Rack And Pinion Patents (Class 280/93.514)
  • Patent number: 11851312
    Abstract: A transport vehicle includes two non-steered drive wheels, two non-driven steered load wheels, drive motors for driving the drive wheels, a steering target value encoder, a device for detecting the steering angle of one of the load wheels, and an electric control unit. An actuation of the steering target value encoder displaces a steering pole along a steering pole axis. The steering target value encoder steers each of the load wheels from a first position in which the load wheels' axes run parallel to the drive wheels' axes into a second position in which the load wheels' axes are oriented to the steering pole which lies between the drive wheels. The electronic control unit influences a rotational speed of the drive motors as a function of the steering angle and reverses a direction of rotation of at least one of the drive motors as a function of the steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: HUBTEX MASCHINENBAU GMBH & CO. KG, DIMOS MASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Alfred Rudi Schuetz, Pascal Alfred Schuetz, Juergen Keller
  • Patent number: 11807312
    Abstract: A spring steel-made clip (22) has an arc-shaped first inserting part forcing portion (66) and an arc-shaped second inserting part forcing portion (67) facing the first inserting part forcing portion (66), a first axial direction connecting portion (68) connecting one ends of the inserting part forcing portions (66, 67) and a second axial direction connecting portion (69) connecting the other ends of the inserting part forcing portions (66, 67). The axial direction connecting portions (68, 69) have connecting end position stoppers (75, 76) protruding from their inner edge portions (68a, 69a) toward an opening (65). The connecting end position stoppers (75, 76) elastically contact position stopper contact portions (44e, 57e) of tubes (20A, 20B), then a relative movement of the tubes (20A, 20B) in a direction in which connecting end contact surfaces (47, 60) separate from each other is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Kitamura, Kohtaro Shiino, Osamu Yoshida, Tatsuyoshi Maruyama, Norihiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 11781633
    Abstract: A rack bar includes: a rack tooth row including a plurality of rack teeth meshing with pinion teeth; a hardened layer provided continuously over an entire circumference of the rack tooth row; and a center portion provided inside the hardened layer and having lower hardness than the hardened layer. When the rack bar is viewed in an axial direction of the rack bar, a depth of the hardened layer from the following positions i), ii), and iii) increases in this order: i) a bottom land of the rack teeth; ii) a side of the rack bar relative to the bottom land; and iii) a back of the rack bar relative to the bottom land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Izumi, Hirofumi Ishimi, Isao Torii
  • Patent number: 11548546
    Abstract: To reduce the effect of a steering operation on feeling. A rack bush comprises: a bush body that is accommodated in a cylindrical housing, supports a load exerted on a rack bar while allowing the rack bar to move in the direction of an axial center O, and can be extended and retracted in a radial direction; and an elastic ring mounted on the bush body. The bush body has a mounting groove for mounting the elastic ring, the mounting groove being formed peripherally in an outer peripheral surface, and the mounting groove having a large-diameter part where the circumferential radius of a groove bottom is a first radius r1, and a small-diameter part where said radius is a second radius r2 that is less than the first radius r1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: OILES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko Sekine, Katsunori Saito, Hiroyuki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11104372
    Abstract: A vehicle steering device includes a turning shaft movable in a vehicle widthwise direction, a housing that retains therein the turning shaft, a stopper provided at a shaft end of the turning shaft exposed from the housing, and a collision buffer member, which is provided at the housing, and which restricts a movable range of the stopper in the vehicle widthwise direction. The collision buffer member has an elastic region that absorbs an abutment load by a normal steering operation input from the stopper, and a plastic region that absorbs a shock load input from the stopper and greater than the abutment load by the normal steering operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norifumi Terada
  • Patent number: 10889316
    Abstract: A steering gear apparatus includes a rack shaft, a pinion shaft, and a housing. The rack shaft has rack teeth and moves in an axial direction to steer front wheels. The pinion shaft has pinion teeth and rotates in accordance with steering operation of a steering wheel. The housing supports the rack shaft and the pinion shaft, and houses a meshing area between the rack teeth and the pinion teeth. When the steering wheel is in its neutral position, the pinion teeth mesh with the rack teeth at a rotational position of the pinion shaft that minimizes torque required to move the rack shaft in the axial direction during one rotation of the pinion shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinori Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 10279835
    Abstract: In a steering system, a guide member faces the rack shaft on the opposite side of the rack shaft from the pinion shaft, and an opposed member faces the guide member at a first distance. The rack shaft is supported by the first rack bush so as to be slidable in the axial direction. The rack shaft is supported so as to be slidable in the axial direction X at a position closer to the guide member than the first rack bush is by the second rack bush disposed away from the inner surface. An elastic member that can be elastically deformed is disposed between the inner surface and the second rack bush. The second rack bush has an opposed portion disposed on the opposite side of the rack shaft from the pinion shaft and facing the inner surface at a second distance that is larger than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akitake Kawakubo
  • Patent number: 10011295
    Abstract: A steering system includes a rack housing in which a rack shaft is housed, rack ends fitted to respective end portions of the rack shaft and coupled to respective steered wheels, and shock-absorbing members provided between the rack housing and the respective rack ends. When the rack shaft moves in a direction in which an end face of the rack end approaches a restricting surface of the rack housing and thus the rack shaft reaches a position after the shock-absorbing member is compressed by a compression amount, a control unit creates a normal input end through electronic stopper control of reducing an assisting force to be generated by a motor. This restricts movement of the rack shaft in a direction in which the end face approaches the restricting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9744985
    Abstract: A rack bar unit of a vehicle steering device may include a rack bar body and a rack gear made of different materials, in which the rack gear may be coupled to the rack bar body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sang Woock Ryu
  • Patent number: 9657832
    Abstract: A wear compensator assembly configured for exerting a predetermined biasing force on a rack and a pinion shaft of a steering gear assembly is disclosed. The wear compensator assembly includes a cam member having a seating surface and a biasing member seated against the seating surface of the cam member. The biasing member is configured to be compressed by a predetermined amount and to exert the predetermined biasing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Cory R. Ricker
  • Patent number: 9651134
    Abstract: A rack bush for supporting a rack shaft in a rack-and-pinion steering system so that the rack shaft slides in an axial direction thereof includes a teeth side support portion and a back side support portion. Rack teeth are formed in a first area of an outer circumferential surface of the rack shaft. The teeth side support portion contacts a second area of the outer circumferential surface to support the rack shaft from a teeth side where the rack teeth are formed. The second area lies adjacent to the first area in the axial direction. The back side support portion contacts a third area of the outer circumferential surface to support the rack shaft from a back side other than the teeth side. The third area is positioned out of the first area in a circumferential direction around an axis of the rack shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taoka, Nariaki Sakamoto, Kei Nakate, Hideo Kometani, Agen Nishikido, Masashi Fujimoto, Takumitsu Otani, Hayato Miyakawa
  • Patent number: 9435420
    Abstract: A yoke clearance compensator of a vehicle may include: a support yoke for supporting a rack bar; a yoke plug coupled to the support yoke through an elastic part and having a cavity formed therein; a pressurizing unit installed in the cavity of the yoke plug and providing a pressurizing force to the support yoke; and an end plug for fixing the pressurizing unit to the yoke plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae Yoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9428216
    Abstract: A rack bush, which constitutes a rack and pinion type steering system and supports a rack shaft in which rack teeth are formed at one circumferential portion, includes a bush main body and a rigidity reducing portion. The bush main body has an annular shape into which the rack shaft is inserted. The bush main body is divided, in a circumferential direction, into two portions including a rack teeth-side portion located on the same side as the rack teeth in the circumferential direction and a back face-side portion other than the rack teeth-side portion. The rigidity reducing portion is provided in the rack teeth-side portion, and makes a rigidity of the rack teeth-side portion lower than a rigidity of the back face-side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akitake Kawakubo
  • Patent number: 9316295
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering gear for a motor vehicle may include a steering pinion, which is connected to a steering shaft and is engaged with a gear rack that is movably mounted in a housing, and may further include a pressure piece arranged in the housing in a pressure piece bore, and which may keep the gear rack engaged free from play with the steering pinion. A pressure piece for a rack and pinion steering gear may include an outer metallic casing inserted with a press fit into the pressure piece bore, at least one elastomer damping element, in particular an elastomer casing, arranged in the metallic casing, with a metallic pressure piece core enclosed by the at least one elastomer damping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Daniel Meyer, Thomas Riepold, Philippe Steck
  • Patent number: 9302698
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a rack shaft moving in a vehicle width direction for steering steered wheels, a rack end in a moving side, which is provided in the rack shaft and integrally moving with the rack shaft, a housing body in a fixed side, which does not move in the vehicle width direction and controls the movement of the rack shaft by collision from the rack end to the housing body and a shock absorbing member provided between the rack end and the housing body to absorb a shock from the rack end to the housing body, in which the shock absorbing member includes a low-spring rate portion and a high-spring rate portion having a higher spring rate than that of the low-spring rate portion in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 9216761
    Abstract: The yoke device comprises a rotary pad (10), the inner periphery (11) of which is eccentric with respect to the outer periphery (12) and is applied against the back of the rack, which is thus pushed towards the teeth of the steering pinion. The rotary pad (10) is rotationally biased and positioned by a backlash compensation mechanism (17) with spring means. This mechanism comprises a rotating movable stop (21), including gearings (24, 25) having staggered teeth that engage with the notches (26, 27) of a push member (19). The staggered gear teeth comprise, on one sector, a pilot gearing (24) having planar teeth (28) provided with a protrusion (29) and, in another sector, at least one gearing (25) having planar teeth (30) with no protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventor: Patrice Brochot
  • Patent number: 9003909
    Abstract: A rack bar supporting device for a vehicle steering apparatus, having a clearance between the rack bar and a support yoke can be kept always constant when the vehicle steering apparatus is operated, which makes it possible to reduce operational friction and noise, to maintain the supporting force of the support yoke and the rack bar to be constant for a long time, and to improve a steering feeling of a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Kwang Ho Yang, Kyoung Min Kim
  • Patent number: 9004220
    Abstract: A strut suspension is disposed on a vehicle front side of a rotation center of a front wheel. A rack and pinion mechanism is disposed on a vehicle front side of the strut suspension. Since the strut suspension and the rack and pinion mechanism are disposed on the vehicle front side of the rotation center of the front wheel, a foot space can be moved forward to a position where the foot space overlaps the front wheel. A vehicle cabin space can be thereby increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kawaguchi, Masayuki Fujita, Yohei Kawasaki, Futoshi Miyakawa, Tatsuya Shiokawa
  • Patent number: 8931790
    Abstract: The invention relates to a push device (8) which includes a rotary pad (10) in which the inner periphery (11) is off-center relative to the outer periphery (12) and applied to the rear (9) of the rack (3) which is thereby pushed towards the teeth of the steering pinion (5). A clearance compensation mechanism (17) includes a thrust member (19) pressed against a radial arm (18) of the pad (10) by a compression spring (20) inserted between said member and an element (23) secured to the support (13) of the pad (10). A mobile stop (21) rotatably mounted relative to the element (23) comprises toothings having staggered gear teeth cooperating with notches of the thrust member (19). The stop (21) is connected to the element (23) by means of a torsion spring (22). The notches successively cooperate with the staggered teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: Patrice Brochot, Laurent Rey
  • Patent number: 8925938
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes a steered shaft, and stoppers which restrict an amount of movement of the steered shaft in an axial direction. The steered shaft has first outer peripheral faces, second outer peripheral faces, and annular stepped portions. Each stepped portion includes a contact portion that faces a corresponding one of the stoppers in the axial direction, a first corner portion that has a concave curved sectional shape and connects the first outer peripheral face to an inner end of the contact portion, and a second corner portion that has a concave curved sectional shape with a larger curvature radius than that of the first corner portion, and connects the first outer peripheral face to the second outer peripheral face, at a position in front of or behind a central axis of the steered shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Kosuke Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8925939
    Abstract: A steering system includes a rack shaft, a rack housing, a rack end, and an impact absorbing member that is provided between a restriction face formed within the rack housing and an end face of the rack end, and that absorbs an impact generated when the restriction face and the end face come into contact with each other. The impact absorbing member includes an elastic portion, and a restriction portion having an elastic modulus higher than that of the elastic portion and having a length in the axial direction, which is shorter than that of the elastic portion. A compression allowance, which is a difference in length in the axial direction between the elastic portion and the restriction portion, is brought to zero when the restriction face and the end face come into contact with each other via the impact absorbing member due to a steering input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ohashi
  • Patent number: 8893846
    Abstract: A wheeled vehicle includes a solid vehicle frame and a solid front axle including wheels movable to change the direction of the vehicle, a steering assembly including a steering wheel, a steering shaft coupled with the steering wheel, and a rotary output member having an end selectively movable in response to an input to the steering wheel, the solid front axle vehicle includes an electric power assist steering (EPAS) system for selectively steering the vehicle separately from any input to the steering wheel. The EPAS system includes a motor having a rotary output coupled to a steering gear and a steering rack having a longitudinal extent defining an axis having an end coupled a tie rod of the steering assembly. The longitudinal axis of the EPAS assembly is aligned with or transverse to the forward vehicle direction so its output is coupled to the output of the steering wheel and can be actuated independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joe L. Buchwitz, James A. Drozdowski, Bradley G. Hochrein
  • Publication number: 20140159332
    Abstract: A vehicle such as a riding lawn care vehicle may include a frame and a steering assembly. Wheels of the vehicle may be attachable to the frame. The steering assembly may include a steering apparatus operably coupled to at least one of the wheels of the vehicle to provide steering inputs to the at least one of the wheels based on a position of the steering apparatus. The steering assembly may further include a steering column, a pinion assembly and a rack assembly. The steering column may extend from the steering apparatus to rotate responsive to movement of the steering apparatus. The pinion assembly may be disposed along the steering column and include at least two pinions of different sizes. The rack assembly may be operably coupled to the frame and the at least one wheel of the vehicle to translate steering inputs from the steering apparatus to the at least one wheel via the pinion assembly. The rack assembly may include at least two rack portions of different sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: HUSQVARNA CONSUMER OUTDOOR PRODUCTS N.A., INC.
    Inventor: Sean Dwyer
  • Patent number: 8708357
    Abstract: A pinion shaft of a steering system has a plurality of pinion teeth. A rack shaft has a stroke region in which a plurality of rack teeth that mesh with the pinion teeth is formed. The stroke region includes a center region that includes a center position of the stroke region, end regions, each of which includes an end position of the stroke region, and intermediate regions, each of which is located between the center region and one of the end regions. A pressure angle of each rack tooth included in each of the intermediate regions is smaller than a pressure angle of each rack tooth included in each of the center region and the end regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Sumihara
  • Patent number: 8708358
    Abstract: A compact steering mechanism for steering a vehicle having a steering input being a pinion shaft coupled to a pinion meshing with a rack, and a steering output member coupled to the rack. The pinion is positioned at a middle portion of the rack and the output member is positioned between opposing ends of a rack. The mechanism includes a compact steering housing supporting the pinion shaft and containing the rack-and-pinion. The pinion and pinion shaft have a center axis parallel to an axis of the output member. The output member, being a steering pin and rack carrier, a gear, or a flange, is coupled to left and right tie rod assemblies and wheels for steering the vehicle to improve handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Arctic Cat Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Harris, Robert Rauch, John Seal
  • Patent number: 8690173
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle steering system, comprising a steering housing (7) in which a steering rack (6) is mounted in a longitudinally displaceable manner and is connected to tie rods (8) to swivel steerable wheels (9), the steering rack (6) being provided with a first toothed segment (5) which meshes with a first steering pinion (4) and the steering pinion (4) being connected to a steering wheel (1) for conjoint rotation by a steering shaft (2, 3), the steering rack (6) having a second toothed segment (13) which is opposite the first toothed segment (4) relative to the longitudinal axis of the steering rack (6), and that a second steering pinion (12) is provided which meshes with the second toothed segment (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Roman Bilmayer, Ralf Eckstein, Rinaldo Buchel, Steffen Reisacher, Bernd Haussler, Kai Vohwinkel
  • Patent number: 8662509
    Abstract: A shock absorbing device for a rack and pinion type steering device includes a rack shaft, a rack housing, a stopper portion formed in an end part of the rack shaft, a stopper engaging portion provided on the rack housing to define a stroke end position for the rack shaft by engaging the stopper portion, a stepped portion formed on the rack shaft, a shoulder portion formed in an enlarged diameter portion of the rack housing, and a cylindrical elastic member fitted on the rack shaft such that the elastic member is pressed in the axial direction of the rack shaft by the stepped portion and the shoulder portion. The elastic member is formed with grooves on each of an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface thereof. Such shock absorbing device for a rack and pinion type steering device has a high shock absorbing capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehito Shiraishi, Yasuo Shimizu, Takahiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 8613459
    Abstract: Disclosed are a variable gear ratio type rack bar, and a steering apparatus having the same. According to the present invention, it is not required to fabricate a separate mold for processing rack-formed parts with different inter-tooth spaces, the rack-formed parts can be formed by using various processing methods, and it is possible to obtain precise tooth shapes through one step processing, whereby the number of steps for manufacturing a variable gear ratio type rack bar and its manufacturing cost can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Kwang Ho Yang, Ki Che Park
  • Publication number: 20130277935
    Abstract: A compact steering mechanism for steering a vehicle having a steering input being a pinion shaft coupled to a pinion meshing with a rack, and a steering output member coupled to the rack. The pinion is positioned at a middle portion of the rack and the output member is positioned between opposing ends of a rack. The mechanism includes a compact steering housing supporting the pinion shaft and containing the rack-and-pinion. The pinion and pinion shaft have a center axis parallel to an axis of the output member. The output member, being a steering pin and rack carrier, a gear, or a flange, is coupled to left and right tie rod assemblies and wheels for steering the vehicle to improve handling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Arctic Cat Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Harris, Robert Rauch, John Seal
  • Publication number: 20130234410
    Abstract: A pinion shaft of a steering system has a plurality of pinion teeth. A rack shaft has a stroke region in which a plurality of rack teeth that mesh with the pinion teeth is formed. The stroke region includes a center region that includes a center position of the stroke region, end regions, each of which includes an end position of the stroke region, and intermediate regions, each of which is located between the center region and one of the end regions. A pressure angle of each rack tooth included in each of the intermediate regions is smaller than a pressure angle of each rack tooth included in each of the center region and the end regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidetoshi SUMIHARA
  • Patent number: 8523206
    Abstract: A steering gear of a motor vehicle is fastened to a chassis via several bearing points, each of which includes, but is not limited to bolt penetrating eyes of the chassis and the steering gear and an elastic sleeve. The elastic sleeve of at least a first of the bearing points is accommodated in the eye of the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Gm Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Degenstein, Lutz Uhlenbruch
  • Patent number: 8511191
    Abstract: A rack shaft support device includes: a rack shaft support member that is accommodated inside a retention hole formed in a housing so as to slide in an axial direction of the retention hole, and slidably supports a rack shaft; a sealing member fixed to an inlet port of the retention hole; an intermediate member that is interposed between the rack shaft support member and the sealing member; a torsion spring that couples the sealing member and the intermediate member; a cam mechanism that converts a rotational force of the intermediate member induced by untwisting of the torsion spring to a force by which the intermediate member pushes the rack shaft support member; an opposing portion that opposes a rear surface of the rack shaft support member; and an annular elastic member that is interposed between the rear surface of the rack shaft support member and the opposing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Akitake Kawakubo, Yoshinori Suzuki, Hirofumi Ishimi, Yoshio Kondo
  • Patent number: 8465034
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rack bar supporting device of a rack and pinion type steering apparatus for a vehicle. The disclosed device can prevent free movement from increasing by automatically adjusting a predetermined free movement even when wear occurs in a support yoke after degradation of driving durability of the vehicle, and can prevent a noise from occurring caused by an increase of free movement when the support yoke collides with a yoke plug by an impact reversely input from an uneven road surface, etc. This can provide a comfortable steering feeling to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Sung-moo Heo
  • Patent number: 8454039
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes: a steering member; steered wheels; a steered shaft; a housing; a fitting bracket that has a first bolt insertion hole; a vehicle body-side member that has a second bolt insertion hole; and a bolt that is inserted through the first bolt insertion hole and the second bolt insertion hole. One of the first bolt insertion hole and the second bolt insertion hole is a long hole. When a reverse input equal to or larger than a predetermined value is applied from a road surface to the steered wheel, the bolt is displaced within the long hole in the lateral direction, causing the fitting bracket to displace with respect to the vehicle body-side member in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Murakami
  • Publication number: 20130113173
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle steering system, comprising a steering housing (7) in which a steering rack (6) is mounted in a longitudinally displaceable manner and is connected to tie rods (8) to swivel steerable wheels (9), the steering rack (6) being provided with a first toothed segment (5) which meshes with a first steering pinion (4) and the steering pinion (4) being connected to a steering wheel (1) for conjoint rotation by a steering shaft (2, 3), the steering rack (6) having a second toothed segment (13) which is opposite the first toothed segment (4) relative to the longitudinal axis of the steering rack (6), and that a second steering pinion (12) is provided which meshes with the second toothed segment (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Roman Bilmayer, Ralf Eckstein, Rinaldo Buchel, Steffen Reisacher, Bernd Haussler, Kai Vohwinkel
  • Patent number: 8376379
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle may include a steering pinion rotated by operation of a steering wheel, and a steering rack bar having a rack engaged with the steering pinion to move straight in a longitudinal direction thereof, wherein a tooth gap in a gear of the rack changes such that a steering gear ratio corresponding to a linear displacement of the steering rack bar according to rotation of the steering pinion increases and then decreases in both sections from the center of the rack to both ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kisung Park, Seil Kim, Youngho Oh, Soobo Park
  • Patent number: 8348541
    Abstract: Joint arrangement for a vehicle, with a joint (7), which has a joint housing (8) and a pivot pin (9) mounted movably in relation thereto; a rod (4), which has a cavity (6) and which is connected to the joint (7); a ring element arranged between the joint and the rod; a sealing bellows (10), which defines the interior space (11) and in which the joint (7) is arranged at least partially; and a gas-permeable connection (13), which connects the cavity (6) of the rod (4) to the interior space (11) of the sealing bellows (10), wherein at least part of the gas-permeable connection (13) is formed by at least one groove, which is formed on the ring element and opens into the interior space (11) of the sealing bellows (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Dirk Mählmann, Benjamin Ziebart
  • Patent number: 8348289
    Abstract: With a rack-and-pinion mechanism, an impact force is absorbed and reduction in assembling performance is suppressed. An annular fitting groove (51) that extends in the circumferential direction of a rack guide (41) is formed in an outer peripheral face (41a) of the rack guide (41), and an O-ring (52) is fitted in the fitting groove (51) in a state in which the axial movement of the O-ring (52) is restricted. A communication groove (61) that provides communication between an internal space (55), defined by the fitting groove (51) and the O-ring (52), and the outside of the rack guide (41) is formed in the rack guide (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Tanaka, Masahiko Hirose, Yoshiaki Izumi
  • Publication number: 20120248724
    Abstract: A vehicle steering device in which steering torque is transmitted from a steering wheel to steered wheels via a rack-and-pinion mechanism. The steering device comprises a rack shaft in which a rack is formed, two rack support parts positioned to both sides of a longitudinal direction of the rack shaft relative to the position of a pinion, and an urging part positioned between the two rack support parts. The two rack support parts are positioned near each other so as to support only a back surface of the region where the rack is formed in the rack shaft which is positioned in a steering neutral position, the back surface being supported so as to be capable of sliding in the longitudinal direction. The urging part urges the rack shaft in at least a direction other than towards the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuji Watanabe, Kenji Hattori
  • Publication number: 20120242054
    Abstract: A shock absorbing device for a rack and pinion type steering device includes a rack shaft, a rack housing, a stopper portion formed in an end part of the rack shaft, a stopper engaging portion provided on the rack housing to define a stroke end position for the rack shaft by engaging the stopper portion, a stepped portion formed on the rack shaft, a shoulder portion formed in an enlarged diameter portion of the rack housing, and a cylindrical elastic member fitted on the rack shaft such that the elastic member is pressed in the axial direction of the rack shaft by the stepped portion and the shoulder portion. The elastic member is formed with grooves on each of an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface thereof. Such shock absorbing device for a rack and pinion type steering device has a high shock absorbing capability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takehito Shiraishi, Yasuo Shimizu, Takahiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 8256315
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for automatically adjusting clearance of a support yoke of a rack and pinion type steering apparatus, the apparatus including: a support yoke making contact with one side of a rack bar so as to support the rack bar; at least one cam assembled with one side of the support yoke so as to support the support yoke; a yoke plug which is positioned at one side of the cam so as to support the cam and is assembled with a rack housing; and a yoke spring included at one side of the support yoke so as to apply elastic force to the support yoke in a direction of the rack bar. In a case where the support yoke is worn away due to friction, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Joon-kyu Song
  • Patent number: 8235404
    Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for controlling dampening in a vehicle with no attributes of wheel scrub or camber change. The present invention further discloses steering systems, whereas the steering may function without the unwanted attributes of bump steer and roll steer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Found Animals Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Winthrop Dada
  • Patent number: 8205897
    Abstract: The disclosed steering systems allow Ackermann geometry (i.e., the angle of a vehicle's wheels in relation to each other) to vary at any given angle set by the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventor: Cristiano Avigni
  • Patent number: 8201656
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes a gear rack supported in a fixed position, a pinion gear in meshing engagement with the gear rack, a steering subsystem supporting the pinion gear and moveable in a translational manner relative to the gear rack and at least one steering arm coupled to steering subsystem and configured to steer a motive member in response to movement of the steering subsystem. The vehicle steering system is configured to remain substantially within a framework of the vehicle while steering one or more motive members of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Archer, Nicholas J. Zepnick
  • Publication number: 20120080861
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle may include a steering pinion rotated by operation of a steering wheel, and a steering rack bar having a rack engaged with the steering pinion to move straight in a longitudinal direction thereof, wherein a tooth gap in a gear of the rack changes such that a steering gear ratio corresponding to a linear displacement of the steering rack bar according to rotation of the steering pinion increases and then decreases in both sections from the center of the rack to both ends thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kisung Park, Seil Kim, Youngho Oh, Soobo Park
  • Patent number: 8147161
    Abstract: A joint arrangement, for a vehicle, is provided with a joint (7), which has a joint housing (8) and a pivot pin (9) mounted movably in relation thereto. The arrangement also includes a rod (4), which has a cavity (6) and is connected to the joint (7); a sealing bellows (10), which defines an interior space (10) and in which the joint (7) is arranged at least partially; and a gas-permeable connection (13), which connects the cavity (6) of the rod (4) to the interior space (11) of the sealing bellows (10) and has at least one groove (15), which is formed in a front side (21) of the joint (7), which said front side faces the rod (4), opens into the interior space (11) and has a radially outer end (27). The groove (15) with its radially outer end ends at a spaced location from the outer circumferential contour of the front surface (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Hahn, Thomas Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20110204588
    Abstract: Disclosed are a variable gear ratio type rack bar, and a steering apparatus having the same. According to the present invention, it is not required to fabricate a separate mold for processing rack-formed parts with different inter-tooth spaces, the rack-formed parts can be formed by using various processing methods, and it is possible to obtain precise tooth shapes through one step processing, whereby the number of steps for manufacturing a variable gear ratio type rack bar and its manufacturing cost can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Kwang Ho YANG, Ki Che Park
  • Patent number: 7992884
    Abstract: A steering system including a rack and pinion, and two tie rods is provided. The rack has a rack axis, and each of the two tie rods has a tie rod axis. The rack is engaged by the pinion, such that rotation of the pinion drives the rack to move in a linear direction. Each of the two tie rods has its first end connected to the rack, such that the tie rod axis is offset from the rack axis. Further, each of the two tie rods has a second end, which is connected to the wheels of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Adrian Van Campenhout, Slawomir J. Herman, John O. Heimbecher
  • Publication number: 20110175311
    Abstract: With a rack-and-pinion mechanism, an impact force is absorbed and reduction in assembling performance is suppressed. An annular fitting groove (51) that extends in the circumferential direction of a rack guide (41) is formed in an outer peripheral face (41a) of the rack guide (41), and an O-ring (52) is fitted in the fitting groove (51) in a state in which the axial movement of the O-ring (52) is restricted. A communication groove (61) that provides communication between an internal space (55), defined by the fitting groove (51) and the O-ring (52), and the outside of the rack guide (41) is formed in the rack guide (41).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro TANAKA, Masahiko HIROSE, Yoshiaki IZUMI
  • Publication number: 20110148064
    Abstract: A multilayered sliding member 51 includes: a backing plate 52 formed of a steel plate; a porous metal sintered layer 53 formed integrally on the surface of the backing plate 52; and a sliding layer 54 constituted of a synthetic resin composition filling pores of, and coating the surface of, the porous metal sintered layer 53, the synthetic resin composition being composed of 5 to 30% by weight of a barium sulfate, 1 to 15% by weight of a magnesium silicate, 1 to 25% by weight of a phosphate, 0.5 to 3% by weight of a titanium oxide, and the balance of a polytetrafluoroethylene resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Sumihide Yanase, Takashi Nakamaru, Tadashi Watai, Satoshi Takamura, Eiichi Yamashita