Steering mechanism of electric car

• US 20040050596A1
• Filed: 06/06/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Science And Technology Corpration
• Original Assignee: Japan Science And Technology Corpration
• Inventors: Shimizu, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,863,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/24.01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2036 Electric differentials, e.g. for supporting steering vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18145 Cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/144 for vehicles with more than two axles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/1581 characterised by comprising an electrical interconnecting system between the steering control means of the different axles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/159 characterised by computing methods or stabilisation processes or systems, e.g. responding to yaw rate, lateral wind, load, road condition
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

A steering mechanism of an electric car including tandem wheel suspensions and steering means for each pair of right and left wheels is provided in order to perform a smooth turning motion.

In the steering mechanism of an electric car including tandem wheel suspensions and steering means for each pair of right and left wheels, the steering means is formed by steering means operated by a steering wheel and steering means operated by a corresponding motor.

Claims

1. A steering mechanism of an electric car, comprising:

tandem wheel suspensions; and

steering means for each pair of right and left wheels,

wherein the steering means comprises steering means operated by a steering wheel and steering means operated by a motor.

2. The steering mechanism of an electric car according to claim 1, further comprising:

a steer angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of the steering wheel; and

a general controller for receiving at least an output of the steer angle sensor and for controlling the steering means.

3. The steering mechanism of an electric car according to claim 2, further comprising a motor controller for controlling a driving current of the motor of each steering means in accordance with a corresponding control output of the general controller.

4. The steering mechanism of an electric car according to claim 2, wherein the general controller receives a variable combination of detected values of rotating-position sensors of respective wheels, steer angle sensors of respective pairs of wheels, a yaw-rate sensor, a lateral acceleration sensor, and a longitudinal acceleration sensor in order to control the steering means, in accordance with a control object.