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:
Feb. 22, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 10, 1997
Wendell L Gilbert, Pleasant Shade, TN (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A power steering assembly (10) includes a rotatable valve core (40) which is encircled by a rotatable valve sleeve (41). The valve core (40) and valve sleeve (41) have surfaces which cooperate to direct a flow of power steering fluid during relative rotation between the valve core (40) and valve sleeve (41). A bearing assembly (100) is disposed between the valve core (40) and the valve sleeve (41) at a location adjacent to an axially outer end portion of the valve core (40). The bearing assembly (100) includes a plurality of rotatable bearing elements (124) which transmit sidewise loads between the valve core (40) and the valve sleeve (41). A bearing surface (102) is disposed on an axially inner end portion of the valve core (40). The bearing surface (102) is slidable along an inner surface area (104) on the valve sleeve (41) to transmit a sidewise load during relative rotation between the valve core (40) and the valve sleeve (41).