Steering system

Claim 2

A steering system for a motor vehicle having a steering linkage to simultaneously turn a pair of steerable road wheels, a hydraulically operated actuator to move the steering linkage, and a pressure fluid source, said steering system comprising: a steering shaft with a laterally extending control arm; a housing member surrounding the steering shaft; coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn and align the housing member around the steering shaft to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; a control valve mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control valve being hydraulically connected to the pressure fluid source and to the actuator, and said control valve having a movable member therein to be selectively positionable by the control arm of the steering shaft to operate the control valve; spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and its control arm to move the movable member of the control valve to close the hydraulic connection between the pressure fluid source and the actuator; and a turning member cOnnected to the steering shaft to enable the steering shaft to be turned against the force of the spring means in order to operate the control valve to hydraulically connect the actuator with the pressure fluid source.

Claim 3

The steering system in accordance with claim 1 in which said steering linkage includes a transverse member attached to the motor vehicle, a tie rod, and a steering arm at each end of the tie rod being pivotally connected to the tie rod and transverse member to turn each road wheel; and in which said coupling means includes a clamp member fixedly connected to said tie rod, a feed back arm pivotally connected to the transverse member, a drag link connected between the clamp member and the feed back arm to pivot the feed back arm in accordance with the translational movement of the tie rod, a spring member connected to the housing member to urge it to rotate in one direction, and a cable connected to the feed back arm and to the housing member to turn the housing member against the force of the spring member.

Claim 4

The steering system in accordance with claim 2 in which said housing member has a pair of passageways therethrough connected to the hydraulically operated actuator, and said control valve being connected to the actuator by the passageways so that its movable member can selectively direct the pressure fluid from the pressure fluid source through one or the other passageway to operate the actuator to move the steering linkage in opposite directions respectively.

Claim 5

The steering system in accordance with claim 3 which additionally includes locking means attached to the housing member to releasably secure the steering shaft to the housing member in order to maintain the movable member of the control valve in its closed position, and wherein the turning member is a lever attached to turn the steering shaft with respect to the housing member against the force of the spring means.

Claim 6

A steering system for a motor vehicle comprising: a steering linkage to simultaneously turn a pair of steerable road wheels; a hydraulically operated actuator to move the steering linkage; a pressure fluid source; a steering shaft with a laterally extending control arm; a rotatable housing member surrounding the steering shaft; coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn and align the housing member around the steering shaft to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; a control valve mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control valve being hydraulically connected to the pressure fluid source and to the actuator, and said control valve having a movable member being selectively positionable by the control arm of the steering shaft in order to operate the control valve; spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and its control arm to move the movable member to close the control valve; and a turning member connected to the steering shaft to enable the steering shaft to be turned against the force of the spring means in order to operate the control valve to hydraulically connect the actuator with the pressure fluid source.

Claim 7

A steering system for a motor vehicle comprising: a steering linkage to simultaneously turn a pair of steerable road wheels; a hydraulically operated actuator to move the steering linkage; a pressure fluid source; a steering shaft with a laterally extending control arm; a rotatable housing member surrounding the steering shaft; coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn and align the housing member around the steering shaft to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; a control valve mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control valve being hydraulically connected to the pressure fluid source and to the actuator, and said control valve having a movable member being selectively positionable by the control arm of the steering shaft in order to operate the control valve; spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and its control arm to move the movable member to close the control valve; and a turning member connected to the steering shaft to enable the steering shaft to be turned against the force of the spring means in order to operate the control valve to hydraulically connect the actuator with the pressure fluid source.

Claim 8

The steering system in accordance with claim 5 in which said coupling means includes a feed back arm pivotally connected to the steering linkage, a spring member connected to the housing member to urge it to rotate in one direction, and a cable connected to the feed back arm and to the housing member to turn the housing member against the force of the spring member.

