Patent ID: 7685928
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A powered steering mechanism comprising: a cylinder having a rod, said rod being provided within said cylinder and being able to reciprocate into and out of said cylinder; a piston fixed to said rod, said cylinder defining a first pressure chamber on one side of said piston and a second pressure chamber on the other side of said piston, said first pressure chamber and said second pressure chamber having first and second inlet/outlet steering ports respectively, said first pressure chamber and said second pressure chamber having a pressurizing fluid flowing into or out of the first or second chamber through said first and second inlet/outlet steering ports, said piston being moved one way or the other within said cylinder dependent on wherein a chamber is pressurized, said rod being moved into or out of said cylinder to provide steering movement, wherein said cylinder is adapted to provide powered self-centering of said piston and a steering mechanism connected to said rod, said first and second pressure chambers having first and second floating pistons located respectively within the first and second pressure chambers on opposite sides of said piston and first and second inlet/outlet centering ports into the first and second pressure chambers respectively, the first and second chambers having fluid flowing through the pressure chambers and the centering ports to pressurize first sides of the floating pistons, the floating pistons moving towards a central position within said cylinder, said piston being moved to and retained at said central position within said cylinder.