Abstract: A rod guide for use in a piston/cylinder monotube shock absorber includes an annular guide body disposed about the piston rod within the shock absorber cylinder. A rod scraper in a top face of the guide body seals grease and oil inside the cylinder and prevents contaminants from entering the cylinder. A one-piece plastic insert, preferably formed of PPA or other rugged thermoplastic resin with a low coefficient of friction, is retained in a bottom face of the guide body. A rod seal on top of the insert, positioned within the guide body, further seals the cylinder against outward migration of shock oil from the cylinder as it slides along the piston rod and provides support for the rod guide, in both the axial and transverse directions, as the insert moves along and relative to the piston rod.

Abstract: A rod guide for use in a piston/cylinder monotube shock absorber includes an annular guide body disposed about the piston rod within the shock absorber cylinder. A rod scraper in a top face of the guide body seals grease and oil inside the cylinder and prevents contaminants from entering the cylinder. A one-piece plastic insert, preferably formed of PPA or other rugged thermoplastic resin with a low coefficient of friction, is retained in a bottom face of the guide body. A rod seal on top of the insert, positioned within the guide body, further seals the cylinder against outward migration of shock oil from the cylinder as it slides along the piston rod and provides support for the rod guide, in both the axial and transverse directions, as the insert moves along and relative to the piston rod.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid control valve (18) for a power steering gear (10) includes first and second relatively rotatable valve members (60, 62) which direct hydraulic fluid to flow between the valve members (60, 62) from inlet ports (70) to outlet ports (92). The valve members (60, 62) have radially opposed lands (71-79, 101-109) and grooves (81-89, 121-129) defining orifices (130) that enlarge and orifices (130) that constrict upon relative rotation of the valve members (60, 62) from neutral positions. A pair of the constricting orifices (130b, 130c) are located in parallel between the inlet ports (90) and the outlet ports (92). Each of those parallel constricting orifices (130b, 130c) is defined by a corresponding chamfered corner portion of a corresponding land (101, 102). The valve members (60, 62) provide back pressure at selected orifices between the outlet ports (92) and the inlet ports (90). The selected orifices include both constricting orifices (130b, 130c).

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid control valve (18) for a power steering gear (10) includes first and second relatively rotatable valve members (60, 62) which direct hydraulic fluid to flow between the valve members (60, 62) from inlet ports (70) to outlet ports (92). The valve members (60, 62) have radially opposed lands (71-79, 101-109) and grooves (81-89, 121-129) defining orifices (130) that enlarge and orifices (130) that constrict upon relative rotation of the valve members (60, 62) from neutral positions. A pair of the constricting orifices (130b, 130c) are located in parallel between the inlet ports (90) and the outlet ports (92). Each of those parallel constricting orifices (130b, 130c) is defined by a corresponding chamfered corner portion of a corresponding land (101, 102). The valve members (60, 62) provide back pressure at selected orifices between the outlet ports (92) and the inlet ports (90).

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid control valve (18) for a power steering gear (10) includes first and second relatively rotatable valve members (60, 62) which direct hydraulic fluid to flow between the valve members (60, 62) from inlet ports (78) to return ports (108). The valve members (60, 62) define a plurality of orifices (110) that enlarge and a plurality of orifices (110) that constrict upon relative rotation of the valve members (60, 62). A pair of the constricting orifices (110b, 110c) are located in parallel between the inlet ports (78) and the return ports (108). Those orifices (110b, 110c) begin to constrict at the same time, and subsequently reach fully constricted conditions at staggered times, upon relative rotation of the valve members (60, 62) from neutral positions.

Abstract: A control valve (10) controls fluid flow between a pump (34) and a motor (20) in a hydraulic power assist steering system (12) for a vehicle having steerable wheels. The control valve (10) includes a valve core (40) and a valve sleeve (50) supported for relative rotation. The control valve (10) has an inlet port (80) for receiving fluid from the pump (34) and a return passage (100) for directing fluid from the control valve to the pump (34). The control valve (10) has a first motor port (84) for enabling fluid flow between the control valve and the motor (20). First and second closing orifices (1A-L, 2A-L) are in series between the first motor port (84) and the return passage (100). A third closing orifice (2-L) is located between a second motor port (86) and the return passage (100). The orifice (1A-L) is a relatively high pressure orifice and the orifice (2A-L) is a relatively low pressure orifice.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid control valve (18) includes first and second valve members (60, 62) which are rotatable relative to each other about an axis (23). The valve members (60, 62) define hydraulic fluid flow orifices (110) which are spaced apart circumferentially about the axis (23). The orifices (110) are variable in size such that an orifice (110a) enlarges when a pair of adjacent orifices (110b and 110c) constrict upon relative rotation of the valve members from neutral positions. The pair of constricting orifices (110b, 110c) initially constrict at unequal rates, and subsequently constrict at equal rates until reaching fully constricted conditions.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid control valve (18) for a power steering gear (10) includes first and second relatively rotatable valve members (60, 62) which direct hydraulic fluid to flow between the valve members (60, 62) from inlet ports (70) to outlet ports (92). The valve members (60, 62) have radially opposed lands (71-79, 101-109) and grooves (81-89, 121-129) defining orifices (130) that enlarge and orifices (130) that constrict upon relative rotation of the valve members (60, 62) from neutral positions. A pair of the constricting orifices (130b, 130c) are located in parallel between the inlet ports (90) and the outlet ports (92). Each of those parallel constricting orifices (130b, 130c) is defined by a corresponding chamfered corner portion of a corresponding land (101, 102). The valve members (60, 62) provide back pressure at selected orifices between the outlet ports (92) and the inlet ports (90).

Abstract: A hydraulic power steering control valve (10) includes a valve core (40) and a valve sleeve (50) supported in a housing (14) for relative rotation about an axis (52). The valve core has an outer periphery (42) adjacent to an inner periphery (44) of the valve sleeve. The control valve has at least three groups of ports (PS1, PS2, PS3) extending through the valve sleeve. Each group of ports includes a fluid inlet port and first and second motor ports for communicating fluid between the control valve and a motor. The control valve is movable from a centered condition to an off-center condition to produce, at each one of the groups of ports, a respective area of high pressure fluid (HP-1, HP-2, HP-3) between the outer periphery of the valve core and the inner periphery of the valve sleeve. The areas of high pressure fluid produce a radially directed force between the valve sleeve and the valve core to increase resistance to relative rotation between the valve sleeve and the valve core.