BACKGROUND

[0001] The present application relates to a steering system and more particularly to a center take off rack and pinion system.

[0002] While center take off power steering systems are known generally, the present invention provides an improved system for use in the application of powersports vehicles such as ATVs, utility vehicles and snowmobiles.

[0003] In an embodiment of the present invention, a center take off rack and pinion steering system comprises a rack housing; a rack gear positioned in the rack housing, the rack gear having first and second ends extending through the housing; a pinion gear coupled to the rack gear to input steering power to the rack gear; a rack yoke coupled to, and extending between, the first and second ends of the rack gear; a yoke support coupled to the rack housing; a yoke support slider coupled to the rack yoke and movable with the rack yoke relative to the yoke support; and tie rod end mounts supported by the rack yoke, the tie rod end mounts positioned laterally intermediate the first and second ends of the rack gear.

[0004] In another embodiment of the present invention, a center take off rack and pinion steering system comprises a rack housing; a rack gear positioned in the rack housing, the rack gear having first and second ends extending through the housing; a pinion gear coupled to the rack gear to input steering power to the rack gear; a rack yoke coupled to, and extending between, the first and second ends of the rack gear; a yoke support coupled to the rack housing; a yoke support slider coupled movable relative to the yoke support; and tie rod end mounts supported by the rack yoke, the tie rod end mounts positioned laterally intermediate the first and second ends of the rack gear; and at least one seal sealing the yoke support.

[0005] The embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of reference to the drawing figures, where: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG 1 is an enlarged view of the steering system as shown in FIG. 2;

[0007] I FIG 2 is front perspective view of the center take off rack and pinion steering gear;

[0008] FIG 3 is a rear perspective view of the center take off steering gear of

FIG. 2;

[0009] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the center take off mount exploded away from the rack and pinion steering gear; and

[00010] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the rack and pinion system shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00011] With reference now to FIG. 1 , a front end 2 of a vehicle is shown comprising a frame 4 supported by front ground engaging members, such as wheels. Wheels are shown for example in our US Patents 8, 122,993, and 8,827,019, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. Front ground engaging members are coupled to the frame by way of a front left suspension 8 and a front right suspension 10. Frame 4 includes a suspension mount portion at 12 including a lower frame portion 12a and an upper frame portion 12b, where front left suspension 8 and front right suspension 10 are coupled to the suspension mount portion 12. More particularly, the front left suspension 8 includes a lower A-arm at 14 coupled to the lower frame portion 12a and an upper A-arm 16 coupled to the upper frame portion 12b. In a like manner, the front right suspension system 10 includes a lower A-arm 18 coupled to the lower frame portion 12a and an upper A-arm 20 coupled to the upper frame portion 12b.

Front shock absorbers couple front left suspension 8, right front suspension system 10 to frame 4, as shown in our US Patent 8,827,019, the subject matter of which

incorporated herein by reference.

[00012] With reference still to FIG. 1 , a steering system would comprise a steering input such as a steering wheel, a steering column through which a steering shaft protrudes and which couples to a steering gear. Preferably, steering gear is an electric power steering system. A representative steering system is shown in our US Patents 8, 122,993 and 9,623,912, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. An output 42 couples to steering rod 44 which then couples to rack and pinion steering system 46. Rack and pinion steering system 46 couples to tie rods 48 which in turn couple to ground engaging members for steering purposes. In the present embodiment, rack and pinion steering system 46 is a center take off power steering system.

[00013] With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, center take off rack and pinion system 46 is shown in greater detail. As shown, rack and pinion system 46 comprises a rack housing 50, an input pinion shaft at 52 which receives input from steering rod 44 (FIG. 1 ) as input from the steering mechanism. Rack and pinion system 46 further includes a rack yoke 56 including arms 58 at ends thereof which couple to rack and pinion mechanism 46 as described herein. A yoke support slider 60 couples to the rack yoke 56 and is movable therewith. Tie rod end mounts 64 couple to yoke support slider 60 such that when yoke support slider moves with rack yoke 56 tie rod ends 48 move to the left or to the right as viewed in FIG. 3.

