US 4,282,770 AGranted

Steering gear and method of assembling such gear

AssigneeCam Gears Limited

InventorFrederick J. Adams

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Abstract

A variable ratio steering apparatus includes a longitudinally extending rack gear which is movable along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis. One end of the rack is connected with an output member or tie rod by a connector assembly. The connector assembly includes a housing which encloses a universal joint. The universal joint is effective to allow the tie rod to pivot in a plurality of directions relative to the rack gear and housing. A bearing assembly is disposed within the housing adjacent to the universal joint and connects the rack gear with the housing to enable the rack gear to rotate relative to the housing without effecting actuation of the universal joint. The universal joint advantageously includes a ball and socket which is preloaded by deforming the housing to urge the bearing assembly toward the universal joint.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A steering gear comprising a transmission member having a longitudinal axis along which it is displaceable in response to a steering input to provide a steering output, said transmission member being rotatable about its longitudinal axis;

control means for controlling rotation of the transmission member about its said axis during longitudinal displacement of that member to vary the ratio of the gear;
an output member carried by the transmission member at an end thereof;
a universal joint by which said output member is connected to the transmission member so that the output member is longitudinally displaceable with the transmission member and is capable of gyrational movement with respect thereto, and wherein the universal joint is mounted in a bearing housing which housing is connected to the said end of the transmission member by a thrust bearing by which the bearing housing and the universal joint are longitudinally displaceable with the transmission member and the bearing housing is rotatable about the longitudinal axis with respect to the transmission member, said thrust bearing being retained relative to the bearing housing by deformation of part of the bearing housing radially with respect to the longitudinal axis over the thrust bearing, said thrust bearing being located in a skirt of the housing and is retained by deformation of the skirt radially inwardly over the thrust bearing, said universal joint being a ball joint between a ball end of the output member and the bearing housing and deformation of the housing to retain the thrust bearing preloads the ball joint.

A variable ratio steering apparatus for use in effecting turning movement of a steerable vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising a longitudinally extending rack gear movable along its longitudinal axis, control means for effecting rotational movement of said rack gear about its longitudinal axis simultaneously with movement of said rack gear along its longitudinal axis to vary the rate of movement of said rack gear along its longitudinal axis and the rate of turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheel, a pivotal output member connected with the steerable vehicle wheel, a housing, universal joint means disposed within said housing for enabling said output member to pivot in a plurality of directions relative to said rack gear, and bearing means disposed within said housing adjacent to said universal joint means for connecting said rack gear with said housing and for enabling said rack gear to rotate relative to said housing and said universal joint means about the longitudinal central axis of said rack gear, said bearing means being disposed between said housing and said one end portion of said rack gear to transmit thrust forces from said rack gear to said housing while enabling said rack gear to rotate relative to said housing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.