Vehicle steering system
AssigneeTRW Inc.
InventorEdwin G. Klosterhaus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for steering a steerable wheel of a vehicle having a frame member. The apparatus comprises a housing pivotally connectable with the frame member of the vehicle. A rack member is connectable with the steerable wheel of the vehicle and has rack teeth formed thereon. The rack member is axially movable relative to the housing. A rotatable pinion gear is in meshing engagement with the rack teeth on the rack member. The rack member is axially movable relative to the housing to turn the steerable wheel of the vehicle in response to rotation of the pinion gear. The pinion gear is rotatably driven by an electric motor to axially move the rack member relative to the housing.
Claims12
An apparatus for steering first and second steerable wheels of a vehicle, the first and second steerable wheels being rotatable about a common axis when the vehicle is in a straight ahead driving condition, the vehicle having a frame, said apparatus comprising:
- a first housing pivotally connectable with the frame of the vehicle;
- a first rack member connectable with the first steerable wheel and having rack teeth formed thereon, said first rack member being axially movable within said first housing;
- a first rotatable pinion gear in meshing engagement with said rack teeth on said first rack member for axially moving said first rack member within said first housing to steer the first steerable wheel in response to rotation of said first pinion gear;
- first actuatable drive means for rotating said first pinion gear;
- a second housing pivotally connectable with the frame of the vehicle to pivot relative to said first housing;
- a second rack member connectable with the second steerable wheel and having rack teeth formed thereon, said second rack member being axially movable within said second housing;
- a second rotatable pinion gear in meshing engagement with said rack teeth on said second rack member for axially moving with second rack member within said second housing to steer the second steerable wheel in response to rotation of said second pinion gear;
- second actuatable drive means for rotating said second pinion gear;
- and
- control means for separately controlling actuation of said first and second drive means to steer the first and second steerable wheels independently of each other.
A steering system for steering a vehicle having a frame and a pair of steerable wheels, the steerable wheels being rotatable about a common axis when the vehicle is in a straight ahead driving condition, said system comprising:
- (a) a pair of steering assemblies, each of said steering assemblies comprising:
- an elongated rack member having an axis and rack teeth;
- a housing in which said rack member is supported for axial movement;
- a rotatable pinion gear in meshing engagement with said rack teeth to move said rack member axially in said housing in response to rotation of said pinion gear;
- and
- actuatable drive means for rotating said pinion gear to move said rack member axially;
- (b) means for connecting each of said rack members to a different one of the pair of steerable wheels;
- and
- (c) means for pivotally connecting each of said housings to the frame of the vehicle for pivotal movement of each housing relative to the other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.