PRE-RELEASE
Power-assisted steering
| Power-assisted steering |
1 Power steering fluid reservoir
2 Servo pump
3 Control valve
4 Servo cylinder
The power-assisted steering gear is of the rack-and-pinion type consisting of a control valve and servo cylinder in a common housing. Together with the servo pump and fluid reservoir, these are the main components of the system.
1 Power steering fluid reservoir
2 Servo pump
3 Control valve
4 Servo cylinder
The pump supplies fluid under pressure to the control valve which, depending on which way the steering wheel is turned, directs the flow to the right or left side of the servo cylinder. The fluid inside the cylinder acts on the rack, thus providing power assistance to the rack-and-pinion gear.
The mechanical components of the rack-and-pinion gear are lubricated by high-viscosity grease and sealed from the hydraulic circuit and other parts of the system by means of seals and rubber gaiters.
| Servo cylinder |
The rack (1) is equipped with a piston (2) complete with seals. For the flow of fluid to and from the control valve there are two connections on the servo cylinder, one on either side of the piston. For turning to the right, fluid is pumped to the right-hand side of the servo cylinder.
The piston and rack are forced towards the left and fluid is discharged from the left-hand section of the servo cylinder into the reservoir via the control valve (3).
Movement of the rack is transferred via track rods and track- rod ends to the steering arms of the steering swivel member.