Claim 9

The steering system in accordance with claim 6 in which said housing member has a pair of passageways therethrough connected to the hydraulically operated actuator, and said control valve being connected to the actuator by the passageways so that its movable member can selectively direct the pressure fluid from the pressure fluid source through one or the other passageway to operate the actuator to move the steering linkage in opposite directions rEspectively.

Claim 10

The steering system in accordance with claim 7 which additionally includes locking means attached to the housing member to releasably secure the steering shaft to the housing member in order to maintain the movable member of the control valve in its closed position; and wherein the turning member is a lever attached to turn the steering shaft with respect to the housing member against the force of the spring means.

Claim 11

In a motor vehicle with two pairs of steerable road wheels, a steering linkage to simultaneously turn each pair of steerable road wheels, a hydraulically operated actuator to move each steering linkage, and a pressure fluid source, a steering system for each pair of road wheels comprising: a steering shaft with an extending control arm; a rotatable housing member surrounding the steering shaft; coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn the housing member to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; a control valve mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control valve being hydraulically connected to the pressure fluid source and to the actuator, and said control valve having a movable member therein to be selectively positionable by the control arm of the steering shaft to operate the control valve; spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and its control arm to move the movable member of the control valve to close the hydraulic connection between the pressure fluid source and the actuator; and a turning member connected to each steering shaft to enable said steering shaft to be turned against the force of the spring means in order to operate the control valve to hydraulically connect said actuator with the pressure fluid source.

Claim 12

In a motor vehicle with two pairs of steerable road wheels, a steering linkage to simultaneously turn each pair of steerable road wheels, a hydraulically operated actuator to move each steering linkage, and a pressure fluid source, a steering system for each pair of road wheels comprising: a steering shaft with an extending control arm; a rotatable housing member surrounding the steering shaft; coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn the housing member to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; a control valve mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control valve being hydraulically connected to the pressure fluid source and to the actuator, and said control valve having a movable member therein to be selectively positionable by the control arm of the steering shaft to operate the control valve; spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and its control arm to move the movable member of the control valve to close the hydraulic connection between the pressure fluid source and the actuator; and a turning member connected to each steering shaft to enable said steering shaft to be turned against the force of the spring means in order to operate the control valve to hydraulically connect said actuator with the pressure fluid source.

Claim 13

The steering system in accordance with claim 9 in which each coupling means includes a feed back arm pivotally connected to the steering linkage, a spring member connected to the housing member to urge it to rotate in one direction, and a cable connected to the feed back arm and to the housing member to turn the housing member against the force of the spring member.

Claim 14

The steering system in accordance with claim 10 in which each housing member has a pair of passageways therethrough connected to the hydraulically operated actuator, and said control valve being connected to the actuator by the passageways so that its movable member can selectively direct the pressure fluid from the pressure fluid source through one or the other passageway to operate the actuator to move the steering linkage in opposite directions respectively.

Claim 15

The steering system in accordance with claim 11 which additionally includes locking means attached to the housing member to releasably secure the steering shaft to the housing member in order to maintain the movable member of the control valve in its closed position; and wherein the turning member is a lever attached to each steering shaft to turn the steering shaft with respect to the housing member against the force of the spring means, and the steering shafts are arranged in parallel and positioned so that both levers are close to each other to be simultaneously manually operable by one hand of a driver of the motor vehicle.

Claim 16

A steering system for a motor vehicle comprising: a steering linkage to simultaneously turn a pair of steerable road wheels; a hydraulically operated actuator to move the steering linkage to turn the road wheels in either direction; a pressure fluid source; a rotatable housing member having a shaft bore; a mount support; a steering shaft extending into the shaft bore of the housing member to be rotatively supported thereby; coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn and align the housing member to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; a control valve mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control valve being hydraulically conNected to the pressure fluid source and to the actuator, and said control valve having a movable member being selectively positionable therein to operate the control valve; a control arm connected to the steering shaft to turn therewith and to move the movable member to operate the control valve to hydraulically connect the actuator with the pressure fluid source in order to turn the wheels in a direction in accordance with the turning of the steering shaft; neutralizing spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and the control arm to move the movable member of the control valve to close the hydraulic connection between the pressure fluid source and the actuator; and a turning member connected to the steering shaft to enable the steering shaft to be turned against the force of the neutralizing spring means in order to operate the control valve to hydraulically connect the actuator with the pressure fluid source.

