IE45879B1

IE45879B1 - Improvements in or relating to steering gears

Info

Publication number: IE45879B1
Application number: IE2616/77A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Cam Gears Ltd
Priority date: 1976-12-16
Filing date: 1977-12-22
Publication date: 1982-12-15
Also published as: ZA782324B; PL207125A1; DK141814B; FR2374199A1; DK141814C; ES469529A1; FR2374199B1; NO781733L; GB1597360A; DK588077A

Abstract

A. Power steering system for a vehicle and b. System characterized in that it comprises a solenoid valve responsive to an electrical signal representative of the speed of the vehicle for controlling the flow of fluid through a portion of the system, this solenoid valve having a single inlet and a single output, the constituents of the system being arranged so that the pressure of the fluid transmitted by the branch pipe to the feeler element is increased when increases the speed of the vehicle, whereby the element by virtue of feeler offers higher resistance to a manual implementation of a steering control for a vehicle speed as high as for a reduced speed. [FR2374199A1]

Description

This invention relates to steering gears and primarily to such a gear as is suitable for motor vehicles.

More particularly, the invention concerns a steering gear of the push rod kind (hereinafter referred to the kind S specified) in which a longitudinally extending push rod member is mounted for longitudinal displacement in a housing member and is intended to provide a steering output in response to its longitudinal displacement relative to the housing member; the push rod member has a screw threaded part to which is drivingly connected a nut so that, upon rotation of the nut relative to the housing member, the push rod member is intended to exhibit longitudinal displacement; there being provided means for rotating the nut in response to a steering input and means for restraining the push rod member from freely rotating relative to the housing member during rotation of the nut.

In use of a steering gear of the kind specified, the push rod member is coupled to the steerable road wheels of a vehicle while the means for rotating the nut is coupled to a driver steerable component so that, upon adjustment of the steerable component, the nut is rotated to impart longitudinal displacement to the push rod member and thereby a change - 3 45879 in steering is effected. The steering effect upon the road wheels is therefore in direct relationship to the longitudinal displacement which is exhibited by the push rod member as a result of the nut, when rotating, driving the push rod member. Hitherto, due to the driving engagement between the nut and push rod member the longitudinal displacement exhibited by the push rod member has been directly proportional to the rotation exhibited by the nut so that, irrespective of the position of engagement between the nut and push rod member in the range of such engagement, for a particular amount of rotation of the nut the longitudinal displacement of the push rod member which resulted therefrom has been the same. The effect of this is that in hitherto proposed push rod steering gears the steering ratio between the input (resulting in rotation of the nut) and the output (which results from the longitudinal displacement of the push rod member) has been constant throughout the overall displacement of which the push rod member is capable and it is an object of the present invention to provide a steering gear of the kind specified in which the aforementioned ratio may be varied within or throughout the longitudinal displacement of which the push rod member is capable.

According to the present invention there is provided a steering gear of the kind specified in which the push rod member is restrained from exhibiting rotation relative to the housing member during its longitudinal displacement by a track follower on one of said members slidably engaging and following a longitudinally extending track on the other said member, and wherein at least part (hereinafter referred to as a control part'*) length of the track extends in a direction other than parallel to the direction in which push rod member is longitudinally displaced so that, during longitudinal displacement of the push rod member and while the track follower is moving along the control part of the track, the push rod member exhibits controlled rotation relative to the housing - 4 member and thereby effects a change in the steering ratio between the longitudinal displacement of the push rod member and rotation of the nut as compared with such ratio as would be derived by the track follower moving along a rectilinear track part which extends parallel to the direction of longitudinal displacement of the push rod member or along a further control part length the track having a different configuration or orientation than that of the first mentioned control part.

By the present invention the push rod member, for a given amount of rotation of the nut, is capable of exhibiting controlled rotation relative to the housing member for at least part of its permissible longitudinal displacement and as such, when the push rod member is exhibiting controlled IS rotation under the influence of the rotating nut, the longitudinal displacement of the push rod member may be reduced or increased in comparison with such longitudinal displacement of the push rod member as would be derived from the same given amount of rotation of the nut and, for example, with no rotat20 ion of the push rod member. Consequently by appropriate design in the longitudinal configuration of the track shape and/or the orientation of the, or part of the, track extent relative to the direction in which the push rod member is displaced, the steering ratio provided by the gear can be varied (continuously or intermittently as required) throughout the permissible longitudinal displacement of the push rod member. It is therefore intended that the configuration of the track will vary over its longitudinal extent and such configuration may include one or more rectilinear control part lengths which are out of parallel with the direction of push rod member displacement and/or one or more non-rectilinear control part lengths. It is envisaged that a non-rectilinear control part of the track will usually be of helical configuration; for example, the whole length of the track may be of helical con4 5 8 7 9 - 5 figuration in which the pitch of the helix varies over its extent in accordance with the variation in steering ratio which is to be provided.

As will be realised the relationship between the nut, the means for rotating the nut, the driving engagement between the nut and the push rod member, and the configuration of the track will be selected in accordance with a predetermined mechanical advantage which is to be provided between the input and the output of the steering gear but is variable at at least two different regions of sliding engagement between the track and track follower.

