Device for Pressing on a Rack
A device for pressing a rack onto a pinion includes a pressure piece and a stop element. A spring element that applies at least one of two successive stages of contact pressure, which press the pressure piece against the rack, is arranged between the pressure piece and the stop element. The pressure piece and the stop element are each provided with mutually aligned contact surfaces which are located at a distance from each other in a basic position. At least one of the contact surfaces is configured in a springy manner such that the second stage of contact pressure begins as soon as the contact surfaces enter in contact with one another.
1 - 25 . (canceled)
26 . A device for pressing a rack onto a pinion, comprising:
a pressure piece;
a stop element,
a spring element arranged between the pressure piece and the stop element, the spring element adapted to exert a first stage of at least two stages of pressure which follow one another and press the pressure piece against the rack, the pressure piece and the stop element including first contact faces oriented toward one another and are arranged at a distance from one another in a basic position;
wherein the pressure piece and the stop element are formed from metal, the first contact face of the stop element is of resilient configuration, a second stage of the two stages of pressure beginning as soon as the first contact faces make contact with one another, and
wherein the pressure piece and the stop element each have a second contact face which are oriented toward one another and, in the basic position, are at a distance from one another which is greater than the distance of the first contact faces from one another, the second contact faces configured to represent an end stop for movement of the pressure piece.
27 . The device according to claim 26 , wherein the pressure piece includes a circumferential surface and a pin that protrudes in a direction of the stop element, an exposed end of the pin configured as a contact face.
28 . The device according to claim 27 , wherein the pin extends coaxially with respect to an axis of the pressure piece.
29 . The device according to claim 26 , wherein the stop element includes an annular circumferential surface and an end wall configured as a contact face.
30 . The device according to claim 29 , wherein the spring element is arranged substantially within a hollow space of the pressure piece and is clamped between a base part of the pressure piece and the end wall of the stop element.
31 . The device according to claim 30 , wherein the spring element is arranged as a helical spring, in a center of which the pin, starting from the base part of the pressure piece, extends in a direction of the end wall.
32 . The device according to claim 26 , wherein the pin is arranged in one piece with the pressure piece.
33 . The device according to claim 26 , wherein the distance between the first contact face of the pressure piece and the first contact face of the stop element is one of (a) between 0.02 mm and 0.1 mm and (b) 0.05 mm in the basic position.
34 . The device according to claim 26 , wherein the distance of the second contact face of the pressure piece from the second contact face of the stop element is one of (a) between 0.15 mm and 0.3 mm and (b) 0.2 mm in the basic position.
35 . The device according to claim 27 , wherein the exposed end, oriented in a direction of the stop element, of the circumferential surface of the pressure piece is arranged as a second contact face.
36 . The device according to claim 30 , wherein an end, which is oriented in a direction of the pressure piece, of the annular circumferential surface of the stop element is arranged as a second contact face.
37 . The device according to claim 26 , wherein the pressure piece is arranged in a receptacle space of a steering housing, a sliding foil arranged between an inner wall of the receptacle space and a circumferential surface of the pressure piece.
38 . The device according to claim 37 , wherein the sliding foil includes a sliding base as a bearing point for the rack.
39 . The device according to claim 37 , wherein the sliding foil is arranged in the receptacle space by an interference fit.
40 . The device according to claim 37 , wherein the stop element is arranged as a setting screw screwable into the receptacle space.
41 . A device for pressing a rack onto a pinion, comprising:
a pressure piece; and
a stop element, the pressure piece and the stop element having contact faces which are oriented toward one another;
wherein the pressure piece and the stop element are formed from metal, the pressure piece and the stop element having first contact faces oriented toward one another and bear against one another in a basic position, the first contact face of the stop element of resilient configuration, the pressure piece and the stop element having a second contact faces oriented toward one another and, in the basic position, are at a distance from one another and are configured to represent an end stop for movement of the pressure piece.
42 . The device according to claim 41 , wherein the pressure piece includes a circumferential surface and a pin that protrudes in a direction of the stop element, an exposed end of the pin arranged as a contact face.
43 . The device according to claim 41 , wherein the pin extends coaxially with respect to an axis of the pressure piece.
44 . The device according to claim 41 , wherein the stop element includes an annular circumferential surface and an end wall arranged as a contact face.
45 . The device according to claim 44 , wherein the first contact face of the stop element is one of (a) deflected and (b) clamped in the basic position by the first contact face of the pin.
46 . The device according to claim 42 , wherein the contact face of the pin is of cambered configuration to generate a progressive spring characteristic diagram.
47 . The device according to claim 42 , wherein the pin is arranged in one piece with the pressure piece.
48 . The device according to claim 42 , wherein the exposed end, which is oriented in the direction of the stop element, of the circumferential surface of the pressure piece is arranged as a second contact face.
49 . The device according to claim 42 , wherein an end, which is oriented in the direction of the pressure piece, of the annular circumferential surface of the stop element is arranged as a second contact face.
50 . The device according to claim 41 , wherein the stop element is arranged as a setting screw.