US 2013/0075187 A1Published application

Apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels

AssigneeTRW Automotive U.S. LLC

InventorDaniel E. Williams

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Abstract

An apparatus (10) for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels (14, 16) includes a hydraulic power steering motor (12). A pump (26) having an outlet port (28) is connected in fluid communication with the power steering motor (12) and operable to supply hydraulic fluid to the power steering motor (12). A continuously variable transmission (50) is connected with the engine of the vehicle and the pump (26). The continuously variable transmission (50) is operable to drive the pump (26) at a first speed when the pressure at the outlet port (28) is at a first pressure. The continuously variable transmission (50) is operable to drive the pump (26) at a second speed when the pressure at the outlet port (28) is at a second pressure different than the first pressure. The first speed at which the pump (26) is driven is greater than the second speed.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels comprising:

a hydraulic power steering motor connected with the steerable vehicle wheels and operable to turn the steerable vehicle wheels,
a pump having an outlet port connected in fluid communication with said hydraulic power steering motor and operable to supply hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic power steering motor during turning of the steerable vehicle wheels, and
a continuously variable transmission connected with the engine of the vehicle and with said pump, said continuously variable transmission being operable under the influence of force transmitted from the engine of the vehicle to drive said pump at a first speed when a pressure at said outlet port is at a first pressure, said continuously variable transmission being operable under the influence of force transmitted from the engine to drive said pump at a second speed when the pressure at said outlet port is at a second pressure different than the first pressure, said first speed at which said pump is driven by said continuously variable transmission during a vehicle steering operation is greater than said second speed at which said pump is driven by said continuously variable transmission.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.