US3744587A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering arrangement for vehicles,especially for motor vehicles,having a compensation for sidewise force affects
Assignee: Volkswagen AG
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Filing: 1971-08-02
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1991-08-02
Abstract
Abstract In a motor vehicle, the combination of a steering arrangement with a control or regulating means for compensating the influence of distrubing side forces on the traveling direction, the regulating means comprising at least a first reference signal generator producing signals corresponding to or representative of the transverse movements of the vehicle, a coupling member receiving the signals of the first reference signal generator, a second reference signal generator producing signals representative of the steering instructions coming from the operator of the vehicle, the signals of the second reference signal generator being applied to the coupling member, a first regulator device coupled to the coupling member, the latter forming a regulating magnitude from the signals of the first reference generator and of the second reference generator and delivering such magnitude to the first regulator device, a steering servo mechanism coupled to the first regulator, the coupling member comprising a subtraction member forming a difference of the signals of the first reference signal generator and the second signal generator, whereby the control magnitude will not only lead to eliminate the undesired side force affects but also to improve the traveling and steering relation of the operator in contrast to a vehicle which does not have the control arrangement according to the present invention.
Inventors
- 👤 H Schimkat
- 👤 W Lincke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:17
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D37/00; B62D6/00; B62D6/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
In a motor vehicle, the combination of a steering arrangement with a control or regulating means for compensating the influence of disturbing side forces on the traveling direction, said regulating means comprising at least one first reference signal generator for producing signals corresponding or representative of the transverse movements of the vehicle, a first coupling member, said signals of said first reference signal generator being fed to said first coupling member, a second reference signal generator for producing signals representative of the steering instructions coming from the operator of the vehicle, said signals of said second reference signal generator being applied to said first coupling member, a first regulator device coupled to said first Coupling member, said first coupling member forming a regulating magnitude from said signals of said first reference generator and of said second reference generator and delivering said regulating magnitude to said first regulator device, a steering servo mechanism coupled to said first regulator device, said first coupling member comprising a subtraction member forming said regulating magnitude as a difference of said signals of said first reference signal generator and said second reference signal generator, and said first regulator device being controlled by a first control magnitude depending from the forward velocity of the vehicle for modulating said regulating magnitude in dependence on said forward velocity and feeding said modulated regulating magnitude to said steering servo mechanism as a control variable therefor which ensures attaining of a regulated traveling curve without change in a predetermined region of said forward velocity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
In a motor vehicle, the combination of a steering arrangement with a control or regulating means for compensating the influence of disturbing side forces on the traveling direction, said regulating means comprising at least one first reference signal generator for producing signals corresponding or representative of the transverse movements of the vehicle, a first coupling member, said signals of said first reference signal generator being fed to said first coupling member, a second reference signal generator for producing signals representative of the steering instructions coming from the operator of the vehicle, said signals of said second reference signal generator being applied to said first coupling member, a first regulator device coupled to said first Coupling member, said first coupling member forming a regulating magnitude from said signals of said first reference generator and of said second reference generator and delivering said regulating magnitude to said first regulator device, a steering servo mechanism coupled to said first regulator device, said first coupling member comprising a subtraction member forming said regulating magnitude as a difference of said signals of said first reference signal generator and said second reference signal generator, and said first regulator device being controlled by a first control magnitude depending from the forward velocity of the vehicle for modulating said regulating magnitude in dependence on said forward velocity and feeding said modulated regulating magnitude to said steering servo mechanism as a control variable therefor which ensures attaining of a regulated traveling curve without change in a predetermined region of said forward velocity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second regulator device is coupled between said first coupling member and said second reference signal generator, said second regulator device being controlled by a second control magnitude depending from said forward velocity of the vehicle for modulating said signals representative of the steering instructions coming from the operator of the vehicle and feeding said modulated signals to said first coupling member to produce a regulating magnitude therein for attaining a desired traveling stability.