Bearing for a rack and pinion steering apparatus
A rack and pinion steering system includes a pinion having an upper shaft section, a gear section, and a lower shaft section, wherein the gear section is located between the upper shaft section and the lower shaft section. A rack is included that has a gear section for coupling with the gear section of the pinion. A housing encloses at least portions of the pinion and the rack. A bearing is rotatably received within the housing and has an inner surface for supporting the lower shaft section of the pinion. The inner surface of the bearing has a Gothic-arch shaped cross-section for reducing rattle sensitivity to alternating sinusoidal loads between the bearing and the pinion.
1 . A rack and pinion steering system comprising:
a pinion having an upper shaft section, a gear section, and a lower shaft section, the gear section being located between the upper shaft section and the lower shaft section;
a rack having a gear section coupled with the gear section of the pinion;
a housing enclosing at least portions of the pinion and the rack; and
a bearing rotatably received within the housing and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface for supporting the lower shaft section of the pinion and having a Gothic arch shaped cross-section.
2 . A rack and pinion steering system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the Gothic arch comprises of four independent curved surfaces connected in a circular pattern.
3 . A rack and pinion steering system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the Gothic arch of the inner surface deviates from a true circular cross-section by approximately 0.2 mm.
4 . A rack and pinion steering system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bearing further includes a notch formed in the inner surface thereof for positioning the bearing in the housing.
5 . A rack and pinion steering system comprising:
a pinion having an upper shaft section, a gear section, and a lower shaft section, the gear section being located between the upper shaft section and the lower shaft section;
a rack having a gear section coupled with the gear section of the pinion;
a housing enclosing at least portions of the pinion and the rack; and
a bearing rotatably received within the housing and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface for supporting the lower shaft section of the pinion and having a Gothic arch shaped cross-section consisting of four independent curved surfaces connected in a circular pattern.
6 . A rack and pinion steering system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the Gothic arch of the inner surface deviates from a true circular cross-section by approximately 0.2 mm.
7 . A rack and pinion steering system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the bearing further includes a notch formed in the inner surface thereof between two of the four independent curved surfaces for positioning the bearing in the housing.