Steering gears
AssigneeCam Gears Limited
InventorFrederick J. Adams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved steering apparatus is utilized to turn a steerable wheel of the vehicle. The apparatus includes an axially movable push rod or force transmitting member which is connected with the steerable wheel of a vehicle. A screw thread is formed on the push rod and cooperates with a nut which is rotated by a bevel gear connected with an input member. In order to effect a change in the steering ratio, a cam track is formed in the push rod. A cam follower or pin cooperates with the track to effect rotation of the push rod relative to the nut as the push rod is moved axially due to the rotation of the input member and nut.
Claims14
A variable ratio steering apparatus for use in turning a steerable vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising a first drive member having a longitudinally extending central axis, said first drive member having an end portion adapted to be connected with the steerable vehicle wheel, a second drive member, first force transmitting means for transmitting force from said second drive member to said first drive member to effect movement of said first drive member along its longitudinally extending central axis in response to rotation of said second drive member relative to said first drive member to thereby effect turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheel, said first force transmitting means including an external thread convolution formed on said first drive member and an internal thread convolution formed on said second drive member, input means for rotating said second drive member relative to said first drive member in response to rotation of a manually actuatable member, and second force transmitting means for varying the speed of movement of said first drive member along its longitudinally extending central axis during rotation of said second drive member to vary the rate of turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheel, said second force transmitting means including means for varying the speed of relative rotation between said first and second drive members during rotation of said second drive member.
A variable ratio steering apparatus for use in turning a steerable vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising a longitudinally extending push rod member which is movable along its longitudinal central axis, one end portion of said push rod member being adapted to be connected with the steerable vehicle wheel, a tubular force transmitting member connected with said push rod member, said push rod member extending through a passage formed in said tubular force transmitting member, input means for rotating said tubular force transmitting member to effect axial movement of said push rod member, said input means including an annular array of gear teeth disposed on said tubular force transmitting member and a pinion gear disposed in meshing engagement with said annular array of gear teeth, and control means for effecting a variation in the rate of axial movement of said push rod member to thereby vary the rate of turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheel, said control means includes a cam surface and a follower disposed in engagement with said cam surface, one of said cam surface and follower being movable axially with said push rod member, said cam surface and follower being effective to cause rotation of one of said members about the longitudinal central axis of said push rod member during at least a portion of the axial movement of said push rod member.
A variable ratio steering apparatus for use in effecting turning movement of a steerable vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising a longitudinally extending push rod member movable along its longitudinal central axis to transmit an axially directed force, said push rod member being adapted to be connected with the steerable vehicle wheel to effect turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheel under the influence of the axially directed force, a thread convolution fixedly connected with said push rod member, drive means for cooperating with said thread convolution to effect movement of said push rod member along its longitudinal central axis in response to movement of a manually actuatable member, and control means connected with said push rod member for effecting a variation in the rate of movement of the push rod member along its longitudinal central axis to thereby vary the rate of turning mvement of the steerable vehicle wheel, said control means including a cam track which is formed as a continuation of said thread convolution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.