Virtual Prototype of Rack and Pinion Steering Gear Meshing

Rack and pinion steering gear being compact and light package with kinematically stiffer characteristics is commonly employed on passenger vehicle cars. Satisfactory performance of the steering system is determined by an acceptance test, which checks the composite error in the gear. The acceptance test checks the assembled gearbox for its torque characteristics instead of checking the individual components. The torque required by the pinion to rotate is the ‘Free Pinion Torque’ (FPT). FPT on Assembly varies within a range of 0.4-0.6 N-m, even if the tolerances on individual components (such as PCD run out of pinion, rack bend) are maintained within close tolerances. A virtual prototype of Rack and pinion steering gear is made in ADAMS [Automatic Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems). This model will help to identify critical parameters and their effects on the assembly.