Forward and reverse efficiency The forward efficiency of a steering gearbox may be defined as the ratio of

the output work produced at the drop arm to move a given load to that of the input work done at the
steering wheel to achieve this movement.
Forward efficiency =
Output work at drop arm
_______________________x 1
!nput work at steering wheel
"onversely the reverse efficiency of a steering gearbox is defined as the ratio of the output work
produced at the steering wheel rim causing it to rotate against a resisting force to that of the input work
done on the drop arm to produce this movement.
#everse efficiency =
Output work at steering wheel
_______________________x 1
!nput work at drop arm
$ high forward efficiency means that very little energy is wasted within the steering gearbox in
overcoming friction so that for a minimum input effort at the steering wheel rim a maximum output tor%ue
at the drop arm shaft will be obtained.
$ small amount of irreversibility is advantageous in that it reduces the magnitude of any road wheel
oscillations which are transmitted back to the steering mechanism. Therefore the vibrations which do
get through to the steering wheel are severely damped.
&owever' a very low reverse efficiency is undesirable because it will prevent the self(righting action of
the kingpin inclination and castor angle straightening out the front wheels after steering the vehicle round a
bend.
Relationship between the forward and reverse efficiency and the helix angle )Figs *.+' *., and *.-. The
forward efficiency of a screw and nut mechanism may be best illustrated by considering the inclined
plane )Fig. *.+)a... &ere the inclined plane forms part of the thread spiral of the screw and the block
represents the small portion of the nut. /hen the inclined plane )wedge. is rotated anticlockwise
)moves downwards. the block )nut. is easily pushed against whatever load is imposed on it. /hen the
screw moves the nut the condition is known as the forward efficiency.
!n the second diagram )Fig. *.+)b.. the block )nut. is being pressed towards the right which in turn
forces the inclined plane to rotate clockwise )move upward.' but this is difficult because the helix
angle )wedge angle. is much too small when the nut is made to move the screw. Thus when the
mechanism is operated in the reverse direction the efficiency )reverse. is considerably lower than when the
screw is moving the nut. Only if the inclined plane angle was to be increased beyond ,0 would the nut
be easily able to rotate the screw.
The efficiency of a screw and nut mechanism will vary with the helix angle )Fig. *.-.. !t will be at a
maximum in the region of ,(-0 for both forward and reverse directions and fall to 1ero at the two
extremes of and *0 )helix angle.. !f both forward and reverse efficiency curves for a screw and nut
device were plotted together they would both look similar but would appear to be out of phase by an
amount known as the friction factor.
2electing a helix angle that gives the maximum forward efficiency position )$. produces a very high
reverse efficiency )$3. and therefore would feed back to the driver every twitch of the road wheels caused
by any irregularities on the road surface. "onse%uently it is better to choose a smaller helix angle which
produces only a slight reduction in the forward efficiency (B) but a relatively much larger reduced
reverse efficiency (BB'). $s a result this will absorb and damp the ma4ority of very small vibrations
generated by the tyres rolling over the road contour as they are transmitted through the steering linkage
to the steering gearbox.
$ typical value for the helix angle is about +0 which produces forward and reverse efficiencies of
about --5 and +5 without balls respectively. 6y incorporating recirculating balls between the screw and
nut )Fig. *.,. the forward and reverse efficiencies will rise to approximately 75 and 85
respectively.
Fig. 9.5 Efficiency curves for a screw and nut recirculating ball steering gear