Having Rotary Working Member Patents (Class 180/429)
  • Patent number: 10994777
    Abstract: Vehicle suspension systems are described herein. An example apparatus includes a cam pivotably coupled to a rear axle. The example apparatus also includes a first tie rod having a first end pivotably coupled to the cam and a second end pivotably coupled to a steering knuckle. The example apparatus also includes a second tie rod having a first end pivotably coupled to the cam outboard relative to the first end of the first tie rod and a second end coupled to a steering actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joe L. Buchwitz, Geoffrey Lawrence Gordon, John Wesley Stanley, James Adam Drozdowski
  • Patent number: 10348155
    Abstract: Disclosed is a double oil passage structure of a steering motor, comprising an upper cover buffering assembly (1) and an oil distributor (2), which are fitted with each other to form an axial cavity (4), wherein an oil flow passage (23), an oil inlet (22) and a hollow column (21) are provided in the oil distributor (2), the oil flow passage (23) being in communication with the axial cavity (4), and an inner wall of the hollow column (21) being provided with an oil flow port in communication with the oil flow passage (23); a directional control valve (3) including a valve core (31) is provided in the hollow column (21), and a first radial cavity is formed between the hollow column (21) and the directional control valve (3) and partitioned by a pin (7) into oil inlet and outlet cavities (24, 25) of the oil distributor which are respectively in communication with the oil inlet (22) and the axial cavity (4); a directional control valve oil flow passage (33) is provided on an upper part of a side wall of a valve c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GUANGDONG HUA'CHAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM CO., LTD
    Inventor: Shugang Gong
  • Patent number: 10348154
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shock absorption mechanism of a steering motor, comprising an upper cover buffering assembly (1), and an oil distributor (2) disposed below the upper cover buffering assembly (1), the oil distributor (2) being fitted with the upper cover buffering assembly (1) to form a sealed axial cavity (4). A cylinder assembly (5) is fixedly arranged below the oil distributor (2). The cylinder assembly (5) comprises a cylinder (51) opened at both ends, and an elastic oil bag (52) arranged in the cylinder (51) and having an opening at the upper end, the upper end of the elastic oil bag (52) being fixedly connected to an inner wall of the cylinder (51), and the upper end of the elastic oil bag (52) being in communication with the axial cavity (40). The cylinder (51) is further provided internally with a piston (53) axially sliding along the cylinder (51), the piston (53) being connected to the lower end of the elastic oil bag (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GUANGDONG HUA'CHAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM CO., LTD
    Inventor: Shugang Gong
  • Patent number: 10173721
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steering motor, comprising a spring damping valve, and an oil distributor which is fitted with the spring damping valve to form a cavity in which a buffering assembly is provided. A cylinder assembly is provided on a lower side of the oil distributor, and comprises a cylinder, an elastic oil bag provided in the cylinder, and a piston which is provided in the cylinder and fixedly connected to the elastic oil bag, the piston being capable of sliding axially along the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SHENZHEN ZHIXING SINGLE-AXLE TWO-WHEELED DRIVING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Shugang Gong
  • Patent number: 10177622
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steering motor, comprising a casing (10) and a stator (15), an outer wall of the stator (15) and an inner wall of the casing (10) forming a chamber (16). The steering motor further comprises an upper cover buffering assembly (1) and an oil distributor (2), which are fitted with each other to form an axial cavity (4). A cylinder assembly (5) is provided below the oil distributor (2), and comprises a cylinder (51) and an elastic oil bag (52). Furthermore, the cylinder (51) is provided internally with a piston (53) which is connected to a lower end of the elastic oil bag (52) and slides axially along the cylinder. An oil flow passage (23), an oil inlet (22) and a hollow column (21) are provided in the oil distributor (2), the oil flow passage (23) being in communication with the axial cavity (4), and an inner wall of the hollow column (21) being provided with an oil flow port in communication with the oil flow passage (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SHENZHEN ZHIXING SINGLE-AXLE TWO-WHEELED DRIVING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shugang Gong
  • Patent number: 10167752
    Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump with electronic oil pressure control provides efficient pumping of engine oil precise regulation of engine oil pressure. The variable displacement oil pump includes a rotor supported in a housing for rotation about an axis of rotation and a slide ring movably supported in the housing. A plurality of vanes extends between the rotor and the slide ring to define a plurality of variable displacement pumping chambers. An electronic drive mechanism is configured to position the slide ring with respect to the axis of rotation, and a controller is configured to drive the electronic drive mechanism for selectively positioning the slide ring to adjust an eccentricity of the slide ring relative to the axis of rotation such that the displacement of the pumping chambers is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Georg Zwickler, Bryan K. Pryor, Georg Hedrich
