Patent EP0280207A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0280207A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Four-wheel steering for vehicle and method of incorporating same
Assignee: Mazda Motor Corp
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Filing: 1988-02-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A four-wheel steering system has a mechanism (A) for turning the front wheels in response to the operation of the steering wheel (12), a mechanism (B) for turning the rear wheels, a controller (C) for controlling the rear wheel turning mechanism to turn the rear wheels according to preset four-wheel steering characteristics and a relay shaft (19) which is connected to the controller to transmit turning of the front wheels to the controller. The front wheel turning mechanism and the rear wheel turning mechanism are caused to bring the front wheels and the rear wheels to the respective straight-ahead positions while the relay shaft is disconnected from the controller. Then the controller is brought into the state corresponding to the straight-ahead positions of the front and rear wheels on the basis of the preset four-wheel steering characteristics. Thereafter, the relay shaft is connected to the controller.
Inventors
- 👤 Hirotaka Kanazawa
- 👤 Koushun Note
- 👤 Yasuhiro Nakashima
- 👤 Yoshiaki Mukai
- 👤 Shunji Sakamoto
- 👤 Shigeo Okamizu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:15
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D7/00; B62D7/06; B62D7/14; B62D7/15; B62D7/1518; B62D7/1545
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of incorporating in a vehicle a four-wheel steering system having a front wheel turning mechanism for turning front wheels in response to operation of a steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism for turning rear wheels, a control means for controlling the rear wheel turning mechanism to turn the rear wheels according to preset four-wheel steering characteristics and a connecting means which is connected to the control means to transmit front wheel turning information to the control means, thereby operatively connecting the front wheel turning mechanism with the rear wheel turning mechanism, comprising steps of causing the front wheel turning mechanism and the rear wheel turning mechanism to bring the front wheels and the rear wheels to respective reference positions while the connecting means is operatively disconnected from the control means, bringing the control means into a reference state, and connecting the connecting means to the control means, the reference position of the front wheels and the reference position of the rear wheels corresponding to each other on the basis of the preset four-wheel steering characteristics, the reference state of the control means being a state corresponding to the reference positions of the front and rear wheels on the basis of the preset four-wheel steering characteristics.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of incorporating in a vehicle a four-wheel steering system having a front wheel turning mechanism for turning front wheels in response to operation of a steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism for turning rear wheels, a control means for controlling the rear wheel turning mechanism to turn the rear wheels according to preset four-wheel steering characteristics and a connecting means which is connected to the control means to transmit front wheel turning information to the control means, thereby operatively connecting the front wheel turning mechanism with the rear wheel turning mechanism, comprising steps of causing the front wheel turning mechanism and the rear wheel turning mechanism to bring the front wheels and the rear wheels to respective reference positions while the connecting means is operatively disconnected from the control means, bringing the control means into a reference state, and connecting the connecting means to the control means, the reference position of the front wheels and the reference position of the rear wheels corresponding to each other on the basis of the preset four-wheel steering characteristics, the reference state of the control means being a state corresponding to the reference positions of the front and rear wheels on the basis of the preset four-wheel steering characteristics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in Claim 1 in which said connecting means mechanically transmits the front wheel turning information to the control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in Claim 2 further comprising a step of adjusting toe-in of the front and rear wheels after the connecting means is connected to the control means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as defined in Claim 3 further comprising steps of temporarily locking said control means to the reference state before connecting the connecting means to the control means, and releasing the control means after connecting the connecting means to the control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as defined in Claim 2 further comprising a step of adjusting toe-in of the front and rear wheels after the steps of causing the front wheel turning mechanism and the rear wheel turning mechanism to bring the front wheels and the rear wheels to the respective reference positions and bringing the control means into a reference state, and before the step of connecting the connecting means to the control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as defined in Claim 5 further comprising steps of temporarily locking said control means to the reference state before the step of adjusting toe-in of the front and rear wheels and releasing the control means after the step of connecting the connecting means to the control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in Claim 1 in which said reference positions of the front and rear wheels are the respective straight-ahead positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in