Detent mechanism for a hydraulic power steering gear

A hydraulic power steering gear for a vehicle, said power steering gear being operable between a neutral condition and an actuated condition, said power steering gear comprising:

• a first valve member having a radially extending first passage and a channel extending axially through said first valve member;
• a second valve member partially encircling said first valve member, said second valve member having at least one cam surface facing radially inward, said first and second valve members being rotatable relative to one another to selectively port hydraulic fluid;
• a torsion bar acting between said first and second valve members, said torsion bar being at least partially disposed in said channel extending through said first valve member;
• a tubular spacer disposed in said channel and encircling a portion of said torsion bar,
• said tubular spacer and said channel through said first valve member together defining an annular first gap, said tubular spacer and said torsion bar together defining an annular second gap, said first and second gaps permitting radial displacement of said tubular spacer relative to said first valve member and to said torsion bar;
• at least one detent member acting between said first and second valve members, said at least one detent member having a curved outer surface and being disposed in said at least one cam surface in said second valve member in the neutral condition to provide a physically perceptible indication to a driver of the vehicle of operation between the neutral condition and the actuated condition;
• and
• at least one spring biasing said at least one detent member radially outward, said at least one spring being disposed in said first passage in said first valve member and having a first end engaging said tubular spacer in said channel through said first valve member.

A hydraulic power steering gear for a vehicle, said power steering gear being operable between a neutral condition and an actuated condition, said power steering gear comprising:

• a first valve member having a radially extending first passage;
• a second valve member partially encircling said first valve member, said second valve member having at least one cam surface facing radially inward, said first and second valve members being rotatable relative to one another to selectively port hydraulic fluid;
• a ring member fixedly attached to said first valve member, said ring member having a radially extending first bore radially aligned with said first passage in said first valve member;
• at least one detent member acting between said first and second valve members, said at least one detent member having a curved outer surface and being disposed in said at least one cam surface in said second valve member in the neutral condition to provide a physically perceptible indication to a driver of the vehicle of operation between the neutral condition and the actuated condition;
• at least one plunger member disposed in said first bore in said ring member to isolate said at least one plunger member from torsional forces caused by relative rotation between said first and second valve members, said at least one plunger member being radially displaceable within said first bore;
• and
• at least one spring biasing said at least one detent member radially outward, said at least one spring being disposed in said first passage in said first valve member.