  • Patent number: 9802697
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft landing gear equipped with a steering device (7) for orienting the wheels (5), the steering device (7) comprising a body (8) in which is incorporated an electromechanical actuator (41) equipped with an electric motor (42). The landing gear is further equipped with damping means intended to limit the transmission of vibration from the wheel (5) to the rest of the landing gear (1) when the aircraft is on the ground. The body (8) of the steering device (7) is mounted with the ability to rotate with a limited amplitude of rotation. The damping means are mounted between the body (8) of the steering device (7) and the strut assembly (2) of the landing gear to damp the vibration between the body (8) of the steering device (7) and the strut assembly (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Liegeois, Thierry Blanpain, Edouard Campbell
  • Patent number: 9692194
    Abstract: A modular equipment mount to enable quick relocation of the piece of equipment. The piece of equipment is secured to a mount. A track system is secured to multiple locations where the piece of equipment may be secured. Power and data connections are included with the track system to provide power and data to the piece of equipment through connectors on the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Ferno-Washington, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Chinn
  • Patent number: 9415802
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a power steering assist system is provided. The system includes a housing, an actuator assembly, a rotary valve assembly, a bearing assembly, a differential pressure transducer, and a coupler. The coupler includes a first end and a free second end, the free second end extending from the housing and configured to couple to a component of a steering gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason A. Dutsky, Joel E. Birsching, Martin P. Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20150059106
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a steering system for a suction cleaning device, a locomotion system for a pool cleaner, and a turbine for use in an automatic cleaner. The steering system includes a fluid driven turbine that rotates a cam gear that is interconnected with a cam wheel for directing a drive pinion. The drive pinion is positionable in a plurality of positions to drive a nose cone that steers the suction cleaning device. The locomotion system includes first and second A-frame arms that respectively engage first and second bearings about first and second eccentrics of a turbine. Rotation of the turbine causes the first and second A-frame arms to rotate back and forth driving associated walking pod assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor and a plurality of vanes connected to the turbine rotor. The plurality of vanes including lateral edges having lateral open regions to facilitate debris-removing efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: POOLVERGNUEGEN
    Inventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer, Manuela Rief, Rosemarie Rief, Benoit Joseph Renaud
  • Publication number: 20140360802
    Abstract: A steering gear mechanism has a steering housing and a steering input shaft. The steering housing is sealed and has a receptacle through which the steering input shaft passes into the steering housing. The receptacle is sealed against the steering input shaft. A first opening is provided on the steering input shaft within the steering housing, and a second opening is provided outside of the steering housing. The first and second openings are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Jörg Merker, Christian Wutzler
  • Patent number: 8353382
    Abstract: A power steering assembly (20) for a hydraulic power steering system of motor vehicles having at least one hydraulic servo valve with a control element (26) for controlling the steering support dependent upon the relative rotation of the input shaft (22) relative to the output shaft (28), at least two planetary gear trains (30, 40) for transmitting the rotary movement of the input shaft (22) or the output shaft (28) onto the control element (26), and at least one actuator (50) for the relative adjustment of the control element (26) relative to the input shaft (22) or the output shaft (28) in order to influence the steering support characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Janz, Jens-Hauke Müller, Sven Kirschbaum
  • Patent number: 8297400
    Abstract: An arrangement is utilized for reducing the manual steering force associated with steering a motorcycle. A steering assist for a vehicle includes a handlebar, and the handlebar being rotatable around a center of rotation. The steering assist further includes a damping device that includes a damping chamber, and a hydraulic valve being in fluid communication with the damping chamber and includes a first shaft section and a second shaft section. The hydraulic valve also includes a bearing mounting, and a bearing mounted in the bearing mounting. The steering assist further includes an upper fork crown attached to the first shaft section of the hydraulic valve, and a lower handlebar mounting attached to the second shaft section via the bearing arranged in the bearing mounting of the hydraulic valve. The handlebar being attached to the lower handlebar mounting, and the damping device being attached to the bearing mounting and the upper fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Ohlins Racing AB
