GB2328191A - Rack and pinion steering gear - Google Patents

Rack and pinion steering gear Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2328191A
GB2328191A GB9717124A GB9717124A GB2328191A GB 2328191 A GB2328191 A GB 2328191A GB 9717124 A GB9717124 A GB 9717124A GB 9717124 A GB9717124 A GB 9717124A GB 2328191 A GB2328191 A GB 2328191A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
rack
rack bar
steering mechanism
pinion steering
mechanism according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9717124A
Other versions
GB9717124D0 (en
Inventor
Eric Buchan
Ralph William Hammond
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MG Rover Group Ltd
Original Assignee
MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MG Rover Group Ltd filed Critical MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority to GB9717124A priority Critical patent/GB2328191A/en
Publication of GB9717124D0 publication Critical patent/GB9717124D0/en
Publication of GB2328191A publication Critical patent/GB2328191A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D5/00—Power-assisted or power-driven steering
    • B62D5/06—Power-assisted or power-driven steering fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle
    • B62D5/20—Power-assisted or power-driven steering fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle specially adapted for particular type of steering gear or particular application
    • B62D5/22—Power-assisted or power-driven steering fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle specially adapted for particular type of steering gear or particular application for rack-and-pinion type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D3/00—Steering gears
    • B62D3/02—Steering gears mechanical
    • B62D3/12—Steering gears mechanical of rack-and-pinion type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D7/00—Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings
    • B62D7/22—Arrangements for reducing or eliminating reaction, e.g. vibration, from parts, e.g. wheels, of the steering system

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Steering-Linkage Mechanisms And Four-Wheel Steering (AREA)

Abstract

The rack and pinion steering mechanism comprises a rack bar 12 mounted for linear movement in a rack bar housing 10. The ends of the rack bar 12 carry respective transverse arms 14, 16 interconnected by a rigid tie member 18 extending alongside the rack bar housing 10. Respective ball joints 20, 22 through which movement of the rack bar 12 is transmitted to track rods 24,26 are positioned by the respective arms offset from the line of movement of the rack bar. This allows increased levels of steering geometry tuning. The rigid tie member 18 can be the piston rod of a power assistance unit 20. Also, a damper 28 may be provided for the steering mechanism. The damper comprises a housing 30 and a damper rod 32 connected to ones of the arms 14,16.

Description

VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISMS The invention relates to a rack and pinion steering mechanism for a motor vehicle.
A typical rack and pinion steering mechanism comprises a rack bar mounted for linear movement in a rack bar housing, the rack bar carrying a ball joint at each end through which movement is transmitted to a track rod. An arrangement of that kind can be seen in GB-A-1 580 531. When tuning steering geometry, the long established mounting of the ball joints on the rack bar requires the designer to make adjustments in other areas of the steering geometry and an object of the present invention is to provide a rack and pinion steering mechanism which will provide increased levels of steering geometry tuning.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a rack and pinion steering mechanism for a motor vehicle comprising a rack bar mounted for linear movement in a rack bar housing, the ends of the rack bar carrying respective transverse arms interconnected by a rigid tie member extending alongside the rack bar housing, and respective ball joints through which movement of the rack bar is transmitted to track rods, the ball joints being positioned by the respective arms offset from the line of movement of the rack bar.
Such an arrangement permits the position of the ball joints to be selected appropriately when tuning the steering geometry for a particular vehicle as the mechanism does not require the ball joints to be mounted at the ends of the rack bar.
Preferably, the tie member is parallel with the rack bar.
In a preferred embodiment, the ball joints are arranged in line with respective ends of the tie member.
The tie member may be a drive output member of a power assistance unit. In such a case, the drive output member may be a piston rod of the power assistance unit.
A damper may be provided for damping the steering movement and may be attached to one of the transverse arms and to a stationary part of the steering mechanism. The damper may be attached to one of the arms at a position between the associated ball joint and the rack bar.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle having a rack and pinion steering mechanism according to the first aspect of the invention or to any other consistory clauses related thereto.
A rack and pinion steering mechanism in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a plan view of the rack and pinion mechanism.
The rack and pinion steering mechanism comprises a rack bar housing 10 of known kind having therein a rack bar 12. The rack bar 12 is movable linearly by rotation of a pinion shaft 13 connected, in use, to a steering column of the vehicle.
In accordance with the invention, the ends of the rack bar 12 carry respective transverse arms 14, 16. Ends of the arms 16 spaced from the rack bar 12 are interconnected by a piston rod 18 of a power assistance unit 20 of known kind. The piston rod 18 is parallel with the rack bar 12.
The ends of the arms 16 adjacent the piston rod 18 carry respective ball joints 20, 22 which are connected to respective track rods 24, 26.
A damper 28 may be provided for the steering mechanism. The damper 28 comprises a housing 30 connected to, for example, the rack housing 10 and a damper rod 32 connected to the arm 16. The damper 28 could, instead, be arranged such that the damper rod 32 is connected to the transverse arm 14.
The steering mechanism may be of a non-power assisted type. In such a case, the piston rod 18 would be replaced by a suitable rigid member such as a bar which interconnects the arms 14, 16.
In a conventional rack and pinion steering mechanism, the ball joints 20, 22 would be arranged at the ends of the rack bar 12 on the line of movement thereof. The provision of the arms 14, 16 offer the designer greater flexibility over the positioning of the ball joints 20, 22 relative to the rack bar 12 thereby providing increased levels of steering geometry tuning.

