초록 ▼

A power assisted, vacuum actuated steering system with a rotary valve and vacuum actuators. The rotary valve has two identical discs which each include grooves and channels for communicating the vacuum pressure to the vacuum actuators. The relative rotary motion of the two discs causes the vacuum pr

A power assisted, vacuum actuated steering system with a rotary valve and vacuum actuators. The rotary valve has two identical discs which each include grooves and channels for communicating the vacuum pressure to the vacuum actuators. The relative rotary motion of the two discs causes the vacuum pressure to pass to the vacuum actuators to assist the steering of a vehicle. A set of springs and spring arms biases the discs to a central, neutral position.

대표청구항 ▼

[ Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed:] [1.] A power assist steering system for use on a vehicle, the vehicle having a steering implement and a steering mechanism operatively connected to a first wheel, said power assist steering system comprising:a first vacuum actuator;vacuum me

[ Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed:] [1.] A power assist steering system for use on a vehicle, the vehicle having a steering implement and a steering mechanism operatively connected to a first wheel, said power assist steering system comprising:a first vacuum actuator;vacuum means for providing a vacuum to said first vacuum actuator;power assist means for assisting the steering mechanism in turning the first wheel, said power assist means being operatively connected to said first vacuum actuator; and,activating means for selectively variably activating said first vacuum actuator, said activating means comprising,A) a steering rod selectively rotatable by the steering implement;B) a first disc fixedly connected to said steering rod, said first disc having a first side surface with first and second channels and a second side surface with at least first and second grooves, said first disc also having a first aperture that communicates said first channel to said first groove and a second aperture that communicates said second channel to said second groove; and,C) a second disc identically shaped and sized to said first disc and operatively connected to said power assist means, said second disc having a first side surface with first and second channels and a second side surface with at least first and second grooves, said first and second channels of said second disc being identically shaped and sized to said first and second channels of said first disc, and said at least first and second grooves of said second disc being identically shaped and sized to said first and second grooves of said first disc, said second disc also having a first aperture that communicates said first channel to said first groove, and a second aperture that communicates said second channel to said second groove, said first and second discs for use in varying the vacuum to said first vacuum actuator as said first disc is moved with respect to said second disc by said steering rod.