Servo-assisted rack-and-pinion system
AssigneeMercedes-Benz AG
InventorsWolfgang Joerg, Jaromir Bordovsky, Aydogan Cakmaz, Hubert Heck, Arno Roehringer, Claus Gall, Reinhold Abt, Rainer Strauss, Karl-Hans Koehler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A servo-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system in which the rack is drive-coupled to a pinion which is mounted to move between two end positions in the longitudinal direction of the rack so that its movements control the servo motor. The end positions of the pinion are defined by two friction wheels which are driven continuously in opposite directions by the servo motor, in each case allowing an auxiliary force to be transmitted to the pinion.
Claims16
Rack and pinion system, comprising a longitudinally movably guided rack;
- a pinion arranged to mesh with the rack and be movable to an extent transversely with respect to an axis thereof in a longitudinal direction of the rack;
- a first friction wheel non-rotatably arranged on the pinion so as to move together therewith;
- a servo motor;
- and second and third friction wheels arranged on opposite sides and in the same plane of the first friction wheel to serve as end stops for lateral movement of the first friction wheel and the pinion, said second and third friction wheels being driven by the servo motor in mutually opposite rotating directions so that, in an end position of the first friction wheel and of the pinion, the servo motor transmits a torque in one direction and, in another end position of the first friction wheel and of the pinion, the servo motor transmit a torque in the other direction to the first friction wheel as well as the pinion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.