Mounting arrangement for engine steering cylinder

Abstract

A steering cylinder mounting assembly includes a cylinder housing having a longitudinal opening formed therethrough, a groove formed along a longitudinal face of the cylinder housing, a protruding rib formed at opposite longitudinal ends of the cylinder housing and formed spaced apart from and parallel to the groove, and a plurality of apertures formed in a surface of the cylinder housing opposing the groove and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder housing. A mounting bracket is selectively connected with the cylinder housing and positioned between the protruding ribs. The mounting bracket includes a tongue portion engageable with the groove of the cylinder housing, and a plurality of apertures formed therein transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder housing. Connecting members are aligned with the apertures of the cylinder housing and the mounting bracket for securing the cylinder housing to the mounting bracket. A cylinder rod is rotatably mounted within the longitudinal opening of the cylinder housing. The cylinder rod includes a main body portion and opposing terminal end portions, each opposing terminal end portion having a reduced diameter relative to the diameter of the cylinder rod and an asymmetrical tapered portion connecting the terminal end and the main body portion of the cylinder rod. The asymmetrical tapered portion positions a longitudinal axis of the terminal end portions to be offset from a longitudinal axis of said cylinder rod.