about the first and the second longitudinal axes, respectively, during vehicle steering. The torsionally elastic element 5 includes a plurality of separately arranged strips 8, 9, 10 & 11 located in the steering valve 1.

Abstract: A steering valve (30) directs hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid source to a hydraulic cylinder of a steering system in a vehicle. The steering valve includes a rotatable first shaft (32) having a first face valve member (36) on an end portion of the first shaft and a rotatable second shaft (34) having a second face valve member (50) on an end portion of the second shaft. The first face valve member (36) includes a plurality of channels (40, 42) fluidly connected with the hydraulic cylinder and the second face valve member (50) includes a plurality of passages (54, 56) fluidly connected with the hydraulic fluid source. A rotatable intermediate disk (70) is located between the first and second face valve members (36, 50). The intermediate disk (70) includes a plurality of axially extending bores (80a-80d) for fluidly connecting the plurality of channels (40, 42) with the plurality of passages (54, 56).

Abstract: A rotary slide steering valve (1) for supplying an actuator with hydraulic pressure, has an input shaft (2), an output shaft (3), a centering spring element (4) connected to the input shaft (2) and to the output shaft (3) and a valve element. The valve element comprises at least two elements that can be turned relative to one another and comprise control bores for supplying and returning a hydraulic medium as well as a hydraulic medium line to and a hydraulic medium return line from both sides of the actuator. All control bores of the valve element which are assigned to one another are exclusively arranged within a region of opposing end faces of the input shaft (2) and the output shaft (3) and directly connected to pressure medium connections on a housing side of the rotary slide steering valve. The input shaft (2) and the output shaft (3) comprise a disk-shaped widening (11, 12) within the region of the opposing end faces. Control recesses (15, 16, 17, 18) are arranged on the opposing end faces.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a vehicle includes an antiroll bar (2) having a first opening, a vehicle part (3) having a second opening (3a), and a one-piece connecting rod (1) connecting the antiroll bar and the vehicle part. The one-piece connecting rod (1) has a first end portion (4) received in the first opening in the antiroll bar (2) and a second end portion (4) received in the second opening (3a) in the vehicle part (3). A first bearing (5) in the first opening supports the first end portion (4) of the one-piece connecting rod (1) for movement relative to the antiroll bar (2). A second bearing in the second opening (3a) supports the second end portion (4) of the one-piece connecting rod (1) for movement relative to the vehicle part (3).

Abstract: A ball joint with a ball (1a) that is arranged on a gudgeon (1) and situated in a ball socket in a rotatable and tiltable fashion. The ball socket consists of plastic and is closed on one side. The ball socket is arranged in a housing (3). The ball socket is sealed at its opening, which faces the gudgeon (1), by a sealing bellows (4) arranged between the housing (3) and the gudgeon (1). An edge (4a) of the sealing bellows (4) on the side of the ball is clamped in the axial direction between the housing (3) and an extension (2a) of the ball socket (2) on the side of the gudgeon.

Abstract: The invention concerns a steering valve with a closed center for supplying an actuator with hydraulic pressure, the steering valve comprising an input shaft, and output shaft, a torsionally resilient element which is connected at one end to the input shaft and at the other end to the output shaft, a control pressure switching arrangement and a torque/axial force conversion unit. A spring loaded seat valve is located in a bore of the input shaft, and closes a fluid passage passing through the torsion tube. The torque/axial force convertor opens the seat valve when relative twisting of the input shaft with respect to the valve casing occurs. According to the invention, in order to improve the response dynamics of such a steering valve, the valve comprises at least one axial bore for supplying hydraulic pressure. At one end this bore is closed by a valve which is loaded by the torque/axial force conversion unit against the hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for controlling the hydraulic pressure in a power steering device that serves for supplying compressed oil to the left and the right chamber of a power steering cylinder via a rotary slide valve with the aid of a pump, wherein a reaction piston arranged on the input shaft in axially movable and rotationally rigid fashion and connected to the control sleeve of the rotary slide valve via an elastic rotary coupling is inserted between the input shaft and the control sleeve of the rotary slide valve, and wherein a hydraulic reaction device controlled by a control unit with dependence on speed and which serves to control the reaction pressure is arranged in a return line for the hydraulic medium which leads away from the reaction piston. According to the invention, the changes in the hydraulic pressure are determined and used as control parameters for the hydraulic reaction device that is controlled with dependence on speed in addition to the parameter speed.

Abstract: A torsion element (1) for a steering valve is provided. The torsion element (1) comprises a torsionally elastic rod member (2) having axially opposite first and second end areas (3, 4) which are rotatable relative to one another. The rod member (2) has a circumferentially spaced plurality of radially and axially extending indentations (10) adjacent the second end area. A generally tubular, torsionally stiff sleeve member (6) encircles the rod member (2) and is fixedly attached to the first end area (4) of the rod member. The sleeve member (6) includes a circumferentially spaced plurality of radially and axially extending grooves (9) which align with and radially overlie the plurality of indentations (10) in a neutral steering condition. The sleeve member (6) further includes a circumferentially spaced plurality of radial slots (7).

Abstract: A vehicle steering gear for transferring rotational movement of a pinion (6) associated with a vehicle steering mechanism into axial movement of a tie rod connected with steerable wheels in the vehicle. The steering gear comprises a piston (1), first and second piston rods (2), a cylinder (3) encircling the piston and partially defining first and second chambers which are separated by the piston. A piston ring (17) seals the piston (1) inside the cylinder (3). First and second bushings (4) seal the ends of the cylinder (3) around the piston rods (2). A rack member comprising an arcuate segment (5) is fixedly attached to the cylinder (3) and has a toothed surface portion and a threaded opening for receiving a tie rod fastener (16). A tubular housing (7) encircles the cylinder (3) and the arcuate segment (5). The pinion (6) is engageable with the toothed surface portion of the arcuate segment (5) within the housing (7).

Abstract: In order to improve a method for controlling the speed of an electromotor-driven pump of a hydraulic power steering device of a motor vehicle as a function of the steering speed, so that the overall efficiency of the system is optimized in a simple manner; it is proposed that the required volume flow of hydraulic fluid, calculated according to a determined steering speed, is increased up to a maximum by an additional correction factor that takes into account the overall efficiency of the system, in order to use the result to calculate and to adjust the set speed of the pump.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint composed of a ball pivot (1) and a joint housing (3), in which the coupling ball (1a), is supported, such that it can be twisted and tilted to a limited extent, by a plastic bearing shell (2). The bearing shell (2) supports the coupling ball (1a) both above and below the equator (1b) of the ball, at least in the region of a bearing surface (2a',2c') in the form of an annular segment of a sphere. In order to create a mountable ball-and-socket joint, which guarantees the creation and retention of defined joint characteristics over the entire service life of the joint, at least the part of the bearing shell (2) supporting the surface of the coupling ball (1a) lying below the equator (1b) of the ball is divided into at least two sections (2a), each hinge delimited by a film hinge (2b), which together form a bearing surface (2a') in the form of an annular segment of a sphere.