Caster angle control system for vehicles

• US 5,839,749 A
• Filed: 07/22/1996
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Lyu, Dong Jo
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/684,823
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 280/661
• US Class Current: 280/86.753
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/067 characterised by the mounting on the vehicle body or chassis of the spring and damper unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0152 characterised by the action on a particular type of suspension unit B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/142 with a single lateral arm, e.g. MacPherson type
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/422 Driving wheels or live axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/464 Caster angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/312 The spring being a wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/128 Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/42 Joints with cam surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/62 Adjustable continuously, e.g. during driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 17/00 Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in

Abstract

A caster angle control system for vehicles includes a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) for sensing the current vehicle speed; an electronic control unit (ECU), which receives signals from the VSS to determine the current vehicle speed; a strut assembly having a lower end fixed pivotally on a knuckle arm and an upper end fixed to a vehicle body, the strut assembly being arranged to define a caster angle; and a caster control device for controlling the caster angle through allowing the strut assembly to pivot forward and backward in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle centering the lower end of the strut assembly by control of the ECU, which receives the signals from the VSS to determine the current vehicle speed. The caster angle control system for vehicles provides the caster angle control device including an actuator, which is operated in response to the control of the ECU and allows a cam to rotate thereby; a cam, which is rotated by the operation of the actuator; and a reciprocating movement member, which is moved forward and backward by the rotation movement of the cam, allowing the upper end of the strut assembly to be moved forward and backward in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle centering on the lower end of the strut assembly.

Claims

1. A caster angle control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) constructed and arranged to sense a speed of the vehicle and generate a speed signal corresponding thereto;

an electronic control unit (ECU) constructed and arranged to generate a control signal in accordance with said speed signal generated by said VSS;

a strut assembly having a first end pivotally mounted on a knuckle arm and a second end connected to a portion of the vehicle, said strut assembly being arranged to define a caster angle; and

a caster control device constructed and arranged to control said caster angle by causing said strut assembly to pivot about said first end of said strut assembly in accordance with said control signal generated by said ECU, wherein said caster control device comprises;

an actuator connected to said ECU and operated according to said control signal;

a cam constructed and arranged to be rotatably driven by said actuator; and

a reciprocating movement member constructed and arranged to be reciprocally driven by rotation of said cam, said reciprocating movement member driving said pivotal movement of said strut assembly about said second end of said strut assembly.

2. The caster angle control system of claim 1, wherein said caster control device causes said strut assembly to pivot along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

3. The caster angle control system of claim 1, wherein said caster control device further comprises a plurality of damping mechanisms constructed and arranged to prevent an abrupt change in said caster angle.

4. The caster angle control system of claim 3, wherein said plurality of damping mechanisms have an absorber, which works in a reciprocal fashion centering on a rod disposed in an insulator.

5. The caster angle control system of claim 3, wherein said plurality of damping mechanisms are connected together with said strut assembly and said insulator.

6. The caster angle control system of claim 4, wherein said absorber works along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

7. The caster angle control system of claim 1, wherein said strut assembly passes through a portion of a wheel housing of the vehicle, a front and a rear position of the wheel housing.

8. The caster angle control system of claim 1, wherein said reciprocating movement member is elastically maintained in contact with said cam by an elastic member.