Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Patent
1996-08-09
1998-10-06
Rice, Kenneth R.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
280 8913, B62D 1500
Patent
active
058165940
ABSTRACT:
A steering column centering assembly for resisting off-center movement of the steerable wheels of a vehicle and for returning them to a selected center position after each such movement. The centering assembly includes a screw member connected between input and output shafts of the vehicle steering column, a screw follower for engaging the screw member, a centering cylinder containing a pair of pistons, and a reciprocating member for engaging the pistons in response to movement of the screw follower. Movement of each piston in a corresponding centering chamber is resisted by a resilient force, and this resilient force causes the reciprocating member to resist axial movement of the screw follower and rotational movement of the screw member such that off-center movement of the steering column and of the steerable wheels is resisted by the centering assembly. The resistance force, the return force and the selected center position may be varied remotely.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3084566 (1963-04-01), Pistillo
patent: 3171298 (1965-03-01), Henry-Biabaud
patent: 3426612 (1969-02-01), Henry-Biabaud
patent: 3593592 (1971-07-01), Adams
patent: 3627346 (1971-12-01), Dorner et al.
patent: 3654820 (1972-04-01), Shachter
patent: 3888328 (1975-06-01), Leiber
patent: 4410193 (1983-10-01), Howard
patent: 4418931 (1983-12-01), Howard
patent: 4534577 (1985-08-01), Howard
patent: 4558878 (1985-12-01), Motrenec
patent: 4566712 (1986-01-01), Motrenec
patent: 4634135 (1987-01-01), Nakata et al.
patent: 4736962 (1988-04-01), Motrenec
patent: 5527053 (1996-06-01), Howard
patent: 5536028 (1996-07-01), Howard
LandOfFree
Steering column centering assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Steering column centering assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Steering column centering assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-70673