Motor vehicle steering box with Ackerman control

• US 6,272,409 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Corporation (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Elwood, Paul David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/159,929
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 701/41, 701/42, 180/443, 180/408, 180/410, 180/412, 180/415, 180/416, 180/422, 180/428, 180/431, 180/435, 180/437
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/09 characterised by means varying the ratio between the steering angles of the steered wheels varying the ratio automatically depending on driving conditions B62D6/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/20 Links, e.g. track rods means for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in B62D17/00

Abstract

A motor vehicle steering box for use with light duty trucks and other vehicles is provided with a function generation means for specifically controlling Ackerman geometry by independently controlling left and right tie rod links. The invention may be employed regardless of outside ball joint location and in lieu of a conventional rack and pinion steering apparatus.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle steering box for use with a steering system of a vehicle to control Ackerman geometry, the steering system having two steerable wheels, the steering box comprising:

means for adjusting the turning angle R_i of one steerable wheel relative to the turning angle R_o of the other steerable wheel such that the center of the turning radius R_i of the one steerable wheel coincides with the center of the turning radius R_o of the other steerable wheel;

a first connecting mechanism linking the means for adjusting to a steering column and steering wheel of the steering system;

a second connecting mechanism linking the means for adjusting to a first tie rod of a linkage apparatus of the steering system; and

a third connecting mechanism linking the means for adjusting to a second tie rod of the linkage apparatus.

2. A motor vehicle steering box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first tie rod is a left inner tie rod and the second tie rod is a right inner tie rod, the left inner tie rod and the right inner tie rod being laterally movable by the means for adjusting in response to rotation of the steering wheel.

3. A motor vehicle steering box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting employs a means for tie rod movement selected from a group consisting of a mechanical mechanism, a hydraulic mechanism and an electrical mechanism to move the left inner tie rod and the right inner tie rod in response to rotation of the steering wheel.

4. A motor vehicle steering box as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for moving the tie rods moves the left inner tie rod a first lateral distance which turns the steerable left front wheel at a left front wheel turning angle and the means for moving moves the right inner tie rod a second lateral distance which turns the steerable right front wheel at a right front wheel turning angle.

5. A motor vehicle steering box for use with a steering system of a vehicle to control Ackerman geometry, the steering system having two steerable wheels, the steering box comprising:

means for controlling, during a turning event, the Ackerman geometry of the steerable wheels;

a first connecting mechanism linking the means for controlling to a steering column and steering wheel of the steering system;

a second connecting mechanism linking the means for controlling to a first tie rod of a linkage apparatus of the steering system; and

a third connecting means linking the means for controlling to a second tie rod of the linkage apparatus.

6. A motor vehicle steering box as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for controlling maintains a perfect Ackerman geometry.

7. A motor vehicle steering box as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first tie rod is a left inner tie rod and the second tie rod is a right inner tie rod, the left inner tie rod and the right inner tie rod being laterally movable by the means for adjusting in response to rotation of the steering wheel.

8. A motor vehicle steering box as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for adjusting employs a means for tie rod movement selected from a group consisting of a mechanical mechanism, a hydraulic mechanism and an electrical mechanism to move the left inner tie rod and the right inner tie rod in response to rotation of the steering wheel.

9. A motor vehicle steering box as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for moving the tie rods moves the left inner tie rod a first lateral distance which turns the steerable left front wheel at a left front wheel turning angle and the means for moving moves the right inner tie rod a second lateral distance which turns the steerable right front wheel at a right front wheel turning angle.

10. A motor vehicle steering box for use with a steering system of a vehicle to control Ackerman geometry, the steering system having two steerable wheels, the steering box comprising:

a single means for controlling, during a turning event, the Ackerman geometry of the steerable wheels;

a first connecting mechanism linking the means for controlling to a steering column and steering wheel of the steering system;

a second connecting mechanism linking the means for controlling to a first tie rod of a linkage apparatus of the steering system; and

a third connecting means linking the means for controlling to a second tie rod of the linkage apparatus,

the means for controlling independently moving the first tie rod and the second tie rod, the first tie rod being moved a first distance and the second tie rod being moved a second distance to change the turning angle of one steerable wheel relative to the turning angle of the other steerable wheel.