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:
Nov. 13, 2012
Filed:
Feb. 12, 2010
Daniel E. Williams, Lebanon, IN (US);
Mark Cartwright, West Lafayette, IN (US);
Daniel E. Williams, Lebanon, IN (US);
Mark Cartwright, West Lafayette, IN (US);
TRW Automotive U.S. LLC, Livonia, MI (US);
Abstract
An improved apparatus () for steering rear wheels () of a vehicle () includes hydraulic motor () having chambers () which hold hydraulic fluid. An increase in fluid pressure in one of the chambers turns the steerable rear wheels of the vehicle in a first direction. An increase in fluid pressure in another one of the chambers turns the steerable rear wheels in a second direction. A control valve () is connected in fluid communication with the chambers () of the hydraulic motor. The control valve () is free of a return flow of hydraulic fluid from the motor (). A return conduit () is connected with the chambers () and conducts a flow of hydraulic fluid to a reservoir () along a path which is spaced from the control valve (). The motor () may include springs () which are disposed in the chambers () of the motor. Biasing sleeves () are effective to transmit force from the springs to a piston ().