Motor vehicles – Including one or more ski-like or runner members – With at least one surface-engaging propulsion element
Patent
1981-03-03
1983-05-17
Pekar, John A.
Motor vehicles
Including one or more ski-like or runner members
With at least one surface-engaging propulsion element
180158, B62D 510
Patent
active
043835872
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The shortening of overall lengths of rack steering gears has always presented a problem. Thus in German patent DBP No. 11 37 328, the overall length of the construction is shortened by disposing the control valve in an axial bore of the power piston. The reciprocating drive of the steering mechanism connects to the ends of the piston rods. Due to the required length of stroke of the piston rod, there is insufficient space for the steering rods, particularly in vehicles with a narrow wheel base. Thus the steering rods must be made short and this is a disadvantage in the steering geometry. Another disadvantage in the patented arrangement is that the oil lines to the control valve provide sealing difficulties.
German patent OS No. 19 33 403 shows shortening of the overall arrangement by disposing the booster cylinder alonside the rack. The steering rods are attached at the ends of the rack by means of ball joints, and are relatively short. Additionally, the patented arrangement requires elements of the control valve to rotate with the steering spindle and the pinion which causes sealing problems.
German patent OS No. 20 32 183 shows an arrangement wherein the point of rotation of the ball bearings of the steering rod is inside the rack and shifted within the cylinder through a rolling diaphragm. The gain in length for the steering rods is relatively small.
German patent OS No. 21 14 591 shows an arrangement wherein the steering rods are attached to the rack approximately at the middle of the steering gear. Although the steering rods are not necessarily limited in length, the construction is expensive and the rigidity of the housing is reduced by the slots required for the steering rods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The present invention avoids the disadvantages of the prior art with their sealing complexities by means of bores through a piston rod of the booster piston, the piston rod being fixed to the vehicle frame so that not only is the solidity of the overall construction improved and sealing improved, but the overall dimensions of the power cylinder housing and the piston rod are reduced. By having the power cylinder housing shiftable on the fixed piston rod, a simpler mode of connection between steering rods and wheels is effected and such rods can be made longer in a symmetrical geometry between points of connection with the shiftable booster cylinder housing and the vehicle wheels. This effects a force transmitting advantage.
Specifically, by having the steering rods connected to a reciprocal booster cylinder housing, optimum use of the space available for steering rods can be made so as to enable the invention to utilize longer rods. Additionally, by feeding the chambers of the booster cylinder via bores in a stationary piston rod, no movable connections are required and sealing problems are reduced accordingly.
A detailed description of the invention now follows in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a rack steering gear embodying the invention, and
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the booster cylinder housing showing essential components which comprise the invention.
Referring to the drawing, a rack 1 is slidable on a piston rod 2 of a booster piston 3 reciprocal in a housing 4. The housing is cylindrical in the length traversed by the piston, thus providing a booster cylinder 5. Pinion 6 is rotatably carried in the housing meshing with the rack 1. The piston rod 2 extends sealingly at both ends through the respective ends of the housing and will be understood to be fixed to the frame of a vehicle. Accordingly, while the piston rod is relatively stationary, being secured to the vehicle, the housing 4 can reciprocate on the piston rod for movement relative thereto and the rack is slidable along piston rod 2.
A pair of steering rods 8 are pivotally secured to the housing 4 by means of attachment eyes 7 and are connected at their outer ends to respective wheels 9 in the usual manner for effecting steering. It will be noted
REFERENCES:
patent: 3982604 (1976-09-01), Crawford
patent: 4144948 (1979-03-01), Sergay
Pekar John A.
Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
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