Rack-and-pinion steering apparatus
AssigneeJtekt Corporation
InventorsTakayasu Yamazaki, Shirou Nakano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rack-and-pinion steering apparatus comprises pinion teeth formed according to proper tooth specifications in other aspects under a larger pressure angle, thereby stably offering smooth and comfortable steering feeling over a long time. The module (m), number of teeth (z), tooth depth (h) and helix angle (β) of the pinion teeth (4) are set within the following ranges, under a pressure angle (α) set within a range of 24° to 30° and a given stroke ratio. module (m): 1.8 to 2.0 number of teeth (z): 7 to 13 tooth depth (h): 2 m to 2.5 m helix angle (β): 35° or smaller
Claims5
A rack-and-pinion steering apparatus including pinion teeth provided on a circumferential surface of a pinion shaft and rack teeth provided on an outer surface of a rack shaft, meshed with each other substantially without backlash, so as to transmit rotation of the pinion shaft connected to a steering member to the rack shaft via a mesh portion between the pinion teeth and the rack teeth, thus to move the rack shaft in an axial direction thereof at a predetermined stroke ratio for execution of steering operation,
- wherein the pinion teeth are provided with a module m, a number of teeth z, a tooth depth h and a helix angle β that remain within the following respective ranges, while satisfying a pressure angle α being within a range of 24° to 30° and the stroke ratio:
- module m:
- 1.8 to 2.0,
- number of teeth z:
- 7 to 13,
- tooth depth h:
- 2 m to 2.5 m, and
- helix angle β:
- 40° or smaller, and
- wherein a trochoid interference clearance of the rack teeth and pinion teeth is positive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.