In the damper device, when the large diameter portion does not apply an impact force on the flange portion, the elastic body is disposed in one of the housing and the cylindrical portion with a gap and when the large diameter portion applies the impact force on the flange portion, the elastic body is compressed by the restricting surface and the flange portion in an axial direction to be deformed into a state that the elastic body is brought into contact with all of the housing, the restricting surface, the cylindrical portion and the flange portion to be filled in the gap. The impact receiving member is restricted from a movement relative to the housing by the deformed elastic body when the end portion of the cylindrical portion is advanced into the relief portion and the impact receiving member keeps a non-contact state with the housing.

Provided are: a linear-motion damper which can avoid an increase in the size of a device configuration of an attachment target and broaden the type of attachment target to which the linear-motion damper is attachable; and a steering device including the linear-motion damper. A steering device (100) includes a linear-motion damper (120) between a rack bar (103) and a rack end (106). In the linear-motion damper (120), an inner chamber (121) is formed between an inner chamber forming body (130) and a socket main body (107) therein. The socket main body (107) is a shaft-shaped component forming the rack end (106) in the steering device (100). The socket main body (107) is slidably fitted in the inner chamber forming body (130). The inner chamber forming body (130) is formed in a tubular shape, and at an inner peripheral portion thereof, is formed with a circular ring-shaped flow control valve (140). The flow control valve (140) includes a first flow control valve (150), a second flow control valve (160), and a third flow control valve (170).

Provided are a linear damper capable of reducing great collision sound or impact even when a great load rapidly acts and a steering device including the linear damper. A steering device 100 includes a linear damper 120 between a rack bar 103 and a rack end 106. In the linear damper 120, a relative displacement body 140 is provided to be reciprocatably displaceable in an inner chamber forming body 121 formed in a cylindrical shape. In the inner chamber forming body 121, a first inner chamber 125a and a second inner chamber 125b are formed on both sides of a valve support portion 123 supporting first flow control valves 127 and a second flow control valve 128. An end portion of the inner chamber forming body 121 facing a rack housing 104 is provided with a bumper portion 131. The bumper portion 131 is produced in such a manner that an elastically-deformable elastic body is formed into a circular ring shape.

A steering centering/damping mechanism for a steerable heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system which includes a mechanically operated structure that provides a positive steering centering force to the axle/suspension system at a zero steer angle. The mechanically operated structure of the steering centering/damping mechanism also provides a positive steering centering force that increases in intensity as the steer angle of the axle/suspension system increases. In an embodiment of the steering centering/damping mechanism, the mechanically operated structure is a flat spring integrated into one or more steering assemblies of the axle/suspension system. The flat spring is in a pre-loaded condition at a zero steer angle to provide the positive steering centering force to the axle/suspension system at the zero steer angle, and is increasingly elastically deformed with increasing steer angles to provide the positive steering centering force which increases in intensity as the steer angle of the axle/suspension system increases.

A rack-and-pinion type steering device includes a ball joint for connecting a rack shaft and a tie rod. The ball joint includes a socket and a ball. The socket is provided with a regulated surface allowed to contact a regulating surface of a rack housing, and a screw projecting from the regulated surface to be connected to the rack shaft. The regulated surface includes an intermediate portion having a curved surface shape that recedes from a regulating surface in a longitudinal direction of the rack shaft toward the outer circumference, and the regulated surface has such a shape that a pointed portion toward the regulating surface is less likely to be formed on the regulated surface even if a processing error occurs in the processing for forming the regulated surface of the socket.

A wheel support or a pivot bearing of a vehicle includes a receiving molding for a ball-joint pin of a track rod for changing the toe angle of a wheel rotatably secured to the wheel support or pivot bearing. The receiving molding is provided with an elastomer layer which lies at least partly in a force transmission path from the ball-joint pin to the wheel support or pivot bearing. The elasticity or possible elastic deformability of the elastomer layer is lower in the receiving molding sections via which a greater force component is transmitted, in particular in the range of smaller track angles, when the track rod is moved in order to steer the wheel than in receiving molding sections via which a smaller force component or no force component is transmitted when the track rod is moved in order to steer the wheel.

An actuator includes a motor, a rotation transmitting member, a reverse input preventing device, a converting device, and a rod. The motor includes a rotating shaft. The rotation transmitting member is configured to transmit rotation of the rotating shaft. The reverse input preventing device includes an input member and an output member. The reverse input preventing device is configured to prevent external force input to the output member from being transmitted to the input member. The converting device includes a nut that rotates according to the rotation of the output member. The converting device is configured to convert a rotary motion of the nut into a linear motion. The rod is configured to advance and retract according to the linear motion of the converting device. The input member and the rotation transmitting member are integrated. The output member and the nut are integrated.

The damper device includes the shaft, the large diameter portion housing and the impact absorbing member. When the large diameter portion does not apply an impact force on the flange portion, the elastic body is disposed at one of the inner peripheral surface of the housing and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion having a gap and when the large diameter portion applies the impact force on the flange portion, the elastic body is deformed in an axial direction to be deformed and is brought into contact with all of the inner peripheral surface of the housing, the restricting surface, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion and the flange portion. The impact receiving member is restricted from a relative movement relative to the housing by the deformed elastic body and the impact receiving member keeps a non-contact state with the housing.

In the damper device, when the large diameter portion does not apply an impact force on the flange portion, the elastic body is disposed in one of the housing and the cylindrical portion with a gap and when the large diameter portion applies the impact force on the flange portion, the elastic body is compressed by the restricting surface and the flange portion in an axial direction to be deformed into a state that the elastic body is brought into contact with all of the housing, the restricting surface, the cylindrical portion and the flange portion to be filled in the gap. The impact receiving member is restricted from a movement relative to the housing by the deformed elastic body when the end portion of the cylindrical portion is advanced into the relief portion and the impact receiving member keeps a non-contact state with the housing.

An impact absorbing mechanism for a wheel is provided. The mechanism has discs that are engaged so that rotation of a first disc causes translational movement of a second disc. A restraining member such as a spring acts against translational movement of the second disc to absorb energy from a head on collision or aggressive braking. Once the mechanism is fully activated, teeth on the first and second discs engage to prevent kick back from the restraining member. In some embodiments, a ratchet mechanism is provided to prevent kick back from the restraining member even when the impact absorbing mechanism is not fully activated.