| 摘要 |
A yoke apparatus 34 is useful with a steering system having a pinion gear 20 and a longitudinally movable rack 24 engaged with the pinion gear 20. The yoke apparatus 34 comprises a bearing disc 36 received in the aperture 32, and a pair of biasing members 40 and 38 disposed in parallel with one another, each biasing the bearing disc 36 against the rack 24. This in turn biases the rack 24 against the pinion gear 20. The biasing members 40 and 38 have different spring constants and different compliances. Preferably, one of the biasing members 40 and 38 is a compression spring member 40 while the other is an elastomeric O-ring member 38, or other elastomeric member having a highly non-linear compliance. The yoke apparatus 34 also preferably comprises a plug 42 adjustably received in the aperture 32 which applies an axial load to the pair of biasing members 40 and 38. The bearing disc 36 is preferably barrel-shaped and includes a short circumferential outer surface 54 having a diameter formed for sliding engagement with a smooth portion 33 of the aperture 32, about which the bearing disc 36 can pivot in response to an applied lateral shock. The yoke apparatus 34 is of compact design and may be substituted in a conventional rack-and-pinion steering gear to substantially eliminate shock and rattle, and significantly improve its smoothness of operation. The support provided to the bearing disc 36 permits proper alignment and improved lubrication of its support surfaces 52 so that the rack 24 moves smoothly in either direction with minimal hysteresis due to Coulomb friction.
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