Patent ID: 8439151

Claim:
An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels comprising: a hydraulic power steering motor operatively 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 and operable to supply hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic power steering motor during turning of the steerable vehicle wheels, a continuously variable transmission connected with an engine of a vehicle and with said pump, said continuously variable transmission having an input shaft rotatable under the influence of force transmitted from the engine, said continuously variable transmission having an output shaft operable to drive said pump, said continuously variable transmission being operable to drive said pump at a first speed when one of said input and output shafts rotates at a first speed, said continuously variable transmission being operable to drive said pump at a second speed when said one of said input and output shafts rotates at a second speed, said first speed at which said pump is driven by said continuously variable transmission during a vehicle steering operation is greater than said second speed at which said pump is driven by said continuously variable transmission, and a centrifugal sensor connected with said one of said input and output shafts, said centrifugal sensor transferring rotational movement of said one of said input and output shafts to a linearly displaceable input member of said continuously variable transmission to change the speed at which said pump is driven.