Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-04-03
Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3723)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209183
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a rack and pinion steering gear assembly and, in particular, is directed to a tool for installing a rack bushing into a housing of an electric power assisted rack and pinion steering gear assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical electric power assisted rack and pinion steering gear assembly for a vehicle includes a rack which extends axially through a housing. The ends of the rack project from the ends of the housing and are connected with steering linkage which connects to steerable vehicle wheels. The rack is supported at one end of the housing for axial movement within the housing upon actuation of an electric motor. This support is provided by a rack bushing that is received and supported in an outboard end portion of the housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a tool for installing a bushing into a housing of a rack and pinion steering system. The housing has an end portion that includes a ring-shaped bushing chamber and a circular opening into the bushing chamber. The opening has a first diameter, and the bushing chamber has a second diameter greater than the first diameter of the circular opening. The bushing is radially compressible between a first, fully expanded state and a second, fully compressed state. The bushing when in the bushing chamber is partially expanded.
The tool comprises a plunger having a first portion with an outer diameter that is less than the first diameter of the opening in the housing. The first portion of the plunger has a circumferential groove defined by a pair of annular end surfaces extending radially inward from the outer surface and a cylindrical base surface extending axially between the end surfaces at a location radially inward of the outer surface. The groove receives the bushing during installation of the bushing in the housing. The annular end surfaces of the groove block axial movement of the bushing along the first portion of the plunger while the bushing is on the plunger. The tool also includes a sleeve slidable along the first portion of the plunger to radially compress the bushing and hold the bushing in the groove during installation of the bushing in the housing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1603471 (1926-10-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 3553817 (1971-01-01), Lallak
patent: 4807343 (1989-02-01), Wadsworth
patent: 5050282 (1991-09-01), Zannini
patent: 5355572 (1994-10-01), Kammeraad et al.
patent: 5890271 (1999-04-01), Bromley et al.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
Watson Robert C.
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