AUTOMATIC CLEARANCE COMPENSATOR OF SUPPORT YORK FOR USE IN RACK AND PINION TYPE STEERING APPARATUS

摘要

An automatic clearance compensation device of a support yoke in a rack and pinion steering system is provided to compensate the clearance of the support yoke automatically by keeping the regular gap with a first cam, a second cam and a yoke spring. An automatic clearance compensation device(300) includes a support yoke(310), a yoke spring(320), a first cam(330), a fixing member(340), a second cam(350), a yoke plug(360), and a torsion spring(370). The first inclined surface of the first cam is contacted to the second inclined surface of the second cam to move the first cam and the second cam relatively. A first groove is formed in the rear center of the second cam, and a second groove is formed in the front center of the yoke plug. The torsion spring is mounted between the first groove and the second groove, and two ends of the torsion spring are fastened to the second cam and the yoke plug. The second cam is turned by relaxing the torsion spring in forming a clearance from wear of the support yoke. The clearance is compensated automatically by moving the first cam, the fixing member, the yoke spring and the support yoke to a rack bar with relative motion between the first and second inclined surfaces.