# US 8,739,645 B2 · Toothed-rack steering gear, and servo steering system equipped with the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,645 B2 - Document ID: US8739645B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/356,805 - Filed: 2012-01-24 - Published: 2012-07-26 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-25 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Torsten Kluge - Inventors: Torsten Kluge - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739645B2 ## CPC - B62D 3/123: {characterised by pressure yokes} - B62D 5/0448: {Ball nuts} - F16H 55/283: {using pressure yokes} - Y10T 74/18576: including screw and nut - Y10T 74/18808: with rack - Y10T 74/1967: Rack and pinion - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16H: GEARING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Described is a toothed-rack steering gear having a drive pinion (3) which is rotatably mounted in a steering housing (2) and which engages into a toothed rack (4) which is axially movably mounted in the steering housing (2), having a thrust piece (5) which preloads the toothed rack (4) against the drive pinion (3), and having at least one further machine element (15) which is operatively connected to the toothed rack (4) and which is mounted so as to be radially immovable with respect to the toothed rack (4), wherein the preload force exerted on the toothed rack (4) by the thrust piece (5) causes bending of the toothed rack (4). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A toothed-rack steering gear having a drive pinion which is rotatably mounted in a steering housing and which engages into a toothed rack which is axially movably mounted in the steering housing, and having a thrust piece which preloads the toothed rack against the drive pinion, wherein at least one machine element which is mounted so as to be radially immovable with respect to the toothed rack (4) is operatively connected to the toothed rack, and the preload force exerted on the toothed rack by the thrust piece causes bending of the toothed rack. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The toothed-rack steering gear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection between the drive pinion and toothed rack permits at least one degree of freedom for a movement of the toothed rack. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The toothed-rack steering gear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the direction of action of the preload force acting on the toothed rack is inclined at an angle φ with respect to a direct engagement direction of said drive pinion and said toothed rack. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The toothed-rack steering gear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thrust piece is movably mounted in the steering housing and can be preloaded elastically against the toothed rack by means of at least one spring element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The toothed-rack steering gear as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thrust piece is held in a thrust piece guide in the steering housing wherein the longitudinal axis of the thrust piece guide is inclined at an angle φ with respect to the direct engagement direction between said drive pinion and said toothed rack. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The toothed-rack steering gear as claimed in claim 5 wherein the thrust piece is guided in the thrust piece guide with a clearance fit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The toothed-rack steering gear as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thrust piece has, on the contact surface which bears against the toothed rack, a recess for receiving the toothed rack. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The toothed-rack steering gear as claimed in claim 1 wherein the operative connection is a screw connection and the machine element is a recirculating ball nut which is rotatably in engagement with a ball screw section of the toothed rack and which is mounted so as to be immovable in the axial direction relative to the toothed rack. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The toothed-rack steering gear as claimed in claim 2, wherein the direction of action of the preload force acting on the toothed rack is inclined at an angle φ with respect to a direct engagement direction of said drive pinion and said toothed rack.