    Inventor: Leif Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 8239098
    Abstract: Industrial truck, in particular a lift truck, with a drive axle with drive wheels and a drive motor, a steering axle with two steerable wheels, a target value sensor that is connected to a steering wheel, a steering motor, a steering device which is in effective connection with a steering tie rod, a position transducer magnet whose position is recorded by two magnetic resonance sensors that are arranged in parallel, where the position transducer magnet and the resonance sensors are moved relative to each other during a steering movement of the steering device, and where the magnetic resonance sensors generate counter directional analog signals for the actual value of the steering angle of the steerable wheels, a steering control, connected to the target value sensor, the steering motor, and the magnetic resonance sensors, which evaluates the signals received from the target value sensor and the magnetic resonance sensors, and controls the vehicle steering angle to the target steering angle, where the signals
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dieter Kramer, Michael Steiner, Nils von Thienen, Jens Wiegandt
  • Publication number: 20120080256
    Abstract: A power steering assembly (20) for a hydraulic power steering system of motor vehicles having at least one hydraulic servo valve with a control element (26) for controlling the steering support dependent upon the relative rotation of the input shaft (22) relative to the output shaft (28), at least two planetary gear trains (30, 40) for transmitting the rotary movement of the input shaft (22) or the output shaft (28) onto the control element (26), and at least one actuator (50) for the relative adjustment of the control element (26) relative to the input shaft (22) or the output shaft (28) in order to influence the steering support characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Janz, Jens-Hauke Müller, Sven Kirschbaum
  • Patent number: 8146705
    Abstract: An oscillating gear device includes an axially fixed gear piece rotatable around a first axis and an axially oscillating gear piece that oscillates while being inclined with respect to the first axis. A plurality of pins held by one of the gear pieces engage with a plurality of tooth grooves of the other gear piece in engagement regions at a predetermined length in longitudinal directions of the pins. A formula rC0/rF0=ZC/ZF is satisfied, where rC0 is a distance between an arbitrary point on the central axis of the pin in a corresponding section corresponding to the engagement regions of the pin as viewed in the radial direction of the pin and the first axis, rF0 is a distance between the arbitrary point and the second axis, ZC is the number of pins of the one gear piece, and ZF is the number of tooth grooves of the other gear piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignees: Jtekt Corporation, Ogino Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyasu Yamamori, Makoto Yamasawa
  • Patent number: 8100221
    Abstract: A center-closed power steering system provides power steering assistance in engine-off conditions for reduced fuel consumption. The power steering system includes a hydraulic pump mechanically driven by the engine, a high pressure accumulator, a steering gearbox fluidly connected to the accumulator, and a center closed valve mechanically connected to a driver-operated steering wheel. The valve is configured to selectively control flow of pressurized fluid from the accumulator to the steering gearbox to provide power steering assistance. The inner shaft of the rotary center-closed valve is provided with a cavity with V-shaped notches on the transition surfaces on lands configured to sealingly engage the inner surface of the valve outer sleeve, in order to provide a smooth transition in flow for power steering assistance, and a better driver feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Mark Spencer Stuhldreher, Charles L. Gray, Jr., David James Haugen
  • Publication number: 20100116581
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary valve for vehicle power steering gear, comprising a worm shaft, a lower sealing ring, a locking nut, a lower outer ring, an upper outer ring, an intermediate sealing ring, an upper sealing ring, an input shaft, a valve housing, steel balls, and an adjusting nut; wherein an outer ring bearing is disposed between the lower sealing ring and the intermediate sealing ring, or between the intermediate sealing ring and the upper sealing ring. The operational pressure of the power steering gear can be increased, thus allowing a higher pressure of the steering system to be selected in the configuration of the whole vehicle, so that a power steering gear with a relatively small volume can be selected, thereby making the configuration of the whole vehicle easier, and more compact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: CHANGCHUN HUALON AUTO-TECH CO., LTD
    Inventors: GANGCHUN XU, SHAOBO WANG, LIJUN LIU
  • Patent number: 7565944