Claim 1 in which said connecting means transmits the front wheel turning information as an electrical signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in Claim 8 further comprising a step of electrically matching the connecting means with the control means before the step of connecting the connecting means with the control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in Claim 9 further comprising a step of adjusting toe-in of the front and rear wheels after the connecting means is connected to the control means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as defined in Claim 10 further comprising steps of temporarily locking said control means to the reference state before connecting the connecting means to the control means, and releasing the control means after connecting the connecting means to the control means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as defined in Claim 9 further comprising a step of adjusting toe-in of the front and rear wheels after the steps of causing the front wheel turning mechanism and the rear wheel turning mechanism to bring the front wheels and the rear wheels to the respective reference positions and bringing the control means into a reference state, and before the step of connecting the connecting means to the control means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as defined in Claim 12 further comprising steps of temporarily locking said control means to the reference state before the step of adjusting toe-in of the front and rear wheels and releasing the control means after the step of connecting the connecting means to the control means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
163 words
A four-wheel steering system comprising a front wheel turning mechanism for turning front wheels in response to operation of a steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism for turning rear wheels in response to turning of the front wheels, and a relay shaft which transmits the amount of turning of the front wheels to the rear wheel turning mechanism, characterized in that said rear wheel turning mechanism comprises a rear wheel turning rod which extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle body and is movable in the direction of the vehicle body to turn the rear wheels respectively connected to the left and right ends thereof by way of wheel supports, a control means which controls the rear wheel turning rod according to the amount of turning of the front wheels transmitted thereto through an input shaft connected to the relay shaft by way of a connecting means, and a locking means which is adapted to prevent displacement of the input shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
163 words
A four-wheel steering system comprising a front wheel turning mechanism for turning front wheels in response to operation of a steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism for turning rear wheels in response to turning of the front wheels, and a relay shaft which transmits the amount of turning of the front wheels to the rear wheel turning mechanism, characterized in that said rear wheel turning mechanism comprises a rear wheel turning rod which extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle body and is movable in the direction of the vehicle body to turn the rear wheels respectively connected to the left and right ends thereof by way of wheel supports, a control means which controls the rear wheel turning rod according to the amount of turning of the front wheels transmitted thereto through an input shaft connected to the relay shaft by way of a connecting means, and a locking means which is adapted to prevent displacement of the input shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A four-wheel steering system as defined in Claim 14 in which said control means comprises a hydraulic actuator for driving the rear wheel turning rod and a controller which controls the hydraulic actuator according to the displacement of the input shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A four-wheel steering system as defined in Claim 14 in which said locking means comprises a bolt which is adapted to be screwed into a bolt hole to be engaged with the input shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A four-wheel steering system as defined in Claim 14 in which said connecting means comprises a universal joint.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
229 words
A method of incorporating in a vehicle a four-wheel steering system having a front wheel turning mechanism for turning front wheels in response to operation of a steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism for turning rear wheels in response to turning of the front wheels according to preset four-wheel steering characteristics, and a relay shaft which transmits the amount of turning of the front wheels to the rear wheel turning mechanism, said rear wheel turning mechanism including a rear wheel turning rod which extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle body and is movable in the direction of the vehicle body to turn the rear wheels respectively connected to the left and right ends thereof by way of wheel supports, a control means which controls the rear wheel turning rod according to the amount of turning of the front wheels transmitted thereto through an input shaft connected to the relay shaft by way of a connecting means, and a locking means which is adapted to prevent displacement of the input shaft, comprising steps of effecting adjustment of the front wheels and the rear wheels while the input shaft is disconnected from the relay shaft and locked by the locking means, subsequently connecting the input shaft with the relay shaft by way of the connecting means, and releasing the lock of the input shaft by the locking means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
229 words
