The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 21, 1979
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1976
Raymon L Goff, Wooster, OH (US);
Jim L Rau, Lafayette, IN (US);
TRW Inc., Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
An improved control apparatus is utilized in a vehicle which has a single pump for supplying fluid to effect turning movement of steerable wheels and operation of an auxiliary apparatus. The control apparatus includes a housing in which a piston is movable in a cylinder under the influence of fluid pressure to effect turning movement of the steerable wheels. A valve assembly is disposed in the same housing. The valve assembly is operable between an unactuated condition in which fluid flow from a pump is directed to the auxiliary apparatus and either one of two actuated conditions in which fluid flow from the pump is directed to an end portion of the cylinder to effect movement of the piston and turning of the vehicle wheels. The valve assembly includes a rotatable sleeve member which is disposed in the valve chamber and defines a plurality of ports disposed in a circular array. A rotatable valve member is disposed within the sleeve member and cooperates with the circular array of ports to direct fluid under pressure from the pump to either the auxiliary apparatus or to the cylinder in which the piston is disposed to effect turning movement of the vehicle wheels.