Steering systems for vehicles

A steering system for a wheel of a vehicle, the steering system comprising:

• a. a pivot member having multiple pivot-node locations, the pivot member connectable at a first pivot-node location to a sub-frame of the wheel;
• b. a steering rod, actuatable to rotate the wheel about a steering axis, the steering rod mechanically coupled with the pivot member to be co-pivotable therewith;
• and
• c. a suspension-connector rod connected at a first end thereof to the pivot member at a second pivot-node location, the suspension-connector rod connectable at a second end thereof to a suspension arm linking the wheel of the vehicle to the sub-frame,
• wherein a lateral force acting upon the wheel is transmitted via the steering rod to the pivot member so as to rotate the pivot member, the rotation being effective to transmit a substantially-vertical force vector to the sub-frame,
• wherein at least one condition selected from the group consisting of a first condition, a second condition, a third condition, a fourth condition, a fifth condition, and a sixth condition is true, and wherein:
• I. according to the first condition, the lateral force is an inwardly-directed loan on the steering rod, and the substantially-vertical force vector is a downward force vector;
• II. according to the second condition, the lateral force is an outwardly-directed load on the steering rod, and the substantially-vertical force vector is an upward force vector;
• III. according to the third condition, when:
• (A) the steering system is installed in the vehicle,
• (B) the vehicle is in motion in a curve and
• (C) the wheel is a wheel facing inside the curve,
• the substantially-vertical force vector is a downward force vector;
• IV. according to the fourth condition, when:
• (A) the steering system is installed in the vehicle,
• (B) the vehicle is in motion in a curve and
• (C) the wheel is a wheel facing outside the curve,
• the substantially-vertical force vector is an upward force vector;
• V. according to the fifth condition, the rotation is additionally effective to transmit an at-least-partly vertical force vector to the suspension-connector rod, a vertical component of the at-least-partly vertical force vector being in a direction opposite to that of a vertical component of the substantially-vertical force vector;
• and
• VI. according to the sixth condition, the steering system comprises an actuator connected to the steering rod and configured to cause the steering rod to move inwardly and outwardly, and an actuator-coupling connecting the actuator and the pivot member.