In a preferred embodiment the track is in the form of an appropriately shaped channel in the surface of the push rod member (this is convenient since it facilitates machining of the push rod) and the track follower is in the form of a peg or roller stationarily mounted on the housing (or an extension thereof) to engage in and follow the channel. Alternatively however the track may be located on the housing member (or an extension thereof) while an appropriate track follower is provided on the push rod member, for example the track can be in the form of a helical rib extending radially inwardly from a cylindrical wall of the housing member and within the confines of which wall is co-axially located the push rod member, the latter being provided with a bifurcated track follower which straddles the rib and restrains the push rod member from exhibiting rotation other than that as determined by the control part of the track.

Rotation of the nut may be effected in any convenient manner either directly (for example as a direct result of adjustment of a steerable component) or indirectly (for example through a gear system such as a rack and pinion, a bevel gear arrangement or a meshing helical skew gear arrangement in a manner which is the subject of British Patent Specification No. 1,531,829). - 6 The steering gear may include means by which power assistance can be provided for displacement of the push rod member, for example by forming the push rod member as, or as part of, a piston rod for a piston in a fluid pressure oper5 ated double acting piston and cylinder device the control of fluid pressure to which is achieved by a valve mechanism adjustable in response to variations in steering input to the steering gear; such a power assistance arrangement along with others which may be applied to a push rod steering gear of the kind specified are well known in the relevant art (for example British Patent Specification No. 1,364,021) and as such are not further discussed.

The driving engagement between the nut and threaded part of the push rod member is preferably by way of a recirculating IS ball mechanism although other forms of driving engagement may be used, as convenient, for example a sliding thread engagement.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a variable ratio steering apparatus for use in effecting turning movement of a steerable wheel of a vehicle, said apparatus including a housing, a longitudinally extending first drive member having an end portion connected with the steerable vehicle wheel, said first drive member being longitudinally movable relative to the housing to effect turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheel, a second drive member circumscribing a portion of said first drive member and being retained against longitudinal movement relative to the housing, input means for applying force to said second drive member to effect movement of said second drive member, force transmit30 ting means for transmitting force from said second drive member to said first drive member to move said first drive member longitudinally in response to movement of said second drive member under the influence of said input means, and control means connected with one of said drive members for effecting a variation in the rate of longitudinal movement of - 7 said first drive member to thereby vary the rate of turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheel.

One embodiment of a push rod steering gear of the kind specified and constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing which shows a longitudinal section through the gear.

The steering gear has a housing 1 which consists of a cylindrical main body la, a tubular part lb which extends from and is generally co-axial with the body la and a tubular cylindrical branch portion lc the axis of which subtends an acute angle with the axis of the body la. Co-axially located within the main body la is a tubular nut 2 which is rotationally mounted relative to, and restrained from both axial and radial displacement in, the housing body la by bearings 3. The nut 2 is provided with a bevel gear 4 on an end thereof in the region of the housing portion lc. Located in and extending from the housing portion lc is a steering shaft 5 which is rotatably mounted relative to, and restrained against axial and radial displacement in, the housing portion lc by bearings 6.

The end of the shaft 5 extending from the housing is intended to be coupled to a steerable component (such as a steering wheel) in conventional manner while the other end of the shaft 5 is provided with a bevel gear 7 which is in meshing engagement with the bevel gear 4· Consequently, upon rotation of the shaft 5 rotation is imparted to the nut 2 through the bevel gears 4 and 7· Received within and extending through the nut 2 is a cylindrical push rod 8 having a screw threaded part 9· The screw thread 9 is drivingly connected to the nut 2 through a recirculating ball mechanism 10 located at the end of the nut 2 remote from the bevel gear 4. By this drive arrange- 8 45879 ment, if the nut 2 is rotated while the push rod 8 is restrained from sympathetic rotation therewith, the push rod will be displaced longitudinally (axially of the housing la) to provide a steering output. Such output is utilised in conventional manner by an end 11 of the push rod 8 which extends from the housing 1 being coupled in conventional manner to steerable road wheels so that the latter are adjusted in response to displacement of the push rod. Tubular bellows 12 are connected between the outer end 11 of the push rod and the housing 1 to alleviate the likelihood of extraneous matter entering the mechanism, (particularly the ball thread). Displacement of the inner end 13 of the push rod is accommodated within the housing extension lb.

Provided in the surface of the push rod 8 over a part length thereof remote from the screw thread 9 is a track in the form of a longitudinally extending channel 14. Engaging in the channel 14 to be longitudinally slidable relative to the push rod is a pin 15 stationarily mounted in a boss 16 on the housing 1. A screw cap 17 retains the pin 15 in the housing. The engagement between the pin 15 and channel 14 restrains the push rod 8 from freely rotating relative to the housing part la during longitudinal displacement of the push rod and while the pin 15 slides within the channel 14. A spring loaded plunger 18 is mounted in the housing 1 to slidably engage the push rod 8 on the side thereof remote from the pin 15 and to bias the push rod so that the channel 14 and pin 15 are urged into engagement.

