Hydrostatic steering for small vehicle - with integrated fluid reservoir and top up valves for leak independent operation

摘要

The hydrostatic steering for the small vehicle, or boat, has a steering box with a fluid reservoir at the top and top up valves and the servo pump below. The output from the steering box has two lines coupled to the steering motor. To provide a leak independent operation of the system, with a self centering action, the two intake valves of the system, or top up valves, are mounted coaxially in the same housing, separated by a bulkhead. A pressure rod through the bulkhead has a length greater than the spacing of the two valve seats. This ensures that at least one valve is always open.