Self Cleaning Rack-and-Pinion Design?

fester225

I have an application which would work very nicely with a rack-and-pinion. The problem is: the environment is inherently very dirty, and covering it isn't an option. Using the usual arrangement would cause it to quickly seize.

Does anyone know of a self cleaning rack-and-pinion design?

Tom Kelly

What do you mean self cleaning rack & pinion ?
I can suggest you the material which is self lubricating, tough and can be used for this application. No lubrication No dust.
It is "Metalon". You can get the details on internet.

Tom

MATLABdude

Well, if it can't be enclosed / sealed, how about rigging something up so that you have constant lubricant / water / oil spraying onto the rack-and-pinion?

EDIT: And welcome to PhysicsForums!

Ranger Mike

lot of rack and pinion steering boxes running on Baja off road series vehicles..got heavy duty " rubber" bellows to cut down on sand and dirt, rocks etc..you run into at 65 MPH racing thru the desert for 1000 miles...also check out mud bog racers who drive theri mosnter trucks thru mud pits and bogs for fun...insane but fun...
hot rodders are the last real innovators we got ...

Danger

This might sound incredibly simplistic, and might not be applicable, but have you thought about just mounting a toothbrush or similar device on a crank handle to scrape crap off of the rack on the back-stroke?

Similar Threads for: Self Cleaning Rack-and-Pinion Design?
Thread	Forum	Replies
Designing of Rail of a Rack	Mechanical Engineering	0
pinion gear quary	Engineering Systems & Design	6
smooth pinion/roller for friction drive	Mechanical Engineering	2
Rack mounted RAID5 for ~ 1 TB storage	Computing & Technology	3
Mods that will rack your brain...	Linear & Abstract Algebra	16

fester225	Self Cleaning Rack-and-Pinion Design? Tweet I have an application which would work very nicely with a rack-and-pinion. The problem is: the environment is inherently very dirty, and covering it isn't an option. Using the usual arrangement would cause it to quickly seize. Does anyone know of a self cleaning rack-and-pinion design?

Tom Kelly	What do you mean self cleaning rack & pinion ? I can suggest you the material which is self lubricating, tough and can be used for this application. No lubrication No dust. It is "Metalon". You can get the details on internet. Tom

MATLABdude Blog Entries: 1 Recognitions: Science Advisor	Well, if it can't be enclosed / sealed, how about rigging something up so that you have constant lubricant / water / oil spraying onto the rack-and-pinion? EDIT: And welcome to PhysicsForums!

Danger Recognitions: Gold Member	This might sound incredibly simplistic, and might not be applicable, but have you thought about just mounting a toothbrush or similar device on a crank handle to scrape crap off of the rack on the back-stroke?