Patent ID: 7021190

Claim:
A rack and pinion steering apparatus for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle in response to rotation of a steering wheel, the apparatus comprising: a housing including first and second passages, a first inner surface of the housing defining the first passage and a second inner surface of the housing defining the second passage; a rack bar extending through the first passage of the housing and being movable relative to the housing for turning the steerable wheels of the vehicle; a hydraulic motor for, when actuated, moving the rack bar relative to the housing; an input assembly being connectable with the steering wheel and including a first portion of a control valve for directing fluid to the hydraulic motor, the input assembly extending into the second passage of the housing; a portion of the second inner surface of the housing forming a first bearing surface; an output assembly located in the second passage of the housing and including a pinion gear portion that is in meshing engagement with the rack bar and also including a second portion of the control valve, an outer surface of the output assembly including a second bearing surface, the first bearing surface cooperating with the second bearing surface to define an annular space for receiving fluid for supporting rotation of the output assembly relative to the housing; and a lubrication channel extending into the second bearing surface and intersecting the outer surface of the output assembly, the lubrication channel being in fluid communication with the annular space and including a portion that extends axially beyond the first bearing surface and into fluid communication with a fluid channel of the control valve, wherein the portion of the lubrication channel that extends axially beyond the first bearing surface and into fluid communication with the fluid channel of the control valve is a first portion, the lubrication channel also including a second portion that is spaced away from the first portion and that also extends axially beyond the first bearing surface and into fluid communication with the fluid channel of the control valve.