    Abstract: To provide a power steering system for an all-terrain vehicle in which a control unit can be favorably protected from water, mud or the like coming from the ground surface at the time of operating of the vehicle on rough terrain or the like. In a power steering system for a saddle ride type four-wheel vehicle in which a rotary shaft of a power assist motor is disposed at right angles to a steering shaft and is inclined so that its upper portion is located on the rear side, a control unit for controlling the power assist motor is disposed on the upper side relative to a meshed portion between the power assist motor and the steering shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Sakamoto, Sumitaka Ogawa, Kihoko Kaita
  • Publication number: 20080017437
    Abstract: An internal gear pump has a first port opening into pumping chambers and provided at one side with respect to a first axis interconnecting a confinement portion of the pumping chambers having a maximum volumetric capacity and a deeply-meshed-engagement portion of the pumping chambers having a minimum volumetric capacity, a second port opening into the pumping chambers and provided at the opposite side with respect to the first axis, a first pressure introduction passage intercommunicating the first port and a first-port side area of a clearance space defined on an outer periphery of an outer rotor, and a second pressure introduction passage intercommunicating the second port and a second-port side area of the clearance space. The clearance space of a direction of a second axis perpendicular to the first axis is dimensioned to be greater than the clearance space of a direction of the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Masakazu Kurata
  • Patent number: 6817438
    Abstract: A variable displacement pump is provided. A pump body has an outer ring defining an inner cavity, where the inner cavity further defines a pump suction path and a pump discharge path in fluid communication with the inner cavity. A cam ring is pivotably supported in the inner cavity by a pivot pin formed on a portion of an inner diameter of the adapter ring. An actuated cam is formed on the cam ring. An actuator is linked through the actuated cam to the cam ring for moving the cam ring in a pivotable motion. A control module is linked to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Stanley Modrzejewski, Shawn Patrick Capser, Steven Thomas Nissen
  • Patent number: 6470992
    Abstract: An auxiliary solenoid controlled variable displacement power steering pump, hydraulic systems incorporating same, and method for improving the efficiency of variable displacement power steering pumps. In one embodiment, a rotor is arranged within a pump body, and a cam fitted on an outer periphery of the rotor and movably arranged within the pump body to form a variable volume pump chamber. The cam is biased towards a position within the pump body to create maximum displacement. A mechanism is provided for forcing the cam into a position of fixed minimum or reduced displacement under certain conditions, such as low engine speed and power steering demand. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanism comprises a solenoid driven connecting rod that is operatively connected to the cam. Activation of the solenoid forces the cam to a position of fixed minimum or reduced displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Nissen, Brian Stanley Modrzejewski, Shawn Patrick Cap'ser
  • Patent number: 6397970
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels (12) includes a steering wheel (18) and a power steering motor (20) which is operated in response to rotation of the steering wheel. A first spring (120) is connected with the steering wheel (18) and urges the steering wheel to rotate in one direction. A second spring (124) is connected with the power steering motor (20) and urges the power steering motor to operate in a direction to urge the steering wheel (18) to turn in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first spring (120) urges the steering wheel to turn. The two springs (120, 124) cooperate to take up lash in a linkage (24) between the power steering motor (20) and the steering wheel (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Williams
  • Patent number: 6276487
    Abstract: A rotary shift or slide valve (1) for power steering systems of motor vehicles contains a rotary slide (4) linked to a valve input element (23). A control bush (7) is guided in an axial bore (6) of the rotary slide (4) and rotatable by a limited angle. The control bush (7) forms a rotation-fixed link with a valve output element (18). Between the rotary slide (4) and the valve output element (18), there is a centering device, which contains two centering elements (32, 33), which can be rotated against each other, and at least one anti-friction element (36) located between the two centering elements (32, 33). One of the centering elements (33) forms a fixed link with the reaction piston (37) and a rotation-fixed but axially displaceable link with the valve output element (18) via a metal bellows (38). The other centering element (32) forms a rotation-fixed and non-displaceable link with the rotary slide (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Bieber, Werner Breitweg, Rainer Schänzel
  • Patent number: 6257364
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic power steering system having a motor, a pump, and a control module all formed as an integral unit. The motor is shaft coupled to the pump and the pump housing and the motor housing are sealingly attached to prevent any fluid leakage. The control module is sealingly attached to the pump housing to prevent any fluid leakage. The control module is in electrical communication with the motor in order to drive a motor shaft and operate the hydraulic pump. The entire unit is submersible and can operate when submersed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Thomas Parkhill, David Carnell Reuter, Sunil Palakodati
  • Patent number: 6139045
    Abstract: A vehicle having a pair of front wheels coupled to a wheel assembly is provided. The wheel assembly includes a wheel-spacing mechanism, a pair of spaced-apart spindle assemblies, and a steering mechanism. The wheel-spacing mechanism includes a center axle tube, a pair of axle arms coupled to the center axle tube for axial telescoping movement relative to the center axle tube, and means for extending and retracting the axle arms relative to the center axle tube. Each of the pair of spaced-apart spindle assemblies includes a spindle shaft coupled to the respective axle arm for pivoting movement about a substantially vertical axis. Each wheel is coupled to the respective spindle shaft for rotation about a substantially horizontal wheel axis. The steering mechanism includes a pair of telescoping drive shafts and means for rotating each telescoping drive shaft about a horizontal pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Land O' Lakes, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Vandenbark, Kenneth E. Weddle
  • Patent number: 6119803
    Abstract: In a power steering apparatus having a control valve with a first control valve portion and a second control valve portion to enhance rigidity of a steering operation, an amount of an overlapping portion of an overlap variable orifice is designed larger than an amount of an unlapping portion of an untapped variable orifice in the control valve because of dispersion during manufacture. When the overlap variable orifice finishes overlapping, the unlapped variable orifice has already started unlapping. Therefore, since the overlap variable orifice and the unlapped variable orifice never become unlapping form simultaneously regardless of the dispersion, the control valve is capable of minimizing a difference of the flow between a plurality of the second control valve portion. As a result, the power steering apparatus relative to the invention prevents enlargement of noise caused by an unbalance of the flow between a plurality of the second control valve portions in the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikio Suzuki, Katsuhisa Mori, Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6098742
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels (14, 16) includes first and second pistons (42, 44) which cooperate with a housing (46) to define first and second chambers (38, 40). A rotatable screw member (84) extends from one of the chambers (38) into one of the pistons (84). A valve (22) is connected with the screw member (84) and is operable between an unactuated condition and either one of two actuated conditions directing fluid pressure to the chambers. A steering linkage (18) is connected with the pistons (42, 44) at a location between the pistons. Upon operation of the valve (22) from the unactuated condition to the actuated condition, the pistons (42, 44) move in the chambers (38, 40) and turn the steerable vehicle wheels (14, 16). As the pistons (42, 44) move, a ball nut (86) connected with one of the pistons (42) effects rotation of the screw member (84) to operate the valve (22) toward the unactuated condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Cartwright
  • Patent number: 6092012
    Abstract: A power steering apparatus for generating a steering assist force by a hydraulic pressure generated by a pump driven by an electric motor. The apparatus includes: a steering torque detecting mechanism (13) for detecting a steering torque; a steering urgency level calculating section (S5) for calculating a steering urgency level by using a time-based second-order differential value of the steering torque detected by the steering torque detecting mechanism; a target speed determining section (31, S6, S7) for determining, on the basis of the steering urgency level calculated by the steering urgency level calculating section, an assist starting speed as an initial target speed at which the electric motor (M) is actuated; and a control section (31) for controlling driving of the electric motor to equate the speed of the electric motor to the target speed determined by the target speed determining section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5803201
    Abstract: A hydraulic power steering gear assembly includes an assembly body defining a piston chamber having opposed chamber ends with plunger passages formed in the ends, a reciprocating piston and a chamber having opposed ends and a passage extending between the piston ends, a check valve at each end of the piston passage, and a plunger assembly in each plunger passage with each assembly including a spring frictionally holding assembly in the passage and a poppet extending into the chamber to unseat a ball valve as the piston is moved toward one end of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: R. H. Sheppard Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Peter H. Sheppard
  • Patent number: 5769178
    Abstract: The power steering system for a vehicle includes a steering wheel, a torsion bar fixed to the steering wheel to rotate therewith, a hydraulic control unit for controlling hydraulic pressure generating from an oil pump in accordance with the rotation of the torsion bar, the hydraulic control unit being mounted around the torsion bar, and a power cylinder separated from the torsion bar and receiving the hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic control unit, the power cylinder having a piston meshed with a sector gear which is connected with a pitman arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jong Bum Kim
  • Patent number: 5598897
    Abstract: A power steering device for automobile type vehicles having a hydraulic power cylinder for assisting in steering front end wheels of the vehicle. The hydraulic power cylinder has a piston and piston rod fixed thereto reciprocable in two opposite directions of travel. The opposite ends of the piston rod are linked to respective front wheels of the vehicle for turning the individual steering wheels in a direction in which the piston rod travels. The piston rod has a rack with which a pinion is engaged and rotated by a shaft rotated by a drum coupled to the shaft for effecting manual steering. Another drum is provided and is rotated by the steering wheel by the vehicle driver. The drums are operationally coupled by a pair of flexible cables for rotating the drums by the steering wheel to move the piston rod rack in the desired steering direction. A direction control valve having a rotatable rotor is coupled to the drum which drives the rack pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Chuouhatsujou Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akehito Sugiura
  • Patent number: 5593002
    Abstract: The hydraulic power steering system comprises a rotary valve unit actuated according to a twisting angle provided in a torsion bar connected between an input shaft and a pinion, and a conversion mechanism which can change the condition of the rotary valve unit for a given twisting angle of the torsion bar. A variable ratio lever mechanism may be used for this purpose. Thus, a torsion bar having a suitable rigidity can be used without causing any insufficiency in the assisting torque because the responsiveness of the steering system can be freely varied by changing the setting of the conversion mechanism. For instance, it is possible to provide a sufficient assist torque at low speed and a controlled responsiveness at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Okada, Toshihiko Aoyama
  • Patent number: 5582265
    Abstract: A hydraulic power rack and pinion steering assembly (10) includes a valve core (98) and a valve sleeve (100) which are supported for relative rotation. A damping ring assembly (150) is interposed between the valve core (98) and the valve sleeve (100) to reduce vibrations and thereby to attenuate noise. The damping ring assembly (150) includes an inner ring (160) press fit on the valve core (98) and an outer ring (170) press fit in the valve sleeve (100). An elastomeric member (180) is disposed in the annulus between the inner ring (160) and the outer ring (170). The elastomeric member is bonded to the inner ring (160). Ribs (200) on the outer ring (170) are received in grooves (240) in the elastomeric member (180). A small gap (260) between the elastomeric member (180) and the outer ring (170) enables initial relative movement between the outer ring (170) and the inner ring (160) before the elastomeric member (180) engages the ribs (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Jon W. Martin
  • Patent number: 5558177
    Abstract: A power steering apparatus including an electric motor for operating a hydraulic pump which supplies pressurized fluid, a directional control valve of center-closed type operable by a steering wheel for delivering the pressurized fluid supplied by the hydraulic pump selectively to a pair of cylinder chambers of a power cylinder through a supply passage, and motor controller for controlling the electric motor. While the steering wheel is at its neutral position, the controller drives the electric motor intermittently at such a low speed that does not deteriorate the efficiency of said electric motor so much so that differential pressure between a pressure at the supply passage and a higher one of pressures in the pair of cylinder chambers is returned to a predetermined first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Inaguma, Yutaka Mori, Keiji Suzuki, Takuya Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 5538096
    Abstract: A rotary slide valve (1) for auxiliary power steering systems in motor vehicles contains in a valve borehole (5) of a valve housing (2) a rotary slide (4) that is connected with a steering spindle connection (23). In an axial borehole (6) of the rotary slide (4), a control sleeve (7) is guided so that it can be turned by a limited angle. Rotary slide (4) in its axial borehole (6) has longitudinal control grooves (20) that cooperate with longitudinal control grooves (21) on the outer generated surface of control sleeve (7). The inside-located control sleeve (7) is made by means of a non-cutting production process and can thus have relatively small dimensions. With the help of such a process, for example, by means of cold shaping, one can make both the longitudinal control grooves (21) and the control edges of control sleeve (7). The entire rotary slide valve (1) can be made in a very compact fashion as a result of the small dimensions of control sleeve (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Werner Breitweg