Abstract: An isolation system for a ball-screw assembly including: a ball-screw; a ball-screw nut wherein the ball-screw is configured to engage the ball-screw nut, the ball-screw nut is enclosed in a ball-screw nut container; and a member disposed between the ball-screw nut and the ball-screw nut container, the member having selected properties. A method of providing a degree of freedom to a steering mechanism, the method including: selecting a member, the member having selected properties; and interposing the member between a ball-screw nut and a ball-screw nut container.

Abstract: An isolation system for a ball-screw assembly including: a ball-screw; a ball-screw nut wherein the ball-screw is configured to engage the ball-screw nut, the ball-screw nut is enclosed in a ball-screw nut container; and a member disposed between the ball-screw nut and the ball-screw nut container, the member having selected properties.

Abstract: The vehicle rack and pinion steering system has an elongated rack bar. Tie rod connectors are provided on the ends of the bar. A rack gear teeth section is provided on the rack bar in a position parallel to and spaced from the rack axis. A cylindrical bearing surface is on the opposite side of the rack axis from the rack gear teeth section. The bearing surface has a fixed radius and is concentric with the rack axis. The rack section width is at least twice the fixed radius. Secondary bearing contact surfaces join the bearing surface, extend toward the rack gear teeth section and diverge from each other. Contact between the bearing and surface shifts the point of convergence of forces on the rack toward the pitch point.

Abstract: An electric power steering assist mechanism with an isolated output shaft for a motor vehicle. An output shaft has a steering hand wheel disposed on an upper end and has an opposing lower end ultimately operably connected to the steerable wheels of the motor vehicle. The output shaft is concentrically received and rotatably supported within a tubular speed reducing gear, which is driven by a worm gear connected to an electric motor. An elastomeric isolator is disposed within an annular space between the speed reducing gear and the output shaft to provide compliance in the steering assist mechanism between the gears and the output shaft thereby reducing vibrations.

Abstract: The vehicle rack and pinion steering system has an elongated rack bar. Tie rod connectors are provided on the ends of the bar. A rack gear teeth section is provided on the rack bar in a position parallel to and spaced from the rack axis. A cylindrical bearing surface is on the opposite side of the rack axis from the rack gear teeth section. The bearing surface has a fixed radius and is concentric with the rack axis. The rack section width is at least twice the fixed radius. Secondary bearing contact surfaces join the bearing surface, extend toward the rack gear teeth section and diverge from each other. Contact between the bearing and surface shifts the point of convergence of forces on the rack toward the pitch point.

Abstract: A motor vehicle power steering gear has a proportional control valve with a cylindrical valve member riding rotatably on a spool shaft and connected thereto through a torsion bar. Electromagnetic apparatus for varying the magnitude of the effective restoring torque of the torsion bar comprises a stationary exciting coil, an inner pole member comprising an extension of the cylindrical valve member having a plurality of outwardly facing teeth and an outer pole member fixed on the spool shaft for rotation therewith and having an equal plurality of opposing inwardly facing teeth, the teeth defining an air gap axially beside the coil.

Abstract: A power steering gear for a motor vehicle including a pinion head and a spool shaft rotatable relative to each other, a torsion bar between the spool shaft and the pinion head, a valve spool formed integrally on the spool shaft, a valve body closely received on the spool shaft around the valve spool and rotatable relative to the spool shaft, and a tripod joint coupling the valve body to the pinion head for unitary rotation and consisting of three equally angularly spaced slots in an end of the valve body and three equally angularly spaced radial pins on the pinion head each having a spherical lobe closely received in a corresponding one of the slots in the valve body. An inboard end of the spool shaft adjacent the pinion head is unsupported laterally on the pinion head except through the valve body and the tripod joint and, consequently, floats with the valve body in the event of lateral runout between the pinion head and the spool shaft to minimize valve hysteresis attributable to such lateral runout.

Abstract: A motor vehicle power steering gear has a proportional control valve with first and second valve members connected by a torsion spring and defining a center position with zero torque in the torsion spring. Electromagnetic apparatus for varying the magnitude of the effective restoring torque of the torsion spring comprises a stationary exciting coil, a circular permanent magnet member connected to one of the first and second valve members for rotation therewith and comprising a plurality (n) of permanent magnets of alternating radial polarity, and a pole piece connected to the other of the first and second valve members for rotation therewith, magnetically coupled to the exciting coil, and having a pair of magnetic flux conducting rings each defining a plurality (n/2) of pole teeth facing the permanent magnet member and opposing the pole teeth of the other to define pole tooth pairs each having a region of circumferential overlap.

Abstract: A motor vehicle power steering gear has a proportional control valve with a cylindrical valve member riding rotatably on a spool shaft and connected thereto through a torsion rod. Electromagnetic apparatus for varying the magnitude of the effective restoring torque of the torsion rod comprises a stationary exciting coil, an extension of the cylindrical valve member having a plurality of outwardly facing teeth and an outer pole member fixed on the spool shaft for rotation therewith and having an equal plurality of opposing inwardly facing teeth, the teeth defining an air gap axially beside the coil. The cylindrical valve member is formed with a pair of sleeve surfaces for riding on the spool shaft surface with a small controlled clearance providing a hydraulic seal; and faces of the teeth of the cylindrical valve member and outer pole member are both machined after formation of the members for accurate control of the radial distance thereof from the spool shaft surface and thus of the air gap.

Abstract: A valve for a motor vehicle power steering gear including a tubular valve body having a plurality of internal lands, a valve spool rotatable inside of the valve body having a plurality of external lands, and a plurality of metering flats on the external lands which cooperate with linear edges of the internal lands in defining a pair of series connected metering orifices in a fluid flow path through the rotary valve from a pump to a reservoir. When the series connected metering orifices are fully closed, the effective circumferential overlap between the internal and external lands which prevents leakage from the pump to the reservoir is the sum of the circumferential overlaps at the individual metering orifices.

Abstract: A motor vehicle power steering gear including a housing, a spool shaft rotatably supported on the housing, a pinion head rotatably supported on the housing, a valve body rotatably supported on the spool shaft, and a universal joint between the valve body and the pinion head. The universal joint includes a ring-shaped spider, a first diametrically opposite pair of trunnions on the spider are slidable and rotatable in pair of sockets in the valve body, and a second diametrically opposite pair trunnions on the pinion head are slidable and rotatable in a pair of sockets in the spider. The trunnions and sockets permit relative translation between the valve body and pinion head in mutually perpendicular lateral directions in the plane of the spider and relative rotation about mutually perpendicular lateral centerlines in the plane of the ring to prevent binding between the valve body and the spool shaft.