# US 2014/0260742 A1 · Rack and pinion wear compensation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0260742 A1 - Document ID: US20140260742A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/202,829 - Filed: 2014-03-10 - Published: 2014-09-18 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-12 - Assignees: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation - Applicants: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation - Inventors: George E. Arlt; Cory R. Ricker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140260742A1 ## CPC - B62D 3/123: {characterised by pressure yokes} - B62D 3/12: of rack-and-pinion type - F16H 55/283: {using pressure yokes} - Y10T 74/19628: Pressure distributing - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16H: GEARING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An automotive steering system includes a steering assembly including a rack and a pinion, and a rack bearing configured to contact the rack, the rack bearing disposed in a rack bearing bore of a housing. The system also includes a wear compensation assembly in fluid communication with a rack bearing bore cavity disposed within the rack bearing, the wear compensation assembly configured to draw fluid into the rack bearing bore cavity in response to movement of the rack bearing within the rack bearing bore. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automotive steering system, comprising: a steering assembly including a rack and a pinion; a rack bearing configured to contact the rack, the rack bearing disposed in a rack bearing bore of a housing; and a wear compensation assembly in fluid communication with a rack bearing bore cavity disposed within the rack bearing, the wear compensation assembly configured to draw fluid into the rack bearing bore cavity in response to movement of the rack bearing within the rack bearing bore. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the wear compensation assembly includes a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the rack bearing bore cavity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the rack bearing bore cavity via a fluid source channel formed in the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is configured to be drawn into the rack bearing bore cavity in response to negative pressure forming in the rack bearing bore cavity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the wear compensation assembly includes a first channel portion forming between the rack bearing and the housing, and a second channel portion forming between the rack bearing and an adjuster plug. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the fluid reservoir is disposed in the housing, and includes a valve assembly configured to allow fluid to travel into the rack bearing bore in response to the second channel forming. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the valve assembly includes a check valve configured to prevent fluid flow from the rack bearing bore into the fluid reservoir. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a channel portion formed between the rack bearing and the rack bearing bore. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the channel portion includes opposite ends and at least one sealing component is disposed at the opposite ends and configured to hold the fluid within the channel portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one sealing component includes two o-rings, a first o-ring disposed between the rack bearing bore and the rack bearing, and a second o-ring disposed between the housing and an adjuster plug configured to retain the rack bearing within the rack bearing bore. ### Claim 11 A wear compensation assembly comprising: a fluid source in fluid communication with a rack bearing bore of a housing, the rack bearing bore configured to have a rack bearing disposed therein, the rack bearing configured to contact a rack of a rack and pinion steering assembly; and a fluid control device configured to advance fluid from the fluid source into the rack bearing bore in response to a channel forming between the rack bearing and an adjuster plug seated with the rack bearing bore and configured to retain the rack bearing bore with the rack bearing bore. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the fluid source includes a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the fluid control device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the fluid is configured to be drawn into the channel in response to negative pressure forming in the channel relative to a pressure within the fluid source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the channel extends between the rack bearing and the adjuster plug. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the fluid source includes a fluid reservoir disposed in the housing, and the fluid control device includes a valve assembly configured to open and close in response to a pressure differential between the fluid source and the channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the valve assembly includes a check valve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, further comprising an extrusion gap formed between the rack bearing and the rack bearing bore, the extrusion gap in fluid communication between the fluid source and the channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The assembly of claim 17, further comprising at least one resilient sealing component configured to retain the fluid within the extrusion gap. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one resilient sealing component includes two o-rings, a first o-ring disposed between the rack bearing bore and the rack bearing, and a second o-ring disposed between the housing and the adjuster plug configured to retain the rack bearing within the rack bearing bore.