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:
Jul. 13, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 16, 1997
Tatsuyoshi Maruyama, Atsugi, JP;
Norihiro Saita, Isehara, JP;
Tadaharu Yokota, Samukawa, JP;
Toshinori Aihara, Hadano, JP;
Yukio Uchida, Atsugi, JP;
Unisia Jecs Corporation, Atsugi, JP;
Abstract
A power assisted steering apparatus for a vehicle having a driving source, such as an engine, has an actuator, a hydraulic pump, a working oil pressure passage, and a drive switch. The actuator, which is in the vehicle steering mechanism, receives a supply or exhaust of a working oil to assist the steering operation. The pump is selectively driven by an engine via a clutch mechanism. The working oil discharged from the pump is introduced into the actuator via the passage. The check valve is interposed within the passage to enable flow in one direction away from the pump. The drive switch structure is disposed within the passage, downstream from the check valve. With this arrangement, the drive switch structure can be activated by pressure in the passage downstream of the check valve to control the clutch mechanism.