US 5,492,348 A · Vehicle steering system

Abstract

A vehicle steering system provides four distinct steering modes, including a first steering mode for steerage of front wheels with rear wheels neutral, a second steering mode for steerage of rear wheels with front wheels neutral, a third steering mode for coincidence-phase steerage of front wheels and rear wheels, and a fourth steering mode for reverse-phase steerage of front wheels and rear wheels. In the first embodiment, a specially elongated pinion shaft includes two groups of pinion gears. One of the first group pinion gears meshes with a gear on a steering rack for front wheels; and, simultaneously, one of the second group pinion gears meshes with a gear on a steering rack for the rear wheels. A vehicle user can shift the steering shaft to one of four operating positions, each operating position providing a distinct steering mode. In a modified design, a pinion steering shaft includes a group of pinion gears to engage a steering rack for the front wheels; while the rear wheels are steered by an electric motor controlled by electronic devices. In the second embodiment, both the front wheels and rear wheels are steered by electric motors controlled by electronic devices to provide four steering modes. In another modified design, the front wheels are steered by an electric motor controlled by electronic devices.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A steering system for a vehicle having front wheels and rear wheels, said steering system comprising:

a rotatable steering wheel;
a selectable steering mode selector means for providing a specific choice among a plurality of distinct steering modes and generating signals thereof;
a steering wheel rotation sensor means for sensing rotation of the steering wheel and generating signals thereof;
a front drive means operably connected with the front wheels for controlling the direction of the front wheels;
a shaft means for carrying the front drive means for controlling the direction of the front wheels, said shaft means being operably attached to and controlled by both the steering wheel and the steering mode selector means;
a plurality of gear positions being specifically disposed on the shaft means;
the gear positions including at least a filled gear position and at least an empty gear position;
each filled gear position including at least a gear;
each empty gear position including no gear;
a selected one of the gear positions being disposed to selectively engage the front drive means;
the steering mode selector means being operable to control which gear position engages the front drive means;
a microcomputer means for receiving and processing signals from both the steering wheel rotation sensor means and the steering mode selector means and generating output signals thereof;
and
a rear steerage executing means operably connected with the rear wheels for controlling the direction of the rear wheels;
said rear steerage executing means being controlled by the output signals from the microcomputer means.

12 more elements

A steering system for a vehicle with front wheels and rear wheels, said steering system comprising:

a rotatable steering wheel;
a selectable steering mode selector means for providing a specific choice among a plurality of distinct steering modes and generating signals thereof;
a steering wheel rotation sensor means for sensing rotation of the steering wheel and generating signals thereof;
a front drive means operably connected with the front wheels for controlling the direction of the front wheels;
a shaft means for carrying the front drive means for controlling the direction of the front wheels, said shaft means being operably attached to and controlled by both the steering wheel and the steering mode selector means;
at least two gears being disposed on the shaft means;
one of the two gears providing a pre-determined proportion of steering efficiency as compared with steering efficiency provided by another of the two gears;
the steering mode selector means being operable to control which of the two gears engages the front drive means;
a joint means connected with the shaft means, said joint means being movable such that the shaft means can be temporarily disengaged from the front drive means;
a microcomputer means for receiving and processing signals from both the steering wheel rotation sensor means and the steering mode selector means and generating output signals thereof;
and
a rear steerage executing means operably connected with the rear wheels for controlling the direction of the rear wheels, said rear steerage executing means being controlled by the output signals from the microcomputer means.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle steering system

Life of this patent

Vehicle steering system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23