When a pair of gears mesh, the smaller gear is referred to as a pinion gear. It also refers to a cylindrical gear that meshes with a rack in a rack-and-pinion system to convert rotational motion to linear motion.
The rotation of the pinion creates linear motion of the rack, which rotates the vehicle’s wheels left or right using rack-and-pinion steering. Rack-and-pinion systems are widely used in trains. Racks placed between railway rails interact with pinions connected to locomotives and train carriages to help trains go up steep inclines.
While a rack-and-pinion system may appear intricate, it is essentially a gear coupled to a toothed bar. In addition, the bar is connected to a series of tie rods. Simple linear actuators are frequently made out of a rack-and-pinion combination. To provide linear movement, the shaft rotation of the pinion is driven by a motor.
Rack-and-pinion applications
While most people associate rack-and-pinion systems with steering vehicles and light trucks, rack-and-pinion combinations have a variety of other uses. For example, rack-and-pinion systems are not only used to assist trains in travelling steep grades, but they also give superior braking control, especially in icy circumstances. In addition, rack-and-pinion systems are essential components in most stairlifts.
Rack-and-pinion steering
Rack-and-pinion steering works by converting the circular motion of a steering wheel into the linear motion required to spin the wheels via a gear system. The gearset is housed in a metal tube that contains apertures at both ends allowing the rack to be attached to an axial rod. The pinion gear is connected to the steering shaft so that when the steering wheel is turned, the gear spins and moves the rack. The axial rods are linked to a tie rod end, which is attached to the spindle.
A rack-and-pinion gearset serves two purposes:
- Conversion of the rotating motion of the steering wheel into the linear motion required for the vehicle’s wheels to turn.
- Gear reduction, allowing the steering wheel to turn the wheels more efficiently.
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