[00014] With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the details of the center take off rack and pinion system will be described in greater detail. As shown in FIG. 5, the rack and pinion housing 50 includes a body portion 70 having a through opening 72 therethrough which receives rack gear 74. Rack gear 74 includes ends 76 having threaded apertures 78 therein. Rack gear 74 includes a plurality of rack teeth at 80 which correspond to teeth (not shown) on pinion gear 52, such that rotation of pinion gear 52 causes teeth on pinion gear 52 to mesh with rack teeth 80 to move rack gear in the direction of arrow 84 depending on the rotation of pinion gear 52. Slide bearings 88 are positioned within openings 72 which allow rack gear 74 to translate smoothly within opening 72 of rack housing 50. Billows 90 are positioned at each end of the rack housing 50 and seals 92 are positioned within the billows 90. As shown best in FIG. 4, as assembled, billows 90 abuts an end of the rack housing 50 and overlaps ends 76 of rack gear 74. Thus, threaded apertures 78 are accessible through the billows 90 and seal 92. It should be appreciated that rack gear 74 protrudes through ends of the rack and pinion housing 50 and resides in billows 90. It should also be appreciated that billows 90 are expandable and contractible to always cover and seal the rack gear 74. With reference still to FIG. 4, rack yoke 56 includes apertures at 94 which can align with apertures 78 of rack gear 74 whereupon fasteners 96 can mount rack yoke 56 to the rack gear 74 as shown in FIG. 3.

[00015] With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, rack housing 50 further includes support arms 100 extending outwardly from body 70 and includes apertures at 102. As shown, yoke support slider 60 includes a body portion 1 10 having three mounting apertures 1 12. Yoke support slider 60 is coupled to the rack yoke 56 by way of fasteners 1 14 (FIG. 4) through apertures 1 12 and into threaded engagement with threaded apertures 1 15. Yoke support slider 60 further includes a slider portion 1 16 having an aperture at 1 18 therethrough (FIG. 4). A yoke support is defined by a slide 120 coupled to arms 100 as described herein. It should be appreciated that slider portion 1 16 slides along, and is supported by, slide 120. Linear bearings 122 are positioned within aperture 1 18 and thereafter receive slide 120. Billows 124 are positioned over ends of the slide 120, and seals 126 are positioned within ends of billows 124 and over ends of the slide 120. It should be noted that shaft seals could be used in place of billows 124. Slide 120 includes a threaded aperture at 128 whereupon fasteners 130 are threadibly received in the apertures 128 to maintain the slide in the position shown in FIG. 4, attached to support arms 100. It should be noticed in FIG. 4 that the slide 120 is shown attached to support arms 100 for illustration purposes only, as yoke support slider 60 is not shown positioned on slide 120.

[00016] Finally and with reference again to FIG. 4, yoke support slider 60 includes outer bracket arms 140 having apertures at 142. As shown in FIG. 4, tie rod ends 64 include spherical rod ends having a threaded shank portion 150 and a ball joint end 152. Ball joint end 152 includes a spherical ball joint at 154 with apertures at 156. Yoke 56 includes apertures at 158 such that tie rod ends 64 may be positioned between outer bracket arms 140 and rack yoke 56 and fasteners 160 may be received through apertures 142 of bracket arms 140 and apertures 156 of spherical ball joints 154 and into threaded engagement with fasteners 162 to position the spherical rod ends 64 into the position shown in FIG. 5.

[00017] Thus as shown, rack yoke 56 is fixed to ends of the rack gear 74 and is movable therewith. Billows 90 seal ends of the rack gear 74 through its entire travel. The rack yoke 56 is supported by way of yoke support slider 60 sliding on slide 120, and more particularly through aperture 1 18 (FIG. 4) sliding along slide 120. The rack yoke 56 and slide 120 are sealed by way of seals 126 and billows 124. Like billows 90, billows 124 are expandable and contractible to always cover and seal the slide 120.

[00018] It should be appreciated that in prior vehicles, tie rod ends 64 are normally coupled to the ends 76 of the rack gear 74. As apertures 142 of the present

embodiment are positioned towards a center of the rack housing 50, tie rods 48 may be longer than prior vehicles requiring less angular movement. More particularly, and as best shown in FIG. 5, the tie rod end mounts (at ball joint 154) are positioned laterally intermediate the first and second ends 76 of the rack gear 74.

[00019] It should also be noted that this design allows the tie rod ends to be designed fore-aft and vertically different from the rack gear ends 76, as well as laterally inboard.