Trw Limited

Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

Zf Active Safety and Electronics US LLC

Other

Zf Friedrichshafen Ag

Mark A Cartwright

Daniel E Williams

James Martin Hobaugh, Ii

Gerald K Oxley

Jonathan A Lewis

Samuel G Johnson, Iii

Gary L Dies

Frederick D Venable

Kevin E Boyle

David Koellisch

Stephen J Green

Gregory B Livengood

Kurt Achenbach

Greg B Livengood

John A Budzik, Jr

Philip S Peterson

Ryan L Noerenberg

Robert Geyer

David Lee Welker

Tony L Stevens

Benjamin W Schoon

Mark A Hoagland

Murthy N Nemani

Gerald W Thomas

Jonathan Lewis

Daniel L White

Gary L Vander Molen

Hendrik Wellen

James R Johnson

Terry D Carson

Paul E Jacobson

Bruce C Noah

An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels includes a rotatable shaft that is rotatable relative to the vehicle to effect turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheels. A ball nut assembly is connected with an externally threaded portion of the rotatable shaft. The ball nut assembly moves axially relative to the rotatable shaft upon rotation of the rotatable shaft relative to the ball nut assembly. A steering member is connected to the ball nut assembly and at least one steerable vehicle wheel. The steering member moves with the ball nut assembly relative to the shaft. An electrical motor is connected with the rotatable shaft. The motor is operable to effect rotation of the rotatable shaft relative to the ball nut assembly to turn the steerable vehicle wheels.

Apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels

An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels includes a rotatable output shaft. A first rotational input assembly is provided for transmitting a steering command from a steering control member to the output shaft. A power transmitting mechanism is configured to transmit the rotational force from the input assembly to the output shaft. The power transmitting mechanism includes a plurality of sector gears. A ball screw has longitudinally separated first and second ball screw ends. A ball nut has a plurality of rack gears. Rotational force from the input assembly turns the ball screw, and the ball nut reciprocates within the housing responsive to rotation of the ball screw to move each of the plurality of rack gears in a longitudinal direction. Longitudinal motion of the rack gear teeth responsively drives the sector gear teeth to transmit the steering command to the output shaft.

A modular power steering apparatus includes a rotatable shaft, which is selectively rotatable to effect turning movement of at least one vehicle wheel. A housing supports the rotatable shaft for rotation relative thereto, about a shaft axis. A first rotational input assembly is provided for transmitting a steering command from a steering member to the rotatable shaft. A second rotational input assembly is operatively connected with the rotatable shaft. The second rotational input assembly is configured to apply a rotational force to the rotatable shaft. The apparatus includes a plurality of drive stations. Each drive station is configured to selectively accept both of the first and second rotational input assemblies for operating connection to the rotatable shaft at different times.

Modular power steering apparatus

A buoyant fishing device with a housing having a first end and a second end and containing an elongated passageway having an axis, at least one weight disposed within the passageway, wherein the housing is further configured to float with the axis oriented substantially perpendicular to gravity when the weight is in the first position and wherein the housing is further configured to float with the axis oriented substantially parallel to gravity when the weight is in the second position.

Buoyant fishing device

An apparatus includes a hydraulic power steering motor. A continuously variable transmission has an input shaft rotatable under the influence of force transmitted from the engine and an output shaft operable to drive a pump. The continuously variable transmission is operable to drive the pump at a first speed when one of the input and output shafts of the continuously variable transmission rotates at a first speed. The continuously variable transmission is operable to drive the pump at a second speed when the one of the input and output shafts rotates at a second speed. A centrifugal sensor is connected with the one of the input and output shafts. The centrifugal sensor transfers rotational movement of the one of the input and output shafts to a linearly displaceable input member of the continuously variable transmission to change the speed at which the pump is driven.

An improved apparatus () for steering rear wheels () of a vehicle () includes hydraulic motor () having chambers () which hold hydraulic fluid. An increase in fluid pressure in one of the chambers turns the steerable rear wheels of the vehicle in a first direction. An increase in fluid pressure in another one of the chambers turns the steerable rear wheels in a second direction. A control valve () is connected in fluid communication with the chambers () of the hydraulic motor. The control valve () is free of a return flow of hydraulic fluid from the motor (). A return conduit () is connected with the chambers () and conducts a flow of hydraulic fluid to a reservoir () along a path which is spaced from the control valve (). The motor () may include springs () which are disposed in the chambers () of the motor. Biasing sleeves () are effective to transmit force from the springs to a piston ().

Steering apparatus

A steering column () includes a steering column member () connectable with a steering wheel () and rotatable to turn steerable vehicle wheels. A mounting bracket () connects the steering column () to a vehicle frame. A support (), through which the steering column member () extends, is connected with the mounting bracket (). The support () supports the steering column member () for rotation about a longitudinal axis () of the steering column member and is movable relative to the mounting bracket (). A locking mechanism () applies a force to lock the support () in any one of the plurality of positions relative to the mounting bracket (). A release mechanism () reduces the force applied by the locking mechanism () in response to a sensed vehicle condition.

Steering column release mechanism

A steering column () includes a steering column member () connectable with a steering wheel and rotatable to turn steerable vehicle wheels. A support (), through which the steering column member () extends, is connected with a mounting bracket (). The support () is movable relative to the mounting bracket () through a first range of motion into any one of a plurality of positions. The support () has a first position relative to the mounting bracket (). A locking mechanism () locks the support () in any one of the plurality of positions relative to the mounting bracket (). A memory mechanism () defines a memory position of the support () relative to the mounting bracket (). The memory mechanism () guides movement of the support () relative to the mounting bracket () through a second range of motion smaller than the first range of motion between the first position and the memory position. The memory mechanism () has a first position in which the support () is movable relative to the mounting bracket () into any one of the plurality of positions relative to the mounting bracket (). The memory mechanism () has a second position in which the support () is only movable relative to said mounting bracket () between the first position and the memory position.

Steering column memory mechanism

A steering system () for a vehicle () comprises a housing () having first and second end portions () and an intermediate portion (). A steering member () is supported for axial movement in the housing (). A piston () fixed for movement with the steering member () has opposite end faces (). First and second springs () engage the end faces () of the piston () and bias the piston and thereby the steering member () in first and second axial directions toward a straight ahead position. Steering linkage () connected with the piston member () transmits movement of the piston member () to steerable wheels () of the vehicle.

Self-centering steering system

A steering column () includes a support () through which a steering column member () extends connected with a mounting bracket (). A locking mechanism () locks the support () in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the mounting bracket (). The locking mechanism () has a locking shaft () extending through first and second cams () and the mounting bracket (). The first cam () is rotatable relative to the locking shaft () and the second cam () and has a first cam surface (). The second cam () has a second cam surface () facing the first cam surface (). A bearing () includes a flexible cage () and a plurality of bearing members () rotatable relative to the cage engaging the first and second cam surfaces (). The locking mechanism () clamps the support () to the mounting bracket () when the first cam () is in a first position relative to the second cam (). The support () is movable relative to the mounting bracket () and the locking shaft () is prevented from moving relative to the mounting bracket when the first cam () is in a second position relative to the second cam ().

Steering column

A steering column ( ) includes a steering column member ( ). A mounting bracket ( ) connects the steering column ( ) to a vehicle frame. The mounting bracket ( ) has a surface defining an aperture ( ). A support ( ), through which the steering column member ( ) extends, is connected with the mounting bracket ( ). The support ( ) supports the steering column member ( ) for rotation about a longitudinal axis ( ) of the steering column member ( ) and is movable relative to the mounting bracket. A locking mechanism ( ) prevents movement of the support ( ) relative to the mounting bracket ( ). A first portion ( ) is connected with the support ( ) and is movable with the support ( ) and the steering column member ( ) relative to the mounting bracket ( ). A follower pin ( ) extends from the first portion ( ) and into the aperture ( ) in the mounting bracket ( ). The follower pin ( ) engages the surface defining the aperture ( ) to limit movement of the steering column member ( ) relative to the mounting bracket ( ). The follower pin ( ) is spaced apart from the locking mechanism ( ).

A steering column ( ) includes a support ( ) which supports a steering column member for rotation about a longitudinal axis ( ). A mounting bracket ( ) connects the steering column ( ) to a vehicle frame. A pair of arms ( and ) interconnects the support ( ) and the mounting bracket ( ). Each of the arms ( and ) has an end ( and ) pivotally connected with the mounting bracket ( ) and an end ( and ) pivotally connected with the support ( ). A locking mechanism ( ) locks the arms ( and ) relative to the mounting bracket ( ) and locks the support ( ) relative to the arms. The locking mechanism ( ) includes a locking shaft ( ) extending through the mounting bracket ( ), one of the arms ( and ), and into the support ( ). The locking shaft ( ) extends through the one arm ( and ) at a location between the ends of the arm.

An apparatus that mounts a steering shaft connectable with a steering wheel and rotatable to turn steerable vehicle wheels to a vehicle includes a support member connectable with the vehicle. The support member has first and second bearing housings spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis of the steering shaft. Each of the first and second bearing housings has a surface extending parallel to the longitudinal axis with an opening through which bearings are inserted that support the steering shaft for rotation relative to the support member.

Apparatus that mounts a steering shaft to a vehicle

An apparatus for mounting a foot pedal and a steering column to a vehicle, the apparatus having a mounting bracket ( ) connectable with a vehicle frame. The foot pedal ( ) which controls a vehicle operation is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket ( ) by a pivot shaft ( ). The steering column ( ) is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket ( ) by the pivot shaft ( ). The steering column ( ) includes a steering column member ( ) connectable with a steering wheel ( ) and rotatable to turn steerable vehicle wheels. A locking mechanism ( ) locks the steering column ( ) in any one of a plurality of pivot positions relative to the mounting bracket ( ).

Apparatus for mounting a foot pedal and a steering column to a vehicle

An apparatus for supporting a steering wheel ( ) of a vehicle ( ) comprises a first steering column part ( ) and a second steering column part ( ). The first steering column part ( ) and the vehicle steering wheel ( ) are supported for telescopic movement along an axis ( ) between a plurality of different positions relative to the second steering column part ( ). A locking mechanism ( ) is interposed between the first steering column part ( ) and the second steering column part ( ) for locking the first steering column part in a selected one of the plurality of positions. The locking mechanism ( ) comprises a fluid ( ) having a viscosity which varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The locking mechanism ( ) also includes means ( ) for varying the viscosity of the fluid ( ) by varying the energy field to vary the resistance to movement of the first steering column part ( ) relative to the second steering column part ( ).

Growing community of inventors

West Lafayette, IN, United States of America

Mark A Cartwright