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:
Apr. 03, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 19, 1999
Mark J. Bugosh, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A tool (,) for installing a radially compressible bushing (,) into a housing (,) of a rack and pinion steering system (,). The housing has an end portion (,) that includes a ring-shaped bushing chamber (,) and a circular opening (,) into the bushing chamber. The opening (,) has a first diameter, and the bushing chamber (,) has a second diameter greater than the first diameter of the circular opening. The tool (,) comprises a plunger (,) having a first portion (,) with an outer diameter that is less than the first diameter of the opening (,) in the housing (,). The first portion (,) of the plunger (,) has a circumferential groove (,) defined by a pair of annular end surfaces (,) and a cylindrical base surface (,). The groove (,) receives the bushing (,) during installation of the bushing in the housing (,). The annular end surfaces (,) of the groove (,) block axial movement of the bushing (,) along the plunger (,) while the bushing is on the plunger. The tool (,) also includes a sleeve (,) slidable along the first portion (,) of the plunger (,) to radially compress the bushing (,) and hold the bushing in the groove (,) during installation of the bushing in the housing (,).