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second regulator device is a non-linear regulator device ensuring a non-linear relationship between said signals representative of the steering instructions coming from the operator of the vehicle and said modulated signals fed to said first coupling member in order to produce a regulated magnitude therein which ensures a constant steerability of the vehicle at different steering instructions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first regulator device is a non-linear regulator device ensuring a non-linear relationship between said regulating magnitude and said modulated regulating magnitude in order to produce a regulating magnitude for attaining said regulated traveling curve without change in a predetermined region of the said side forces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second coupling member is connected between said first regulator device and said steering servo mechanism and having an input means coupled with said second reference signal generator, a third regulator device being coupled between said input means and said second signal generator, said third regulator device being controlled by a third control magnitude depending from said forward velocity for modulating said signals representative of the steering instructions coming from the operator of the vehicle and feeding said modulated signals to said second coupling member, said second coupling member adding said modulated signals to said modulated regulating magnitude produced in said first regulator device for attaining a desired relationship of the aiding effect by said steering servo mechanism to said steering instructions with respect to said forward velocity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein said third regulator device is a non-linear regulator device and ensures a non-linear relationship between said signals representative of the steering instructions coming from the operator of the vehicle and said modulated signals produced in said third regulator device in order to attain an aiding performed by said steering servo mechanism depending from the magnitude of said steering instructions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein a directional limiter means is coupled after said steering servo mechanism, said directional limiting means transmitting movements in the direction of the regulation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein a limit switch means is coupled after the sTeering servo mechanism for interrupting the control loop, said limit switch means being responsive to predetermined conditions in the regulating circuit, a third coupling member being arranged after said limit switch means, said third coupling member being an adding member for adding the forces or momenta coming from the steering servo mechanism and those produced in response to the steering instructions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein said third coupling member has a cross-tie means coupled thereto and comprises a lever means comprising a two-armed lever for guiding said cross-tie means in a parallel direction, said third coupling member and said cross-tie means being rotatably connected with each other by means of said lever means, one arm of said two-armed lever means having applied thereto forces corresponding to the steering instructions, the other of said lever arms of said two-armed lever means having applied thereto forces delivered by the steering servo mechanism, said forces on said two lever arms producing a rotational momentum, said rotational momentum causing said cross-tie means to move parallel on a path corresponding to the vector sum of said forces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein said one lever arm is coupled with a steering gear translating said steering instructions into a first angle of rotation and said other lever arm being coupled with said steering servo mechanism delivering a positioning magnitude in the form of a second angle of rotation, the length of said one and of said other lever arms being selected such that the second angle of rotation is offset by at least 1/10 with respect to the first angle of rotation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steering servo mechanism is formed as a regulating circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
The combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein said steering servo mechanism comprises coupled in the sequence toward the direction of regulation a discriminating means, a logic stage, a power switch means, a motor, and a feedback means from the output side of said motor returned to a fourth coupling member arranged as a subtraction member adjacent said discriminating means in the direction of regulation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of lever means are provided for transmitting rotational momenta, one of said lever means applying momenta produced by said steering instructions of the operator and the other of said lever means applying momenta produced by said steering servo mechanism into a lever arrangement comprising a cross-tie means being connected to the wheels of the vehicle, said one of said lever means having associated therewith means for providing a support against momenta introduced by the wheels into said lever arrangements when the momenta produced by said steering servo mechanism are applied to said wheels via said lever arrangement, said means for providing said support being responsive only to momenta produced in said steering servo mechanism caused by dynamic disturbing side forces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination as claimed in claim 13, wherein said lever arrangement is adapted to allow relative motions between said lever means when the momenta produced by said steering servo mechanism are applied, said means for providing said support being connected to both of said lever means and responsive to the velocity of such relative motions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination as claimed in claim 13, wherein means are connected to both of said lever means and constructed for transmitting a momentum produced in said servo steering mechanism to said one of said lever means when there are steering instructions coming from the operator of the vehicle, said momentum aiding the operator in the steering in a predetermined manner.