Device for actuating a hydraulic power steering system

A device for actuating a hydraulic power steering system for automotive vehicles characterized by the following features:

• a steering shaft non-rotatably coupled with a steering wheel is furnished with a pinion and is supported in a sleeve,
• the pinion is engaged with a gear rack coupled to wheels to be steered,
• the sleeve is supported in a steering gear housing so as to be pivotable about a parallel axis in relation to the steering shaft, and it comprises a recess to enable the pinion to engage into the gear rack, and on it a pin-shaped extension is secured vertically relative to the steering shaft, the extension governing the eccentricity of a pump which acts upon a double-effect hydraulic cylinder assisting the movement of the gear rack,
• a spring which presses the gear rack against the pinion simultaneously stabilizes the support of the sleeve in the steering gear housing,
• two needles form two bearings between the sleeve and the steering gear housing on different sides of the gear rack,
• the bearing axis interconnecting the two needle bearings is farther away from the steering shaft center line than the point of force transmission between the pinion and the gear rack, and it is placed on the same side of the steering shaft center line as the latter point, as well as in one plane with the two of them.

A device for actuating a power steering system for automotive vehicles characterized by the following features:

• a steering shaft non-rotatably coupled with a steering wheel is furnished with a pinion and is supported in a sleeve,
• the pinion is engaged with a gear rack coupled to wheels to be steered,
• the sleeve is supported in a steering gear housing so as to be pivotable about a parallel axis in relation to the steering shaft, and it comprises a recess to enable the pinion to engage into the gear rack, and on it a pin-shaped extension is secured vertically relative to the steering shaft, the extension actuating an electric switch, a sliding contact, a potentiometer or sensor for controlling the power-assisted steering system,
• a spring which presses the gear rack against the pinion simultaneously stabilizes the support of the sleeve in the steering gear housing,
• two needle bearings between the sleeve and the steering gear housing are formed by two needles,
• the two needle bearings are designed on different sides of the gear rack, and
• the bearing axis interconnecting the two needle bearings is farther away from the steering shaft center line than the point of force transmission between the pinion and the gear rack, and it is placed on the same side of the steering shaft center line as the latter point as well as in one plane with the two of them.

Apparatus for actuating a linear slide control valve of a hydraulic power steering system in response to rotation of a steering wheel of an automotive vehicle, aid apparatus comprising:

• a steering gear housing;
• a gear rack within said steering gear housing and adapted to be coupled to a pair of wheels of said automotive vehicle;
• a steering shaft adapted to be coupled to a steering wheel of said automotive vehicle and having a pinion engaging said gear rack and disposed perpendicular to said gear rack;
• a sleeve through which said steering shaft extends and within which said steering shaft can rotate relative to said sleeve;
• first and second bearing means for mounting said sleeve in said steering gear housing for pivotal movement of said sleeve relative to said steering gear housing, each of said bearing means including:
• (a) a needle pin mounted to said steering gear housing, and
• (b) a needle bearing mounted to said sleeve and engaged by one of said needle pins;
• said first and said second bearing means located:
• (a) on opposite sides of said gear rack and having a common axis which extends parallel to said steering shaft, and
• (b) on the same side of said steering shaft as the engagement of said pinion and said gear rack and radially outward of the engagement of said pinion and said gear rack;
• a linear slide control valve having an inlet means adapted for connection to a source of pressure fluid for receiving pressure fluid and outlet means adapted for connection to a power drive for dispensing pressure fluid;
• and valve control means extending between said sleeve and said linear slide control valve for controlling said linear slide control valve in response to pivotal movement of said sleeve.

Apparatus for governing the eccentricity of a pump which controls a double-acting cylinder of a hydraulic power steering system in response to rotation of a steering wheel of an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• a steering gear housing;
• a gear rack within said steering gear housing and adapted to be coupled to a pair of wheels of said automotive vehicle;
• a steering shaft adapted to be coupled to a steering wheel of said automotive vehicle and having a pinion disposed perpendicular to said gear rack and engaging said gear rack for moving said gear rack in response to rotation of said steering shaft;
• a sleeve through which said steering shaft extends and within which said steering shaft can rotate relative to said sleeve;
• first and second bearing means for mounting said sleeve in said steering gear housing for pivotal movement of said sleeve relative to said steering gear housing, each of said bearing means including:
• (a) a needle pin mounted to said steering gear housing, and
• (b) a needle bearing mounted to said sleeve and engaged by one of said needle pins;
• said first and said second bearing means located:
• (a) on opposite sides of said gear rack and having a common axis which extends parallel to said steering shaft, and
• (b) on the same side of said steering shaft as the engagement of said pinion and said gear rack and radially outward of the engagement of said pinion and said gear rack;
• a double-acting cylinder coupled to said gear rack for assisting movement of said gear rack in response to rotation of said steering shaft;
• a pump adapted for connection to a source of pressure fluid for dispensing pressure fluid to drive said double-acting cylinder;
• and means extending between said sleeve and said pump for governing the eccentricity of said pump in response to pivotal movement of said sleeve.

Apparatus for controlling the power drive of a hydraulic power steering system in response to rotation of a steering wheel of an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• a steering gear housing;
• a gear rack within said steering gear housing and adapted to be coupled to a pair of wheels of said automotive vehicle;
• a steering shaft adapted to be coupled to a steering wheel of said automotive vehicle and having a pinion disposed perpendicular to said gear rack and engaging said gear rack for moving said gear rack in response to rotation of said steering shaft;
• a sleeve through which said steering shaft extends and within which said steering shaft can rotate relative to said sleeve;
• first and second bearing means for mounting said sleeve in said steering gear housing for pivotal movement of said sleeve relative to said steering gear housing, each of said bearing means including:
• (a) a needle pin mounted to said steering gear housing, and
• (b) a needle bearing mounted to said sleeve and engaged by one of said needle pins;
• said first and said second bearing means located:
• (a) on opposite sides of said gear rack and having a common axis which extends parallel to said steering shaft, and
• (b) on the same side of said steering shaft as the engagement of said pinion and said gear rack and radially outward of the engagement of said pinion and said gear rack;
• drive means coupled to said gear rack for assisting movement of said gear rack in response to rotation of said steering shaft;
• a pump adapted for connection to a source of pressure fluid for dispensing pressure fluid to said drive means;
• control means for controlling operation of said pump;
• and means extending between said sleeve and said control means for actuating said control means to control operation of said pump in response to pivotal movement of said sleeve.