Apparatus for automatically adjusting yoke clearance in a steering device

1. An apparatus for automatically adjusting yoke clearance in a steering device in a rack-pinion type steering device including a rack with a rack bar and a pinion gear, the apparatus comprising:

a support yoke inserted in a gear box having an arcuate pocket to support the rack bar, the support yoke having a major surface opposite the rocket defined by first and second sloping faces, the first and second sloping faces diverging at an angle from a central portion of the yoke radially outwardly toward the rack bar, the yoke having a first insertion hole formed in the major surface between the first and second sloping faces;

a spacer including first and second spaced apart sloping members, the first and second sloping members having sloping faces generally complimentary to the first and second sloping faces on the major surface of the yoke, each of the sloping members having an insertion groove formed on a outer cylindrical surface thereof, inner portions of the first and second sloping members forming a second insertion hole, an elastic member seated in the insertion groove and applying force to the first and second sloping members in a radial inward direction; and

a yoke plug fastened to the gear box, supporting the spacer, and having a third insertion hole formed through a center of the yoke plug,

wherein an eject pin can be disposed in the first to the third insertion holes during assembly and then removed, where upon removal a radial inward force generated by the elastic member is converted into a generally perpendicular force towards the rack bar by the first and the second sloping surfaces, to thereby support the rack bar.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the elastic member corresponds to a metal C-ring.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising rubber pads between the sloping members and a bottom of the gear box.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a fastening unit for attaching and detaching the yoke plug to and from a rear surface of the yoke plug.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a dust cap for preventing introduction of alien substances into the third insertion hole.

6. A self-adjusting yoke clearance apparatus in a rack-pinion type steering device, comprising:

a support yoke having an arcuate pocket for engaging and supporting a rack bar, the support yoke having first and second sloping faces opposite the arcuate pocket, the first and second sloping faces diverging symmetrically at a predetermined angle from a center of the support yoke radially outwardly toward the rack bar, the support yoke having a first insertion hole formed in a center of the support yoke between the first and second sloping faces;

a spacer including first and second spaced apart sloping members, the first and second sloping members having sloping faces that are generally complimentary to the first and second sloping faces of the support yoke, each of the sloping members having an insertion groove formed radially on an outer cylindrical surface thereof, the spacer having a second insertion hole formed by inner portions of the first and second sloping members;

an elastic member seated in the insertion groove and applying force to the first and second sloping members in a radial inward direction such that the force generated by the elastic member is converted into a generally perpendicular force towards the rack bar by the first and second sloping members to support the rack bar;

a gear box including the support yoke and the spacer therein;

rubber pads removably attached to the sloping members, positioned between the sloping members and a bottom of the gear box for absorbing shocks generated by the rack bar;

a yoke plug fastened to the gear box, supporting the spacer, and having a third insertion hole formed through a center of the yoke plug;

a fastening member having a round recess in a rear surface of the yoke plug for attaching and detaching the yoke plug from the gear box; and

a dust cap for preventing introduction of alien substances into the third insertion hole.