# US 9,435,420 B2 · Yoke clearance compensator of vehicle

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- Number: US 9,435,420 B2
- Document ID: US9435420B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/527,570
- Filed: 2014-10-29
- Published: 2015-05-07
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-04
- Assignees: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Tae Yoon Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435420B2

## CPC

- F16H 55/283: {using pressure yokes}
- B62D 3/123: {characterised by pressure yokes}
- Y10T 74/19623: Backlash take-up
- F16H: GEARING
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A yoke clearance compensator of a vehicle may include: a support yoke for supporting a rack bar; a yoke plug coupled to the support yoke through an elastic part and having a cavity formed therein; a pressurizing unit installed in the cavity of the yoke plug and providing a pressurizing force to the support yoke; and an end plug for fixing the pressurizing unit to the yoke plug.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A yoke clearance compensator of a vehicle, comprising:
a support yoke configured to push a rack bar along an axis;
a torsion spring having a first end portion and a second end portion;
a pushing member fixed to the first end portion of the torsion spring and biased along the axis toward the support yoke for pushing the support yoke toward the rack bar along the axis;
a torque adjuster being a separate piece from the pushing member and fixed to the second end portion of the torsion spring, wherein the torque adjuster is configured to rotate about the axis relative to the pushing member to adjust a torsion torque of the torsion spring such that force applied to the pushing member for pushing the support yoke is adjusted; and
a yoke plug configured to engage with the torque adjuster to fix the torque adjuster's angular position relative to the yoke plug and the pushing member once the torsion torque is adjusted.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The yoke clearance compensator of claim 1, wherein the pushing member is engaged with the yoke plug, wherein the torque adjuster is configured to rotate relative to the yoke plug while maintaining its engagement with the yoke plug.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The yoke clearance compensator of claim 1, further comprising an external spring that surrounds a circumference of the support yoke and fixed to the yoke plug.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The yoke clearance compensator of claim 3, further comprising a flat spring disposed between the support yoke and the pushing member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The yoke clearance compensator of claim 1, further comprising an end plug configured to engage with the yoke plug and abutting the torque adjuster.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The yoke clearance compensator of claim 1, wherein the yoke plug comprises a plurality of engaging notches, wherein the torque adjuster comprises a plurality of legs configured to engage with the engaging notches of the yoke plug.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The yoke clearance compensator of claim 1, wherein the torque adjuster comprises a plurality of locking legs, wherein the yoke plug comprises a plurality of grooves formed on its inner circumferential surface configured to receive the locking legs of the torque adjuster to fix its position relative to the yoke plug except when external force is applied to rotate the torque adjuster for adjusting the torsion torque.