A method of incorporating in a vehicle a four-wheel steering system having a front wheel turning mechanism for turning front wheels in response to operation of a steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism for turning rear wheels in response to turning of the front wheels according to preset four-wheel steering characteristics, and a relay shaft which transmits the amount of turning of the front wheels to the rear wheel turning mechanism, said rear wheel turning mechanism including a rear wheel turning rod which extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle body and is movable in the direction of the vehicle body to turn the rear wheels respectively connected to the left and right ends thereof by way of wheel supports, a control means which controls the rear wheel turning rod according to the amount of turning of the front wheels transmitted thereto through an input shaft connected to the relay shaft by way of a connecting means, and a locking means which is adapted to prevent displacement of the input shaft, comprising steps of effecting adjustment of the front wheels and the rear wheels while the input shaft is disconnected from the relay shaft and locked by the locking means, subsequently connecting the input shaft with the relay shaft by way of the connecting means, and releasing the lock of the input shaft by the locking means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in Claim 18 in which said adjustment of the front wheels and the rear wheels is adjustment of toe of the front wheels and the rear wheels.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as defined in Claim 18 in which said control means of the four-wheel steering system comprises a hydraulic actuator for driving the rear wheel turning rod and a controller which controls the hydraulic actuator according to the displacement of the input shaft.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
143 words
A method as defined in Claim 18 further comprising steps of causing the front wheel turning mechanism and the rear wheel turning mechanism to bring the front wheels and the rear wheels to respective reference positions and bringing the control means into a reference state, while the input shaft is disconnected from the relay shaft and released from the locking means, and subsequently locking the input shaft by the locking means before said step of effecting adjustment of the front wheels and the rear wheels, the reference position of the front wheels and the reference position of the rear wheels corresponding to each other on the basis of the preset four-wheel steering characteristics, the reference state of the control means being a state corresponding to the reference positions of the front and rear wheels on the basis of the preset four-wheel steering characteristics.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in Claim 21 in which said adjustment of the front wheels and the rear wheels is adjustment of toe of the front wheels and the rear wheels.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
201 words
A four-wheel steering system comprising a front wheel turning mechanism for turning front wheels in response to operation of a steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism for turning rear wheels in response to turning of the front wheels, and a relay shaft which transmits the amount of turning of the front wheels to the rear wheel turning mechanism, characterized in that said rear wheel turning mechanism comprises a rear wheel turning rod which extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle body and is movable in the direction of the vehicle body to turn the rear wheels respectively connected to the left and right ends thereof by way of wheel supports, a means for urging the rear wheel turning rod to a neutral position in which the rear wheel turning rod supports the rear wheels in the respective straight-ahead positions, a hydraulic actuator which displaces the rear wheel turning rod in the transverse direction of the vehicle body from the neutral position, a control means which controls the hydraulic actuator according to the amount of turning of the front wheels transmitted thereto through the relay shaft, and a locking means which is adapted to prevent operation of the control means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
201 words
A four-wheel steering system comprising a front wheel turning mechanism for turning front wheels in response to operation of a steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism for turning rear wheels in response to turning of the front wheels, and a relay shaft which transmits the amount of turning of the front wheels to the rear wheel turning mechanism, characterized in that said rear wheel turning mechanism comprises a rear wheel turning rod which extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle body and is movable in the direction of the vehicle body to turn the rear wheels respectively connected to the left and right ends thereof by way of wheel supports, a means for urging the rear wheel turning rod to a neutral position in which the rear wheel turning rod supports the rear wheels in the respective straight-ahead positions, a hydraulic actuator which displaces the rear wheel turning rod in the transverse direction of the vehicle body from the neutral position, a control means which controls the hydraulic actuator according to the amount of turning of the front wheels transmitted thereto through the relay shaft, and a locking means which is adapted to prevent operation of the control means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
A four-wheel steering system as defined in Claim 23 in which said locking means comprises a bolt which is adapted to be screwed into a bolt hole to be engaged with the input shaft.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A four-wheel steering system as defined in Claim 23 in which said control means is connected with the relay shaft by way of a universal joint.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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