Patent ID: 8555741
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: B62D,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A power steering apparatus, comprising: a housing extending along a longitudinal axis and having a chamber with an inner surface; a rack disposed within said chamber for movement along said longitudinal axis; a pinion supported by said housing and extending into said chamber for meshing with said rack; a bearing engaging said inner surface of said chamber and disposed about said rack with said bearing having a wall of a continuous varying radial thickness circumferentially surrounding said rack with said wall defining a hole extending to a distal end defining a seat; and an adjustment device supported by said housing and connected to said seat such that said adjustment device is configured to push and pull said bearing for selectively rotatably adjusting said bearing relative to said longitudinal axis in both a clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation thereby moving said rack relative to said pinion for ensuring meshing engagement of said pinion with said rack, said adjustment device including a fastener having a first end defining a bulbous portion, a shaft extending from said first end to a second end for engagement with said housing, and a coil spring disposed around said shaft of said fastener for biasing between said bearing and said inner surface; and said inner surface of said housing further having a groove extending annularly around said longitudinal axis, said bearing further having a plurality of fingers disposed circumferentially around said bearing and biasing outward from said bearing for engagement into said groove to position said bearing in said chamber, each finger of said plurality of fingers being equidistant from adjacent fingers and having a notch disposed therebetween, said bearing further having a polymeric dampening mechanism that engages an outer face of said bearing and is spaced away from said plurality of fingers, said polymeric dampening mechanism dampening lash movements between said rack and said pinion.