US 11,988,262 B2
Damping stopper
Yuki Hanada, Tottori (JP)
Assigned to NOK CORPORATION, (JP)
Filed by NOK CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/187,973.
Application 18/187,973 is a division of application No. 16/767,620, abandoned, previously published as PCT/JP2018/043480, filed on Nov. 27, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 2017-240274 (JP), filed on Dec. 15, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0228314 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. B62D 3/12 (2006.01); B62D 7/22 (2006.01); F16F 1/371 (2006.01); F16F 1/373 (2006.01); F16F 1/44 (2006.01); F16F 13/02 (2006.01); F16F 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16F 13/02 (2013.01) [B62D 3/123 (2013.01); B62D 7/226 (2013.01); F16F 1/3713 (2013.01); F16F 1/3732 (2013.01); F16F 1/445 (2013.01); F16F 15/022 (2013.01); B62D 3/12 (2013.01); F16F 2224/02 (2013.01); F16F 2224/0208 (2013.01); F16F 2224/025 (2013.01); F16F 2226/04 (2013.01); F16F 2226/042 (2013.01); F16F 2232/08 (2013.01); F16F 2234/02 (2013.01); F16F 2236/045 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A steering rack assembly, comprising:
a steering rack housing defining a first sidewall and a first end surface that extends orthogonally outward from the first sidewall;
a steering rack that is axially displaceable relative to the steering rack housing, the steering rack defining a second sidewall and a second end surface that extends orthogonally outward from the second sidewall;
an annular mounting space positioned between the steering rack housing and the steering rack, and defined by the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the first end surface, and the second end surface; and
a steering rack damper positioned in the annular mounting space, wherein the steering rack damper includes:
an attachment ring including a first leg that is attached to and extends along the second end surface and a second leg that is attached to and extends along the second sidewall;
an elastic body attached to the attachment ring, the elastic body including a first axially extending surface that is attached the second leg and an opposite second axially extending surface that faces and is spaced apart from the first sidewall of the steering rack housing, the opposite second axially extending surface defining a mounting groove that separates the opposite second axially extending surface into a first portion have a first axial length and a second portion having a second axial length that is less than the first axial length, and the elastic body being configured to be axially compressed by the steering rack and the steering rack housing as the steering rack is axially displaced relative to the steering rack housing; and
a rigid ring located in the mounting groove of the elastic body and spaced apart from the first sidewall of the steering rack housing,
wherein as the elastic body is axially compressed as the steering rack is axially displaced relative to the steering rack housing, the rigid ring suppresses outward expansion of the elastic body such that the first portion of the opposite second axially extending surface expands outward and contacts the first sidewall and the second portion of the opposite second axially extending surface expands outward without contacting the first sidewall.