Patent ID: 7040449
Filing Date: 2006-05-09
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A power steering gearbox mechanism for vehicles comprising: a steering column; a rack-and-pinion mechanism connected to said steering column; a hydraulic control means operatively connected to said rack-and-pinion mechanism for assisting a movement of said rack-and-pinion mechanism relative to a rotation of said steering column; a pump means connected to said hydraulic control means through a hydraulic fluid reservoir; a valve means connected to said pump means; a first pipe extending from said hydraulic fluid reservoir to said pump means; a second pipe extending from said valve means to said hydraulic control means; a third pipe extending from said hydraulic control means to said hydraulic fluid reservoir; and a fourth pipe extending from said valve means so as to connect directly to said hydraulic fluid reservoir or into said third pipe, said valve means being movable between a first position and a second position, said first position for directing a hydraulic fluid through said first and second pipes from said hydraulic fluid reservoir to said hydraulic control means, said second position for directing the hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic fluid reservoir through at least said fourth pipe back to said hydraulic fluid reservoir without passing through said second pipe and through said hydraulic control means, said pump means for pumping hydraulic fluid through the valve means; a sensor means cooperatively connected to said valve means, said sensor means for sensing a speed of the vehicle, said sensor means for sending an electrical signal to said valve means for moving said valve means to said first position when the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined value, said sensor means for sending another electrical signal to said valve means when the speed of the vehicle is above a predetermined value.