Steering Assembly Leaf Spring Biasing for Stable Rack-Pinion Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current steering assemblies with rack and pinion systems face challenges in maintaining consistent contact between the pinion gear and the rack shaft, leading to inefficiencies and potential noise due to the lack of a reliable biasing mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A bearing component with a spring force mechanism is integrated within the steering assembly, featuring a bearing with an arcuate shape and feet that exert a force against the inner steering member to maintain engagement with the pinion gear, providing a biasing force to ensure proper meshing and reduce noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional steering yoke assembly is used to provide biasing force, then the rack shaft is forced into the pinion gear to maintain contact, but the device complexity increases and the assembly process becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear contact consistencyVSAvoidassembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the bearing and spring force mechanism into a single integrated bearing component. The bearing includes an arcuate-shaped body with feet that directly exert biasing force against the inner steering member, eliminating the need for a separate steering yoke assembly. This merging of functions maintains reliable gear contact while reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing component serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the linear motion of the inner steering member, provides biasing force through its feet to maintain gear engagement, and eliminates the need for a separate yoke assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the number of parts and simplifies the overall steering assembly structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If a bearing component with spring force mechanism is integrated, then the assembly process is simplified and device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly structureVSAvoidbearing geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing component features an arcuate-shaped body with curved feet that contact the inner steering member. This curved geometry is designed to conform to the circular path of the pinion gear teeth, ensuring consistent contact and force distribution. The precise arcuate shape is critical for maintaining proper gear engagement while allowing linear motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing includes specifically shaped feet with particular geometries designed to contact specific portions of the inner steering member. These localized contact surfaces are precision-formed to ensure proper force application and maintain gear meshing. The local quality of these contact surfaces is critical for the bearing's function while allowing the rest of the component to have simpler geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the bearing feet exert force against the inner steering member, then noise is reduced and gear contact is maintained, but the friction and wear on the bearing component increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovenoiseVSAvoidbearing durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical yoke assembly with a bearing component that uses controlled friction between its feet and the inner steering member. This substitution allows the bearing to maintain gear contact and reduce noise through consistent force application, while the bearing's design accommodates the resulting friction and wear through appropriate material selection and geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The bearing component enhances the stability and consistency of the steering assembly by maintaining gear contact and reducing noise, while also simplifying the assembly process by potentially eliminating the need for a traditional steering yoke assembly.

Implementation Method 1

a leaf spring disposed between the inner steering member and the outer steering member and adapted to bias the inner steering member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a low friction layer supported by the leaf spring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS10926789B2Steering assembly

Publication Date: 2021.02.23 SAINT GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED

AI summary

A steering assembly including an inner steering member; an outer steering member; a leaf spring disposed between the inner steering member and the outer steering member and adapted to bias the inner steering member, wherein the leaf spring comprises an inner portion and a plurality of outer portions, wherein the outer portions comprise end portions of the leaf spring that are folded over such that the outer portions overlie the inner portion, forming a folded edge; and a low friction layer supported by the leaf spring.