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:
Mar. 20, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 24, 1999
Wendell Lee Gilbert, Pleasant Shade, TN (US);
Lisa McCallum, Murfreesboro, TN (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A hydraulic power steering gear (,) comprises first and second relatively rotatable valve members (,and,). The first valve member (,) has a radially extending first passage (,) and a second valve member (,) partially encircling the first valve member. The second valve member (,) has a cam surface (,) facing radially inward. The first and second valve members (,and,) are rotatable relative to one another to selectively port hydraulic fluid. A ring member (,) is fixedly attached to the first valve member (,). The ring member (,) has a radially extending first bore (,) radially aligned with the first passage (,). A detent member (,) acts between the first and second valve members (,and,). The detent member (,) is disposed in the cam surface (,) in the neutral condition to provide a physically perceptible indication to a driver of the vehicle of operation of the steering gear (,) between the neutral condition and the actuated condition. A spring (,) biases the detent member (,) radially outward. The spring (,) is disposed in the first passage (,) in the first valve member (,).