Rotary steering systems
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJoseph Washnock, Jackson E. Barry, James Philip Cooper, Daniel Steven Payne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Rotary steering systems are disclosed. An example method of assembling a steering actuator includes positioning a first bevel gear in engagement with a second bevel gear, applying a torque to rotate the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear, locking a first axial position of the first bevel gear and a second axial position of the second bevel gear in response to the torque satisfying a torque threshold, and adjusting at least one of the first axial position or the second axial position in response to the torque not satisfying the torque threshold.
Claims20
A method of assembling a steering actuator, the method comprising:
- positioning a first bevel gear in engagement with a second bevel gear;
- applying a torque to rotate the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear;
- locking a first axial position of the first bevel gear and a second axial position of the second bevel gear in response to the torque satisfying a torque threshold;
- and
- adjusting at least one of the first axial position or the second axial position in response to the torque not satisfying the torque threshold.
A method of assembling a steering actuator, the method comprising:
- providing axial support to a first bevel gear;
- moving a second bevel gear axially to engage the first bevel gear;
- applying a torque to rotate the second bevel gear and the first bevel gear;
- in response to the torque not satisfying a torque threshold, moving at least one of the first bevel gear or the second bevel gear axially to adjust the engagement between the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear;
- and
- in response to the torque satisfying the torque threshold, locking axial positions of the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear.
A method comprising:
- positioning a first bevel gear in a first position, the first bevel gear fixed to an end of an output shaft to be operatively coupled to a pitman arm;
- positioning a second bevel gear in a second position in which the second bevel gear engages the first bevel gear;
- applying a torque to rotate the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear;
- comparing the torque to a torque threshold;
- and
- locking the first position of the first bevel gear and the second position of the second bevel gear in response to the torque satisfying the torque threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.