Patent ID: 8662241

Claim:
An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels comprising: a hydraulic power steering motor connected with the steerable vehicle wheels and operable to turn the steerable vehicle wheels, a pump connected in fluid communication with said hydraulic power steering motor by a supply conduit and operable to supply hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic power steering motor during turning of the steerable vehicle wheels, and a continuously variable transmission connected with an engine of a vehicle and with said pump, said continuously variable transmission being operable under the influence of force transmitted from the engine of the vehicle to drive said pump at a first speed when the flow of fluid from said pump is at a first level, said continuously variable transmission being operable under the influence of force transmitted from the engine to drive said pump at a second speed different than said first speed when the flow of fluid from said pump is at a second level different than the first level, said first speed at which said pump is driven by said continuously variable transmission is greater than said second speed at which said pump is driven by said continuously variable transmission.