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination as claimed in claim 15, wherein said aiding momentum at high vehicle velocities is oppositely directed to the momenta corresponding to the steering instructions, said aiding momenta at low speeds Are directed in the same sense as the momenta corresponding to the steering instructions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means providing a support is connected to said one lever means and comprises an amplifying member and means supplying a control magnitude thereto characteristic to the appearance of the disturbing side forces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination as claimed in claim 17, wherein said lever arrangement is adapted to allow relative motions between said lever means when the momenta produced by said steering servo mechanism are applied, said control magnitude being determined by the relative velocity between said levers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination as claimed in claim 17, wherein said lever arrangement is adapted to allow relative motions between said lever means when the momenta produced by said steering servo mechanism are applied, said control magnitude being determined by changes of the distance between said lever means caused by such relative motions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination as claimed in claim 17, wherein said means comprises a servo device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for providing a support is connected to both of said levers and comprises damping means selected in such a manner that said passive member has a high pass characteristic with respect to the transmission of the forces producing momenta for obtaining said support.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination as claimed in claim 21, wherein spring means are provided in parallel with said damping means constructed for transmitting a momentum produced in said servo steering mechanism to said one of said lever means when there are steering instructions coming from the operator of the vehicle, said momentum aiding the operator in the steering in a predetermined manner.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
180 words
The combination as claimed in claim 21, wherein said cross-tie means is mounted for movement parallel to itself and a two-armed lever rotatably connected to said cross-tie means and forming part of a third coupling means, one arm of said two-armed lever being coupled to said one of said lever means and the other arm of said two-armed lever being coupled to the other of said lever means, said coupling being such as to transmit momenta from said lever means to said lever arms, said cross-tie means being moved parallel on a path being determined by the vector sum of, the momenta applied via said lever means, and wherein said damping means comprises shock absorbing means supported between a pair of points on both levers, said lever arrangement being adapted to allow relative motion between said lever means when the movements produced by said steering servo mechanism are applied, said supporting point on said other lever at the appearance of said momenta moving faster in the axial direction of the shock absorbing means than the point on said one lever.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
242 words
The combination as claimed in claim 21, wherein said cross-tie means is mounted by guiding levers for movement parallel to itself and a two-armed lever rotatably connected to said cross-tie means and forming part of a third coupling means, one arm of said two-armed lever being coupled to said one of said lever means and the other arm of said two-armed lever being coupled to the other of said lever means, said coupling being such as to transmit momenta from said lever means to said lever arms, said cross-tie means being moved parallel on a path being determined by the vector sum of the momenta being applied via said lever means, one of said levers is formed by an input shaft means of a differential drive means, a sprocket wheel means to which the momenta produced by said servo motor are applied, said sprocket wheel means being in coupling relationship with said other lever, said sprocket wheel means delivering said momentum to said differential drive, said differential drive being in the form of a subtraction member having an output shaft having a supporting gear of the ball racer type, said supporting gear comprising a female part connected witH said guiding lever, a worm spindle coupled with said sprocket wheel means having a further female part, said worm spindle having a predetermined pitch larger than that of the supporting gear at least one shock absorbing means being arranged between said two female parts.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as claimed in claim 24, further including at least one spring means associated with said shock absorbing means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
75 words
The combination as claimed in claim 21, wherein said one lever means is formed by an input shaft means of a planetary gear means, said planetary gear means together with a sprocket means formed on the outer rim of said planetary gear means being coupled with the other of said lever means and forming therewith a gear means adding the momenta, between said input shaft means and said sprocket means a damping means being provided.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
137 words
The combination as claimed in claim 26, wherein said damping means comprises a runner means secured to said input shaft means, said runner means comprising radial projections spring means forcing said projections in the radial direction into a recess means against the wall portions of said recess means, said recess means being formed in a housing portion for a damping medium, said projections forming with said wall portions of said recess means chambers when abutting with said wall portions, said housing portions surrounding said input shaft means supported on the outer rim portion of said gear means vertically with respect to said input shaft means in such a manner that upon a shifting of the recess means with respect to said input shaft means said chambers will vary their size and thereby different damping affect is created.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as claimed in claim 26, further including spring means associated with said damping member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said regulating means is a regulating servo loop.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |