Rack and pinion steering gear with pivoting yoke assembly

Abstract

A rack and pinion steering gear (10) comprises a housing (12). A pinion gear (22) rotatably mounted in the housing (12). Teeth (28) of the pinion gear (22) engage teeth of a rack bar (30) that extends through the housing (12) and that is movable relative to the housing (12). A yoke assembly (38) is located in the housing (12) for at least partially supporting and guiding movement of the rack bar (30) relative to the pinion gear (22). The yoke assembly (38) comprises a first member (46) for contacting the rack bar (30) and a second member (48) for pivotally supporting the first member (46). Structure (70) of the second member (48) engages structure (58) of the first member (46) to enable the first member (46) to pivot in all directions about a point of rotation (P). The point of rotation (P) is spaced from a location of engagement of the first and second members (46 and 48).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.