Torque steer reduction system

• US 7,874,564 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lueker, David Charles Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US12/110,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20090266658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 180/421, 180/422, 180/423, 280/5.52, 280/5.522, 280/89, 280/89.1, 280/89.11, 280/89.12, 280/89.13, 280/90
• US Class Current: 280/89.12
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/228 acting between the steering gear and the road wheels, e.g. on tie-rod

Abstract

A torque steer reduction system is disclosed. The system includes a damper. The damping effect of the damper is variable. Furthermore, the damping effect may be adjusted through a damping coefficient. High damping coefficients may correspond to stronger damping effects. During periods associated with a greater influence of torque steer, the damper may be configured with a high damping coefficient to counteract torque steer.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a steering system configured to turn at least one wheel of the motor vehicle;

a damper including a first end portion attached to a frame portion of the motor vehicle and a second end portion attached to the steering system;

wherein the damper is configured to exert a damping force on the steering system; and

wherein the damping force of the damper is controlled according to a current throttle position of a throttle valve.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the damper is attached to a tie rod of the steering system.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the damper is attached to a steering arm of the steering system.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the damper is disposed away from a control arm of the motor vehicle.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the damper is oriented in a direction that is generally parallel with a bottom surface of the motor vehicle.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the damping force of the damper is variable.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the damping force of the damper is varied by modifying a viscosity of the damper.

8. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a steering system configured to turn at least one wheel of the motor vehicle;

a damper capable of exerting varying damping forces on the steering system;

the damper including a first end portion attached to a frame portion of the motor vehicle and a second end portion attached to the steering system of the motor vehicle;

a throttle valve sensor configured to receive information related to a current throttle position; and

wherein the damper exerts a damping force on the steering system and wherein the strength of the damping force is controlled according to the current throttle position.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the damper is a variable viscosity damper.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the viscosity of the damper is controlled using an electrical current.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the electrical current is increased with increased throttle position.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein a damping coefficient of the damper is increased with increased throttle position.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the damper is connected to a drive-by-wire system of the motor vehicle.

14. A method of reducing torque steer in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving information related to a current throttle position;

determining a damping coefficient for a damper according to the current throttle position;

controlling the damper to achieve the damping coefficient; and

thereby reducing torque steer in the motor vehicle;

wherein a first end portion of the damper is attached to a frame portion of the motor vehicle; and

wherein a second end portion of the damper is attached to a steering system of the motor vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first end portion of the damper is attached to the frame portion using a frame mount.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the damper is oriented in a generally horizontal direction.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the second end portion of the damper is attached to a tie rod of the steering system.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the second end portion of the damper is attached to a steering arm of the steering system.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of controlling the damper includes a step of sending a current to the damper.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the magnitude of the current is related to the current throttle value.