Controlled compliance for rear wheel steering
First Claim
1. An apparatus for varying the steer angle of rear wheel assemblies of a vehicle having longitudinal and transverse axes and steerable front wheels, each wheel assembly including a wheel mounted for rotation and track parallel to the longitudinal axis on a stub axle supported from the vehicle chassis by at least pairs of transverse and substantially parallel swing links pivotally attached at one end to the wheel assembly ahead of and to the rear of the axle center line;
- the apparatus comprising;
rear steer means including means for mounting the other end of at least one of each pair of links for movement transverse to the vehicle, means for biasing the transversely movable ends in opposite direction transverse to the vehicle, and latch means having a first position locking the movable ends in a position wherein the rear wheels track parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second position allowing the movable ends to move transverse in the same direction in response to transverse forces acting on the rear wheels.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (22) selectively provides passive rear wheel steering in response to lateral forces acting on the rear wheels during turning maneuvers initiated by a front wheel steering assembly (14). A control assembly (24) includes a logic (104) responsive to signals from a front wheel steer angle sensor (102) and a vehicle speed sensor (100), and provides signals to latches (70,72) of apparatus (22) for effecting same and opposite direction rear wheel steering angles relative to the front wheels. The logic prevents opposite direction steering in response to vehicle speeds above predetermined amount.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An apparatus for varying the steer angle of rear wheel assemblies of a vehicle having longitudinal and transverse axes and steerable front wheels, each wheel assembly including a wheel mounted for rotation and track parallel to the longitudinal axis on a stub axle supported from the vehicle chassis by at least pairs of transverse and substantially parallel swing links pivotally attached at one end to the wheel assembly ahead of and to the rear of the axle center line;
- the apparatus comprising;
rear steer means including means for mounting the other end of at least one of each pair of links for movement transverse to the vehicle, means for biasing the transversely movable ends in opposite direction transverse to the vehicle, and latch means having a first position locking the movable ends in a position wherein the rear wheels track parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second position allowing the movable ends to move transverse in the same direction in response to transverse forces acting on the rear wheels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- the apparatus comprising;
Specification