Compact steering mechanism

A light-weight compact steering mechanism for steering right and left front ground engaging members of a vehicle with at least one tie rod, the mechanism comprising:

• a pinion shaft coupled to a pinion;
• a rack having teeth meshing with the pinion;
• an output member coupled to the rack, wherein the output member is couplable to the tie rod of the vehicle;
• a steering housing having an opening disposed for receiving the pinion shaft, the pinion shaft coupled to the steering wheel of the vehicle;
• the steering housing coupled to the rack, the pinion, the output member, and a sealing plate;
• the sealing plate having opposing surfaces, wherein one surface is slidably coupled to a surface of the steering housing, and wherein the opposing surface of the sealing plate is slidably coupled a surface of a sealing member coupled to the steering housing;
• and
• the output member extending through a slot in the steering housing, whereby the length of the slot of the sealing plate is shorter than the length of the slot of the steering housing to allow full travel of the rack and output member while providing a compact steering mechanism with improved steering geometry.

A light-weight compact steering mechanism for steering right and left front ground engaging members coupled to a chassis of a vehicle with at least one tie rod, the mechanism comprising:

• a pinion shaft coupled to a pinion, the pinion having a center axis;
• a rack having two opposing ends and having teeth meshing with the pinion between the opposing ends, the rack movable relative to the pinion and relative to the chassis upon rotation of the pinion;
• an output member coupled to the rack to move therewith and positioned between the ends of the rack, and wherein the output member is couplable to the tie rod of the vehicle;
• and
• a rack carrier spatially separated from the rack, the rack carrier slidably coupled to a chassis and structurally supported by the chassis of the vehicle, wherein the rack is thereby structurally supported by the rack carrier, thereby reducing the weight and length of the compact steering mechanism.

A method of steering a vehicle having a compact steering mechanism coupled to a steering wheel and to a pair of tie rod assemblies coupled to wheels of the vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a compact steering mechanism, the mechanism comprising:
• a pinion shaft coupled to a pinion;
• a rack having teeth meshing with the pinion;
• an output member coupled to the rack;
• a rack carrier coupled to the output member, wherein the output member securing the rack carrier to the rack such that it moves therewith, and wherein the rack carrier is couplable to the pair of tie rod assemblies of the vehicle;
• and
• at least one support member engaged to the rack carrier and extending generally parallel to the rack, the rack carrier being slideable along the support member;
• rotating the pinion shaft and the pinion in a desired speed and direction;
• engaging the teeth of the pinion to the teeth of the rack, thereby moving the rack in a lateral direction relative to the desired speed and direction of the rotation of the pinion shaft;
• moving the output member and the rack carrier cooperatively with movement of the rack, whereby the rack carrier slides along the at least one support member, thereby moving the left and right tie rods and wheels of the vehicle relative to the desired speed and direction.

A light-weight compact steering mechanism for steering right and left front ground engaging members of a vehicle with at least one tie rod, the mechanism comprising:

• a pinion shaft coupled to a pinion, the pinion having a center axis;
• a rack having two opposing ends and having teeth meshing with the pinion between the opposing ends;
• an output member coupled to the rack and positioned between the ends of the rack, and wherein the output member is couplable to the tie rod of the vehicle;
• a rack carrier slidably coupled to a chassis and structurally supported by the chassis of the vehicle, wherein the rack is thereby structurally supported by the rack carrier, thereby reducing the weight and length of the compact steering mechanism;
• a steering housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion secured to one another by a plurality of fasteners;
• an opening disposed in the central portion of the second housing portion for receiving the pinion shaft, the pinion shaft coupled to the steering wheel of the vehicle;
• and
• the second and first steering housing portions providing an internal cavity containing the rack, the pinion, a portion of the output member, and a sealing plate slidably coupled between the rack and the housing.