Rack and pinion assembly

A rack and pinion assembly, comprising:

• a guide;
• and
• a rack slidably engaged with said guide;
• wherein
• said guide comprises means for constraining said rack to linear motion thereof relative to said guide;
• pinion means, drivingly engaged with said rack, for causing linear translation of said rack coincident with rotation of said pinion means;
• a shaft, rotatable about an axis in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, for causing rotation of said pinion means coincident with rotation of said shaft;
• and
• means coupling said shaft and said pinion means together for imparting any rotation of said shaft to said pinion means;
• wherein
• said pinion means and said coupling means comprise means cooperative for causing said rack to translate in only one direction in response to rotation of said shaft in (a) a clockwise direction, and/or (b) a counter-clockwise direction;
• said pinion means comprises a pinion gear of two, mating pieces;
• each of said pieces comprises an annulus having a plurality of teeth formed thereon;
• said pinion means, coupling means, and said rack comprise means which cooperate to cause one of said mating pieces to rotate in common with said shaft, and to cause the other of said mating pieces to rotate counter to rotation of said shaft.

A rack and pinion assembly, comprising:

• a guide;
• and
• a rack slidably engaged with said guide;
• wherein
• said guide comprises means for constraining said rack to linear motion thereof relative to said guide;
• pinion means, drivingly engaged with said rack, for causing linear translation of said rack coincident with rotation of said pinion means;
• a shaft, rotatable about an axis in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, for causing rotation of said pinion means coincident with rotation of said shaft;
• and
• means coupling said shaft and said pinion means together for imparting any rotation of said shaft to said pinion means;
• wherein
• said pinion means and said coupling means comprise means cooperative for causing said rack to translate in only one direction in response to rotation of said shaft in (a) a clockwise direction, and/or (b) a counter-clockwise direction;
• said pinion means comprises a pinion gear having a substantially annular recess, with a peripheral wall, formed therein;
• said pinion gear further having abutments extending, inwardly, relative to said pinion gear, and projectingly from said peripheral wall;
• and
• said coupling means comprises a pin, set in said shaft in traverse of said axis, for contacting engagement thereof with said abutments.

A rack and pinion assembly, comprising:

• a guide;
• and
• a rack slidably engaged with said guide;
• wherein
• said guide comprises means for constraining said rack to linear motion thereof relative to said guide;
• pinion means, drivingly engaged with said rack, for causing linear translation of said rack coincident with rotation of said pinion means;
• a shaft, rotatable about an axis in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, for causing rotation of said pinion means coincident with rotation of said shaft;
• and
• means coupling said shaft and said pinion means together for imparting any rotation of said shaft to said pinion means;
• wherein
• said pinion means and said coupling means comprise means cooperative for causing said rack to translate in only one direction in response to rotation of said shaft in (a) a clockwise direction, and/or (b) a counter-clockwise direction;
• said pinion comprises a pinion gear formed of a plurality of mating pieces;
• said pieces of said plurality are identical;
• each piece of said plurality thereof comprises an annulus;
• each said annulus having an annular recess formed therein;
• said recess having a peripheral wall;
• said wall being interrupted by a pair of abutments extending therefrom;
• and
• said annulus further having a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom.