IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO POWER-ASSISTED STEERING MECHANISMS, PARTICULARLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

摘要

In power-assisted motor vehicle steering mechanism comprising a rotary input member 11 connected through a torsion bar spring 14 to a valve body 4 which is rotatably mounted in a valve housing 1 and carries control pistons 5, 6 engaged by pins 12, 13 on the input member, a spigot-type output element 7 extending from the body 1 provides for mechanical steering gear 16, 32, 52 to be mounted separately from or to be flanged on to the valve housing 1. The output element 7 may either have a pinion 51 formed thereon, or be formed with serrations 15 or carry a spur gear 26. In Fig. 1 the steering gear 16 is connected to the valve housing 1 through an intermediate flange 11. In Fig. 3 the steering gear 32 is connected to the valve housing through an intermediate member 30 and has an input element 31 in mesh with the spur gear 26. In Fig. 5 the steering gear housing is separate from the valve housing 1 and the pinion 51 is rotatably mounted in the steering gear housing by needle bearings 54, 55 and a thrust bearing 56. A space 60 between the steering gear 52 and the valve housing 1 is sealed by an 0-ring 59. The input member 11 is connected to the steering shaft 18 by a flexible coupling 61, and the valve housing 1 is, secured against rotation by the hose connections thereto or by a flexible metal fixing means.