Bruce Maurice Borror

US Patent:

49969056, Mar 5, 1991

Filed:

May 12, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/351430

Inventors:

Bruce M. Borror - Mount Carmel TN

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

F15B 910

US Classification:

91375A

Abstract:

A fluid power assisted rack and pinion steering system includes a steering gear assembly having a valve core, a valve sleeve, and an axially extending torsion bar. The input shaft of the steering gear is formed as the valve core, and one end of the torsion bar is pinned to the input shaft before the valve is balanced. A pinion is connected to and rotates with the valve sleeve, and the other end of the torsion bar is rotationally fixed to the pinion. The pinion has an axially extending tapered bore in which is received a matching tapered portion of the torsion bar. The tapered portion of the torsion bar engages the tapered portion of the bore in the pinion in a rotationally fixed locking engagement. Upon assembly of the steering gear, if the valve is not properly balanced, the tapered connection is easily loosened to adjust the relative angular orientation of the pinion to the torsion bar, and then retightened to again fix the torsion bar to the pinion.