Steering Apparatus for a Vehicle Having Front and Rear Steerable Wheels
AssigneeTRW Automotive U.S. LLC
InventorDaniel E. Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for turning steerable wheels (28, 124) of a vehicle (12) in response to input to a driver control interface (14) includes a sensor (18) for monitoring steering input to the driver control interface (14) and for providing a steering input signal indicative of the monitored steering input. Front and rear steering systems (24, 110 and 120, 126) are actuatable for turning front and rear sets of steerable wheels (28, 124), respectively. A controller (22), upon a malfunction of the front steering-system (24, 110), actuates only the rear steering system (120, 126) in response to the steering input signal.
Claims19
An apparatus for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle in response to input to a driver control interface, the apparatus comprising:
- a sensor for monitoring the input to the driver control interface and for providing a steering input signal indicative thereof;
- a front steering system actuatable for turning a front set of steerable wheels;
- a rear steering system actuatable for turning a rear set of steerable wheels;
- and
- a controller responsive to the steering input signal for controlling actuation of the front and rear steering systems, the controller, upon a malfunction of the front steering system, actuating the rear steering system in response to the steering input signal.
An apparatus comprising:
- a driver control interface for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle;
- at least three spaced apart axles including front and rear steering axles and an intermediate axle;
- a sensor for monitoring steering input to the driver control interface and for providing a steering input signal indicative thereof;
- a front steering system operatively connected to the front steering axle and actuatable for turning a front set of steerable wheels;
- a rear steering system operatively connected to the rear steering axle and actuatable for turning a rear set of steerable wheels;
- and
- a controller responsive to the steering input signal for actuating the front and rear steering systems, the controller, upon a malfunction of one steering system, actuating the other steering system in response to the steering input signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.