A rack and pinion mechanism, particularly suitable for use with a vehicle steering system, includes a pinion shaft 10 having pinion teeth 11 engageable with rack teeth 21 in a rack shaft 20. A pressure portion 31, typically in a rack guide 30, is provided at a side of rack shaft 20 opposite rack teeth 21 to press rack shaft 20 towards pinion shaft 10. A first elastic body, typically a coil spring 51, biases pressure portion 31 towards pinion shaft 10 by a first elastic restoring force, and a second elastic body, typically a coil spring 52, biases pressure portion 31 away from pinion shaft 10 by a second elastic restoring force, where in an initial state the first force towards pinion shaft 10 is greater than the second force away from pinion shaft 10; preferably the spring rate of first elastic body 51 is greater than that of second elastic body 52. In an embodiment, a receiving portion 32 is provided facing pressure portion 31 in an integral body carrying rack shaft 20, with elastic bodies 51, 52 at opposite ends of rack guide 30.
Rack and pinion mechanism
2016-08-10
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B62D MOTOR VEHICLES , Motorfahrzeuge |