Vehicle steering system

• US 4,657,271 A
• Filed: 06/26/1985
• Issued: 04/14/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Racesports, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Racesports, Inc.
• Inventors: Salmon, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Love, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diederiks, Jr., Everett G.
• Application Number:
  US06/749,001
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 280/95 R, 280/95 A, 280/675, 280/664, 280/660
• US Class Current: 280/124.139
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/00 Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings B62D13/00 takes precedence; power-assisted or power-driven steering B62D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends

Abstract

A steering system for a vehicle having a pair of levers pivotably affixed to the chassis connecting the output of the steering gear mechanism, to tie rods which connect to the wheel assembly steering input. The steering system minimizes the space required for steering linkage.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having a steering gear mechanism with an occupant controlled output, and a pair of steerable wheel assemblies each rotatable about a steering axis and each having a steering input point radially spaced from said steering axis, the wheel assemblies being suspended from the vehicle chassis by control arm means allowing movement in jounce and rebound relative to the vehicle chassis causing the steering input point to move along a generally arcuate path defining a center of curvature and a bounce radius;

a steering linkage comprising, in combination;

a pair of levers each having a fulcrum axis extending therethrough and a first and second pivot point spaced radially therefrom on generally opposite sides of the fulcrum axis from one another;

means pivotally connecting the levers at their fulcrum axes to the chassis adjacent each wheel assembly so as to allow the wheel to move and jounce in rebound without moving the fulcrum axis location;

link means connecting the output of the steering gear mechanism to the first pivot point of each lever, said link means comprising at least one link pivotably connected to the output of the steering gear mechanism at one end and extending generally transversely therefrom to pivotably connect with said lever first pivot point, said link and said lever arranged in a generally perpendicular manner so that link motion will be confined within a small tubular-shaped envelope; and

a pair of tie rods each pivotably connecting the steering input point of a respective wheel assembly to a corresponding lever second pivot point, said second pivot point being located in the proximity of the center of curvature of the arcuate path of the wheel assembly steering input point and said tie rod being substantially the length of the bounce radius so as to minimize bump steer.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said levers are oriented so that their first pivot points are substantially above the second pivot points to allow the steering gear mechanism to be located significantly above the center of the wheel assemblies.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said fulcrum axes lies on a plane substantially parallel to the vehicle centerline.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said fulcrum axes are substantially horizontal.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said levers, tie rods and links all lie in a common plane.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said plane is generally perpendicular to the vehicle center line.

7. The invention of claim 2 wherein said fulcrum axes are generally horizontal.

13. The invention of claim 7 wherein said fulcrum axes are generally horizontal.

8. In a vehicle having a steering gear mechanism with an occupant controlled output, and a pair of steerable wheel assemblies each rotatable about a steering axis and each having a steering input point radially spaced from said steering axis, the wheel assemblies being suspended from the vehicle chassis by control arm means allowing movement in jounce and rebound relative to the vehicle chassis causing the steering input point to move along a generally arcuate path defining a center of curvature and a bounce radius;

a steering linkage comprising, in combination;

a pair of elongated, generally L-shaped levers each having a central fulcrum axis and a first and second pivot point spaced radially therefrom at opposite ends of the lever;

means pivotally connecting the central fulcrum of each lever to the chassis adjacent each wheel with the first lever pivot point oriented significantly above the second lever pivot point;

link means connecting the output of the steering gear mechanism to the first pivot point of each lever, said link means comprising at least one link extending from the steering gear mechanism output to said lever first pivot point; and

a pair of tie rods connecting the wheel assembly steering input points to the adjacent lever second pivot point which is located generally adjacent to the jounce and rebound center of curvature and said tie rod being substantially equal in length to the bounce radius thereby minimizing bump steer;

said steering linkage enabling the steering gear mechanism to be located substantially above the wheel centers so that the area of the vehicle below the steering gear mechanism and between the levers is unobstructed by the steering linkage.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said fulcrum axes lie on a plane substantially parallel to the vehicle centerline.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said fulcrum axes are substantially horizontal.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said levers, tie rods and links all lie in a common plane.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said plane is generally perpendicular to the vehicle center line.

14. In a vehicle having a steering gear mechanism with an occupant controlled output, and a pair of steerable wheel assemblies each rotatable about a steering axis and each having a steering input point radially spaced from said steering axis, the wheel assemblies being suspended from the vehicle chassis by control arm means allowing movement in jounce and rebound relative to the vehicle chassis causing the steering input point to move along a generally arcuate path defining a center of curvature and a bounce radius;

a steering linkage comprising, in combination;

a pair of levers, each generally elongated in shape having a central fulcrum axis and a first and second end spaced radially therefrom;

means pivotally connecting the central fulcrum axis of each lever to the chassis adjacent each wheel assembly with the fulcrum axes oriented horizontally and parallel to the vehicle center line;

a pair of links each having two ends, one end pivotably attached to the output of the steering gear mechanism and the other end pivotally attached to the lever first pivot point, the movement of said links during steering being confined within a small tubular shaped envelope which is independent of jounce and rebound thereby providing optimum usage of vehicle space adjacent the steering linkage; and

means for connecting the steering input point of each wheel assembly to the second pivot point of the a respective lever.