In accordance with the present invention the channel 14 has a control part of its longitudinal extent of non-rectilinear formation, more particularly of helical formation as illustrated in the drawing. The channel 14 extends from the helical control part illustrated towards the inner end 13 of the push rod and this further longitudinal extent of the channel (not illustrated) may be (a) of rectilinear form par4 5 8 7 8 - 9 allel with the direction of longitudinal displacement of the push rod or (b) of a form which constitutes a further control part length of the channel, for example of rectilinear form which is out of parallel with the axis of the nut 2 or of non-rectilinear form (possibly so that the overall longitudinal extent of the groove is of varying pitch helical configuration). By this arrangement when the push rod 8 is undergoing longitudinal displacement as a result of the nut 2 being rotated, the push rod will not exhibit rotation relative to the housing la if, and for so long as, the pin 15 is sliding within a rectilinear part length of the channel 14 which part length is parallel to the axis of the nut 2; however, upon the pin 15 entering and sliding along a control part length of the channel 14 which is of non-rectilinear form or is of rectilinear form out of parallel with the axis of the nut 2, then the engagement between the pin and channel imparts controlled rotation to the push rod 8 while the nut 2 is rotating. As a consequence of this latter effect the longitudinal displacement of the push rod 8 which results from controlled rotation of the push rod simultaneously with rotation of the nut 2 will, for a given amount of rotation of the nut 2, be varied in comparison, for example, with the longitudinal displacement exhibited by the push rod for the same given amount of rotation of the nut 2 but when the push rod is not exhibit25 ing controlled rotation relative to the housing la. By appropriate configuration of the longitudinal form presented by the channel 14 therefore, for a given amount of rotation of the shaft 5 the resultant longitudinal displacement of the push rod 8 can be varied at predetermined regional positions of the push rod relative to the housing 1 and so the steering ratio provided between the longitudinal displacement of the push rod 8 and the rotation of the input shaft 5 can be varied.

In addition to the advantage or providing a relatively uncomplicated form of variable ratio steering gear, the pre35 sent invention provides the advantage that the characteristics of the steering gear ratio variability can be changed for a - 10 particular steering gear merely by removing the existing push rod and replacing it with a similar push rod but having a channel 14 of different longitudinal configuration.

Claims

1. A steering gear of the kind specified in whioh the push rod member is restrained from exhibiting rotation relative to the housing member during its longitudinal displacement 2. In which the track has at least one non-rectilinear control part length which is substantially of helical configuration.

2. A steering gear as claimed in claim 1 in which the track has at least one rectilinear control part length which is out of parallel with the direction of longitudinal displacement 25 of the push rod member.

3. A steering gear as claimed in either claim 1 or claim

4. A steering gear as claimed in claim 3 in which the pitch 30 of the helix varies over its extent in accordance with the 43879 - 12 variations in steering ratio which is to be provided. 5. Relative to the housing member to engage in and follow the channel.

5. A steering gear as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the track is in the form of a channel on the push rod member and the track follower is stationarily mounted 5 by a track follower on one of said members slidably engaging and following a longitudinally extending track on the other said member, and wherein at least a control part length of the track extends in a direction other than parallel to the direction in which push rod member is longitudinally displaced 10 so that, during longitudinal displacement of the push rod member and while the track follower is moving along the control part of the track, the push rod member exhibits controlled rotation relative to the housing member and thereby effects a change in the steering ratio between the longitudinal dis15 placement of the push rod member and rotation of the nut as compared with such ratio as would be derived by the track follower moving along a rectilinear track part which extends parallel to the direction of longitudinal displacement of the push rod member or along a further control part length the 20 track having a different configuration or orientation than that of the first mentioned control part.

6. A steering gear as claimed in claim 5 in which the track follower is a peg or roller.

7. A steering gear as claimed in either claim 5 or claim 6 10 wherein the channel is formed as dn extension of the screw thread on the push rod member.

8. A steering gear as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which biasing means is provided between the housing member and the push rod member and relative to which the push 15 rod member is relatively slidable longitudinally, said biasing means acting to bias the push rod member laterally and urge the track and track follower into engagement.

9. A steering gear as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which rotation of the nut in response to rotation 20 of a steerable component is effected through a bevel gear arrangement or a meshing helical skew gear arrangement. 10. A steering gear as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the driving engagement between the nut and the threaded part of the push rod member is a recirculating 25 ball mechanism. 11. A steering gear substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing. 12. A variable ratio steering apparatus for use in effecting 43879 - 13 turning movement of a steerable wheel of a vehicle, said apparatus including a housing, a longitudinally extending first drive member having an end portion connected with the steerable vehicle wheel, said first drive member being long5 itudinally movable relative to the housing to effect turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheel, a second drive member circumscribing a portion of said first drive member and being retained against longitudinal movement relative to the housing, input means for applying force to said

10. Second drive member to effect movement of said second drive member, force transmitting means for transmitting force from said second drive member to said first drive member to move said first drive member longitudinally in response to movement of said second drive member under the influence of said IS input means, and control means connected with one of said drive members for effecting a variation in the rate of longitudinal movement of said first drive member to thereby vary the rate of turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheel. F. R. KELLY & CO.