Steering gear for motor cars, tractors, and the like

243,377. Wellton, O. G. Nov. 22, 1924, [Convention date]. Non - reactive steering- mechanism for separately pivoted wheels; steering gear. - Comprises screw- and-nut steering gear in which either the screw or the nut or both is or are formed as a helical spring or springs to prevent lost motion between the parts. The rotary steering shaft 2 carries a helical spring 5 which acts as the nut and encloses a similar spring 8 fixed to a bar 11 which can slide but not rotate in a guide 12 in the fixed casing 4. Balls 9 are carried in a cage 10 and are interposed between the two springs to prevent wear, the spring coils being shaped to receive the balls. The outer surface of the outer spring and the inner surface of the inner spring may be made conical, as shown, to equalize the load on the balls. The bar 11 is formed as a rack and is held in engagement with a pinion 14 by a spring 18 and roller 17, the spring being adjustably tensioned by a set-screw 20.