Patent ID: 6598697
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A steering apparatus for an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising:an elongated hollow housing adapted to be mounted on a body structure of the vehicle; a steering shaft mounted within said housing for sliding movement therethrough, said steering shaft having opposite left and right ends extending from said housing; left and right steering members for transmitting motion of said steering shaft to steerable vehicle wheels; said left and right steering members operatively coupled to said left and right ends of said steering shaft through left and right joint assemblies; left and right protective boots sealing said joint assemblies and associated end of said steering shaft; said left protective boot defines a left joint chamber and said right protective boot defines a right joint chamber; and an air tract fluidly interconnecting said left joint chamber with said right joint chamber for equalizing pressure in said left and right joint chambers; said air tract includes a longitudinal passage formed in said steering shaft and a communication passage formed in a joint casing of each of said left and right joint assemblies, said joint casing is secured to one of said ends of said steering shaft, said communication passage is in fluid communication with said longitudinal passage formed in said steering shaft for establishing fluid communication between said left ball joint chamber and said right ball joint chamber; wherein said communication passage formed in said joint casing of each of said left and right ball joint assemblies includes a central passage formed through a mounting rod of said ball joint casing and at least one transverse bore extending substantially radially from said central passage through said mounting rod for providing fluid communication between said central passage and one of said left ball joint chamber and said right ball joint chamber, said central passage being in direct fluid communication with said longitudinal passage formed in said steering shaft.