Power steering device

A power steering valve for use with a pressure source comprising:

• a housing having a bore extending therethrough which includes an enlarged diameter portion;
• an input member rotatably disposed within the bore;
• and
• an output member resiliently coupled to said input member to provide for limited rotation therebetween, said output member cooperating with the enlarged diameter portion of the housing bore to form at least two pressure chambers, said input and output members having passages which communicate the pressure source with the two pressure chambers, said input member being rotatable relative to said output member to increase communication to one of said pressure chambers and decrease communication to the other pressure chambers, said input member including at least one slot communicating with the pressure source and said output member including a flange cooperating with said slot to control communication to the pressure chambers and said flange also cooperating with said input member to limit the rotation between said input and output members.

A power steering device comprising:

• a housing having an inlet and an outlet in communication with a pressure source;
• an input member rotatably supported by said housing;
• and
• an output member rotatably supported by said housing and cooperating with said input member to provide for limited rotation therebetween;
• said output member cooperating with said housing to form a first rotary actuator and cooperating with said input member to communicate the first rotary actuator with the pressure source to provide a power assist to the rotation of said output member;
• said input member cooperating with said housing to form a second rotary actuator, said second rotary actuator communicating with said first rotary actuator to impart resistance to rotation of said input member in response to the power assist of said first rotary actuator.

A power steering valve comprising:

• a housing communicating with a pressure source;
• and
• an input member rotatable within said housing;
• an output member resiliently coupled to input member to proprive for limited rotation therebetween, said output member cooperating with said housing to form a plurality of pressure chambers, said input member and said output member defining a pair of cavities, said output member including passages communicating said pair of cavities with corresponding pressure chambers, said input member having slots communicating with the pressure source, said input member being rotated relative to said output member to increase the communication from the pressure source to those pressure chambers communicating with one of said pair of cavities and decrease communication from the pressure source to those pressure chambers communicating with the other of said pair of cavities, and said output member including flanges opposite said input slots and said slots including side walls which oppose said flanges to limit the rotation between said input and output members.