Talk:Rack and pinion

Technical Definitions
The last two paragraphs don't explain what a rack and pinion steering mechanism is. They are technical definitions. Can you point me to other WP articles that include this kind of technical definition? When I read other scientific articles on WP they are not this technical. They explain things, which is what an encyclopedia is supposed to do. Suggestion: Either delete them or explain them, but don't leave them as is.Markewilliams (talk) 04:16, 6 November 2013 (UTC)

bleh. this is WAY too short. i need to base a whole research paper on this tidbit of info!
 * Agreed! Nothing about wear of this mechanism or comparison with other steering methods. F15x28 07:51, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

so do i

Minor Edits
For comparison with other steering mechanism's take a look at Steering :)

I've tried to tidy it up a bit, picture of rack and pinion steering moved to the right, Refrences have been moved down a bit so that the image did not distort it, and the link to Rack and Pinion Railway has been moved to the top (it was right on the bottom) so that anyone looking for rack and pinion railways doesnt need to read the whole article to get the link ;) Silica-gel (talk) 11:05, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

"has been fitted to many new vehicles, such as the 2008 Honda Accord"

Why the specific mention of a 2008 Honda Accord? What does that add to the article?

210.246.36.115 (talk) 05:20, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

Category: Actuators
I included the article in the Actuator category, but User:Wizard191 disagreed and removed the article from that category. According to the actuator article "An actuator is a mechanical device for moving or controlling a mechanism or system. It takes energy, usually transported by air, electric current, or liquid, and converts that into some kind of motion." My undertanding is that a rack and pinion assembly is one of the most basic forms of linear actuator. It permits conversion of the rotary motion of the pinion into the linear motion of the rack, and thus qualifies a member of the actuator family. That said, I am open to a discussion as to why the rack and pinion would not fall into the actuator category. --Catsquisher (talk) 07:54, 6 August 2010 (UTC)


 * I read what the actuator article says the definition of an actuator is, but I'm not sure I agree with it. The problem is there aren't any reference in that article to support that definition; nor are they any references here stating that this is an actuator. Perhaps my definition of an actuator is wrong, but I don't see any references to support your view of one. Wizard191 (talk) 12:16, 6 August 2010 (UTC)


 * I'm not a big fan of that definition either, but I think it contains the gist. Here's another definition along the same lines from Sclater, N., Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook, 4th Edition,  p. 25, McGraw-Hill: "Mechanical actuators convert a motor's rotary motion into linear motion.  Mechanical methods for accomplishing this include the use of leadscrews...ballscrews...worm-drive gearing, and belt, cable or chain drives."  There's also the cam, roller screw, and, to my point, the rack and pinion.  A quick web search for "rack and pinion actuator" will get you many results for commercially available actuators of that type.  Am I missing something?  I think of an actuator simply as any mechanism able to convert one type of motion to another, often to achieve mechanical advantage.  What is your definition?  --Catsquisher (talk) 17:00, 6 August 2010 (UTC)


 * Well, if there are no objections, I'd like to include rack and pinion in the category of actuator. It's a basic member of that family, as are ball screw assemblies. --Catsquisher (talk) 21:46, 8 August 2010 (UTC)


 * Sorry for the slow response. My real life has been uber busy. Your ref seems more than adequate, so go for it. I would just suggest adding something in the lead that states that a rack and pinion is a type of actuator. Wizard191 (talk) 12:26, 9 August 2010 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the response. Sounds good.  Will take care of it soon. --Catsquisher (talk) 22:45, 9 August 2010 (UTC)


 * Talk:Belt_(mechanical) is relevant too.
 * I wouldn't have added rack and pinion to actuators myself, but nor would I remove it. It just seems too simple - a component of an actuator, rather than an actuator in its own right. Similarly belt & chain drives - although there are forms of actuator that use them, this is a very minor part of their overall uses. Andy Dingley (talk) 00:39, 11 August 2010 (UTC)


 * Andy, that's not completely true. At my work we have an application where we use a rack and pinion to directly drive an item using the end of the rack, which would make it an actuator in the traditional sense. Is not a rack and pinion steering system also? (Just playing devil's advocate here.) Wizard191 (talk) 15:36, 11 August 2010 (UTC)


 * See Talk:Belt_(mechanical) Andy Dingley (talk) 23:15, 11 August 2010 (UTC)

steering mechanism in car.
Steering mechanism is used for changing the direction of wheel's axle. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 113.21.77.162 (talk) 22:04, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

Category: Stairlifts

 * Andy, why remove Stairlifts? This is a perfect example of the application. Where do you read that it is claimed to be Self Locking?  I agree with you they are not.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.232.13.165 (talk) 18:12, 6 July 2015 (UTC)

History
Maybe rack and pinion was not used in European firearms before 1600 but there were rack and pinion winches for crossbows used in Europe before 1500. For instance seen here: https://www.khm.at/objekt-datenbank/detail/372793 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.150.73.4 (talk) 09:48, 11 November 2019 (UTC)


 * Yes! And the mechanism must have been known much earlier, considering how early gears were invented. In Siege_tower, it is stated (dubiously, though?) that some siege towers built centuries BCE, namely the Helepolis, would require rack and pinion. Elias (talk) 12:32, 15 March 2023 (UTC)