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US 7,621,545 B2Granted
Bump steer adjustment mechanism for a model vehicle
AssigneeTraxxas, L.P.
InventorsBrent Whitfield Byers, Seralaathan Hariharesan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering mechanism for a model vehicle is provided, having one or more steering actuators, a steering control arm pivotally mounted for rotation relative to a model vehicle chassis, the steering control arm being coupled directly to at least two tie rods, each tie rod controlling the steering of at least one wheel of a vehicle, and each of the one or more steering actuators coupled to the steering control arm to rotate the control arm relative to the vehicle chassis.
Claims15
An apparatus for adjusting a bump steer of a toy model vehicle comprising:
- a tie rod coupled at a first end to a steering control mechanism and at a second end to a pivotable wheel support for steering the toy model vehicle;
- a ball joint coupling the second end of the tie rod to the pivotable wheel support at a first location;
- and
- wherein a position of a ball of the ball joint is adjustable in a substantially vertical direction to couple the tie rod to the pivotable wheel support at a second location displaced from the first location relative to the pivotable wheel support.
1 more element
An apparatus for adjusting a bump steer for a toy model vehicle, comprising:
- a model vehicle chassis;
- one or more suspension members secured to the chassis at an inboard end for movement relative to the model vehicle chassis;
- a wheel support member pivotally secured to an outboard end of the one or more suspension members for pivotal movement relative to the suspension members;
- one or more members forming a steering arm for pivoting the wheel support member to steer a wheel held by the wheel support member;
- a tie rod coupled between the steering arm and the wheel support member for pivoting the wheel support member relative to the one or more suspension members to steer a wheel held by the wheel support member;
- the one or more suspension members being adjustable between a plurality of mounting positions on the model vehicle chassis, each mounting position adjusting one or both of the wheel support caster angle and the roll center position of the one or more suspension members;
- and
- one or more members forming a link for adjusting a position of the tie rod relative to the wheel support member between a plurality of substantially discrete positions, each substantially discrete position corresponding to one or more of the predetermined mounting positions of the one or more suspension members, to maintain a substantially constant bump steer of the wheel held by the wheel support member.
5 more elements
An apparatus for adjusting a bump steer for a toy model vehicle, comprising:
- a model vehicle chassis;
- one or more suspension members secured to the chassis at an inboard end for movement relative to the model vehicle chassis;
- a wheel support member pivotally secured to an outboard end of the one or more suspension members for pivotal movement relative to the suspension members;
- one or more members forming a steering arm for pivoting the wheel support member to steer a wheel held by the wheel support member;
- a tie rod coupled between the steering arm and the wheel support member for pivoting the wheel support member relative to the one or more suspension members to steer a wheel held by the wheel support member;
- the one or more suspension members being adjustable between a plurality of mounting positions on the model vehicle chassis, each mounting position adjusting one or both of the wheel support caster angle and the roll center position of the one or more suspension members;
- and
- one or more members forming a link, wherein the link comprises an interchangeable ball pivot link having collars positioned on opposing sides of a ball portion for adjusting a position of the tie rod relative to the wheel support member between a plurality of substantially discrete positions, each substantially discrete position corresponding to one or more of the predetermined mounting positions of the one or more suspension members, to maintain a substantially constant bump steer of the wheel held by the wheel support member.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.