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:
May. 25, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 10, 1997
Wendell L Gilbert, Pleasant Shade, TN (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A vehicle steering apparatus (10) includes a first gear (16) which is rotatable about an axis (21), and a second gear (14) having gear teeth (18) in meshing engagement with gear teeth (20) on the first gear (16). The apparatus further comprises an adjustment mechanism (22) for moving the first gear (16) in one direction along the axis (21) to reduce clearance between the meshing gear teeth (18, 20). The adjustment mechanism (22) includes a first threaded member (64), a second threaded member (90) and a ratchet drive (98). The first threaded member (64) is movable along the axis (21) in the one direction to move the first gear (16) along the axis in that direction. The second threaded member (90) is screwed together with the first threaded member (64) such that rotation of the second threaded member (90) causes axial movement of the first threaded member (64). The ratchet drive (98) is interposed between the first gear (16) and the second threaded member (90), and rotates the second threaded member (90) selectively when lash between the meshing gear teeth (18, 20) provides the clearance.