Rack yoke assembly for use in a rack and pinion steering apparatus
AssigneeTRW Automotive U.S. LLC
InventorEric Counts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A yoke assembly for supporting a rack in a rack and pinion steering apparatus comprises a yoke portion having a seat and a spring portion formed from a single continuous piece of material; and a carrier portion configured to retain the rack yoke portion with the rack and pinion steering assembly. The spring portion of the rack yoke portion includes at least a pair of arms having first portions and second portions, wherein the second portions are configured to pivot about a hinge formed between the first portions and second portions.
Claims20
A rack and pinion steering gear comprising:
- a housing having an axially extending passage and a yoke bore that extends perpendicular to the axially extending passage and connects with the axially extending passage within the housing, the yoke bore having a yoke bore axis;
- a pinion gear rotatably mounted in the housing, the pinion gear having teeth;
- a rack bar extending through the axially extending passage of the housing and being movable relative to the pinion gear, the rack bar having teeth in meshing engagement with the teeth of the pinion gear;
- and
- a rack yoke assembly located in the yoke bore of the housing for at least partially supporting and guiding axial movement of the rack bar relative to the pinion gear, the yoke assembly including a yoke portion having a seat engaging the rack bar, and a pair of arms extending away from the seat portion, wherein the arms bias the yoke assembly towards the rack bar.
A rack yoke assembly adapted for use in a rack and pinion steering assembly, the rack yoke assembly comprising:
- a yoke portion having a seat and a spring portion formed from a single continuous piece of material;
- and
- a carrier portion configured to retain the rack yoke portion with the rack and pinion steering assembly.
- wherein the spring portion of the rack yoke portion includes at least a pair of arms having first portions and second portions, wherein the second portions are configured to pivot about a hinge formed between the first portions and second portions.
A rack yoke assembly adapted for use in a rack and pinion steering assembly, the rack yoke assembly comprising:
- a yoke portion having a seat and a spring portion;
- and
- a carrier portion configured to retain the rack yoke portion with the rack and pinion steering assembly.
- wherein the spring portion of the rack yoke portion includes a pair of arms having first portions and second portions, wherein the second portions are configured to pivot about a hinge formed between the first portions and second portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.