Claims (10)

1. A rack and pinion steering mechanism for a motor vehicle comprising a rack bar mounted for linear movement in a rack bar housing, the ends of the rack bar carrying respective transverse arms interconnected by a rigid tie member extending alongside the rack bar housing, and respective ball joints through which movement of the rack bar is transmitted to track rods, the ball joints being positioned by the respective arms offset from the line of movement of the rack bar.
2. A rack and pinion steering mechanism according to Claim 1 in which the tie member is parallel with the rack bar.
3. A rack and pinion steering mechanism according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the ball joints are arranged in line with respective ends of the tie member.
4. A rack and pinion steering mechanism according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the tie member is a drive output member of a power assistance unit.
5. A rack and pinion mechanism according to Claim 4 in which the drive output member is a piston rod.
6. A rack and pinion steering mechanism according to any preceding claim in which a damper is provided for damping steering movement.
7. A rack and pinion steering mechanism according to Claim 6 in which the damper is attached to one of the arms and to a stationary part of the steering mechanism.
8. A rack and pinion steering mechanism according to Claim 7 in which the damper is attached to one of the arms at a position between the associated ball joint and the rack bar.
9. A rack and pinion steering mechanism for a motor vehicle constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.
10. A motor vehicle having a rack and pinion steering mechanism according to any preceding claim.
GB9717124A 1997-08-14 1997-08-14 Rack and pinion steering gear Withdrawn GB2328191A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9717124A GB2328191A (en) 1997-08-14 1997-08-14 Rack and pinion steering gear

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9717124A GB2328191A (en) 1997-08-14 1997-08-14 Rack and pinion steering gear

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9717124D0 GB9717124D0 (en) 1997-10-22
GB2328191A true GB2328191A (en) 1999-02-17

Family

ID=10817409

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9717124A Withdrawn GB2328191A (en) 1997-08-14 1997-08-14 Rack and pinion steering gear

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2328191A (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005023625A1 (en) * 2003-08-05 2005-03-17 Thyssenkrupp Presta Steertec Gmbh Steering gear for a motor vehicle
WO2005054038A1 (en) * 2003-12-05 2005-06-16 Zf Lenksysteme Gmbh Rack servo-assisted steering
WO2005080178A1 (en) * 2004-02-18 2005-09-01 Zf Lenksysteme Gmbh Hydraulic power assisted steering system
ES2278540A1 (en) * 2005-03-31 2007-08-01 Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd. Power steering apparatus
CN108128347A (en) * 2017-12-21 2018-06-08 芜湖恒隆汽车转向系统有限公司 A kind of supporting and limiting device and method for supporting of rack-and-pinion manual steering gear

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1234482A (en) * 1968-07-01 1971-06-03
US3944015A (en) * 1973-10-26 1976-03-16 Bishop Arthur E Rack and pinion steering gear
US4663980A (en) * 1983-08-09 1987-05-12 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Rack and pinion steering gear
EP0371852A1 (en) * 1988-11-29 1990-06-06 Regie Nationale Des Usines Renault Steering device for the rear wheels of a vehicle with four-wheel steering
WO1992005061A1 (en) * 1990-09-21 1992-04-02 Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Ag Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering for motor vehicles, in particular heavy vehicles
DE4328156C1 (en) * 1993-08-21 1994-10-06 Daimler Benz Ag Toothed rack steering system for steerable wheels which are assigned to an axle of a vehicle
DE4422559A1 (en) * 1994-06-28 1995-07-27 Daimler Benz Ag Rack and pinion steering for vehicle

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1234482A (en) * 1968-07-01 1971-06-03
US3944015A (en) * 1973-10-26 1976-03-16 Bishop Arthur E Rack and pinion steering gear
US4663980A (en) * 1983-08-09 1987-05-12 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Rack and pinion steering gear
EP0371852A1 (en) * 1988-11-29 1990-06-06 Regie Nationale Des Usines Renault Steering device for the rear wheels of a vehicle with four-wheel steering
WO1992005061A1 (en) * 1990-09-21 1992-04-02 Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Ag Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering for motor vehicles, in particular heavy vehicles
DE4328156C1 (en) * 1993-08-21 1994-10-06 Daimler Benz Ag Toothed rack steering system for steerable wheels which are assigned to an axle of a vehicle
DE4422559A1 (en) * 1994-06-28 1995-07-27 Daimler Benz Ag Rack and pinion steering for vehicle

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005023625A1 (en) * 2003-08-05 2005-03-17 Thyssenkrupp Presta Steertec Gmbh Steering gear for a motor vehicle
CN100448727C (en) * 2003-08-05 2009-01-07 蒂森克鲁伯普雷斯塔转向技术有限公司 Steering gear for a motor vehicle
WO2005054038A1 (en) * 2003-12-05 2005-06-16 Zf Lenksysteme Gmbh Rack servo-assisted steering
WO2005080178A1 (en) * 2004-02-18 2005-09-01 Zf Lenksysteme Gmbh Hydraulic power assisted steering system
US7942230B2 (en) 2004-02-18 2011-05-17 Zf Lenksysteme Gmbh Hydraulic power steering system
ES2278540A1 (en) * 2005-03-31 2007-08-01 Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd. Power steering apparatus
CN108128347A (en) * 2017-12-21 2018-06-08 芜湖恒隆汽车转向系统有限公司 A kind of supporting and limiting device and method for supporting of rack-and-pinion manual steering gear

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9717124D0 (en) 1997-10-22

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Legal Events

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)