Claim 17

A steering system for a motor vehicle comprising: a steering linkage to simultaneously turn a pair of steerable road wheels; a hydraulically operated actuator to move the steering linkage to turn the road wheels in either direction; a pressure fluid source; a rotatable housing member having a shaft bore; a mount support; a steering shaft extending into the shaft bore of the housing member to be rotatively supported thereby; coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn and align the housing member to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; a control valve mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control valve being hydraulically conNected to the pressure fluid source and to the actuator, and said control valve having a movable member being selectively positionable therein to operate the control valve; a control arm connected to the steering shaft to turn therewith and to move the movable member to operate the control valve to hydraulically connect the actuator with the pressure fluid source in order to turn the wheels in a direction in accordance with the turning of the steering shaft; neutralizing spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and the control arm to move the movable member of the control valve to close the hydraulic connection between the pressure fluid source and the actuator; and a turning member connected to the steering shaft to enable the steering shaft to be turned against the force of the neutralizing spring means in order to operate the control valve to hydraulically connect the actuator with the pressure fluid source.

Claim 18

The steering system in accordance with claim 13 in which said steering linkage includes a transverse member attached to the motor vehicle, a tie rod, and a steering arm at each end of the tie rod being pivotally connected to the tie rod and to the transverse member to turn each road wheel; and in which said coupling means includes a clamp member fixedly connected to said tie rod, a feed back arm pivotally connected to the transverse member, a drag link connected between the clamp member and the feed back arm to pivot the feed back arm in accordance with the translational movement of the tie rod, a spring member connected to the housing member to urge it to rotate in one direction, and a cable connected to the feed back arm and to the housing member to turn the housing member against the force of the spring member.

Claim 19

The steering system in accordance with claim 14 in which said housing member has a pair of passageways therethrough connected to the hydraulically operated actuator, and said control valve being connected to the actuator by the passageways so that its movable member can selectively direct the pressure fluid from the pressure fluid source through one or the other passageway to operate the actuator to move the steering linkage in opposite directions respectively.

Claim 20

The steering system in accordance with claim 15 which additionally includes locking means attached to the housing member to releasably secure the steering shaft to the housing member in order to maintain the movable member of the control valve in its closed position, and wherein the turning member is a lever attached to turn the steering shaft with respect to the housing member against the force of the spring means.

Claim 21

In a motor vehicle with two pairs of steerable road wheels, a steering linkage to simultaneously turn each pair of steerable road wheels, and a pressure fluid source, a steering system for each pair of road wheels comprising: a rotatable housing member having a shaft bore; a mount support; a steering shaft extending into the shaft bore of the housing member to be rotatively supported thereby coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn and align the housing member to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; an actuator being hydraulically operable to move the steering linkage to turn the road wheels in either direction; a control valve mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control valve being hydraulically connected to the pressure fluid source and to the actuator, and said control valve having a movable member being selectively positionable therein to operate the control valve; a control arm connected to the steering shaft to turn therewith and to move the movable member to operate the control valve to hydraulically connect the actuator with the pressure fluid source in order to turn the wheels in a direction in accordance with the turning of the steering shaft; spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and the control arm to move the movable member of the control valve to close the hydraulic connection between the pressure fluid source and the actuator; and a turning member connected to the steering shaft to enable the steering shaft to be turned against the force of the spring means in order to operate the control valve to connect the actuator with the pressure fluid source.

Claim 22

In a motor vehicle with two pairs of steerable road wheels, a steering linkage to simultaneously turn each pair of steerable road wheels, and a pressure fluid source, a steering system for each pair of road wheels comprising: a rotatable housing member having a shaft bore; a mount support; a steering shaft extending into the shaft bore of the housing member to be rotatively supported thereby coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn and align the housing member to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; an actuator being hydraulically operable to move the steering linkage to turn the road wheels in either direction; a control valve mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control valve being hydraulically connected to the pressure fluid source and to the actuator, and said control valve having a movable member being selectively positionable therein to operate the control valve; a control arm connected to the steering shaft to turn therewith and to move the movable member to operate the control valve to hydraulically connect the actuator with the pressure fluid source in order to turn the wheels in a direction in accordance with the turning of the steering shaft; spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and the control arm to move the movable member of the control valve to close the hydraulic connection between the pressure fluid source and the actuator; and a turning member connected to the steering shaft to enable the steering shaft to be turned against the force of the spring means in order to operate the control valve to connect the actuator with the pressure fluid source.

Claim 23

The steering system in accordance with claim 17 in which each coupling means includes a feed back arm pivotally connected to the steering linkage, a spring member connected to the housing member to urge it to rotate in one direction, and a cable connected to the feed back arm and to the housing member to turn the housing member against the force of the spring member.

Claim 24

The steering system in accordance with claim 18 in which each housing member has a pair of passageways therethrough connected to the hydraulically operated actuator, and said control valve being connected to the actuator by the passageways so that its movable member can selectively direct the pressure fluid from the pressure fluid source through one or the other passageway to operate the actuator to move the steering linkage in opposite directions respectively.

Claim 25

The steering system in accordance with claim 19 which additionally includes locking means attached to the housing member to releasably secure the steering shaft to the housing member in order to maintain the movable member of the control valve in its closed position; and wherein the turning member is a lever attached to each steering shaft to turn the steering shaft with respect to the housing member against the force of the spring means, and the steering shafts are arranged in parallel and positioned so that both levers are close to each other to be simultaneously manually operable by one hand of a driver of the motor vehicle.

Claim 26

A steering system for a motor vehicle having a steering linkage to simultaneously turn a pair of steerable road wheels, an actuator to move the steering linkage, and a steering power source, said steering system comprising: a steering shaft with a laterally extending control arm; a housing member surrounding the steering shaft; coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn and align the housing member to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; a control means mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control means being connected to the steering power source and to the actuator, and said control means having a movable member therein to be selectively positionable by the control arm of the steering shaft to operate the control means; spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and its control arm to move the movable member of the control means to disconnect the connection between the steering power source and the actuator; and a turning member connected to the steering shaft to enable the steering shaft to be turned against the force of the spring means in order to operate the control means to connect the actuator with the steering power source.

Claim 27

A steering system for a motor vehicle having a steering linkage to simultaneously turn a pair of steerable road wheels, an actuator to move the steering linkage, and a steering power source, said steering system comprising: a steering shaft with a laterally extending control arm; a housing member surrounding the steering shaft; coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn and align the housing member to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; a control means mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control means being connected to the steering power source and to the actuator, and said control means having a movable member therein to be selectively positionable by the control arm of the steering shaft to operate the control means; spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and its control arm to move the movable member of the control means to disconnect the connection between the steering power source and the actuator; and a turning member connected to the steering shaft to enable the steering shaft to be turned against the force of the spring means in order to operate the control means to connect the actuator with the steering power source.

Claim 28

The steering system in accordance with claim 21 in which said steering linkage includes a transverse member attached to the motor vehicle, a tie rod, and a steering arm at each end of the tie rod being pivotally connected to the tie rod and transverse member to turn each road wheel; and in which said coupling means includes a clamp member fixedly connected to said tie rod, a feed back arm pivotally connected to the transverse member, a drag link connected between the clamp member and the feed back arm to pivot the feed back arm in accordance with the translational movement of the tie rod, a spring member connected to the housing member to urge it to rotate in one direction, and a cable connected to the feed back arm and to the housing member to turn the housing member against the force of the spring member.

Claim 29

The steering system in accordance with claim 22 which additionally incLudes locking means attached to the housing member to releasably secure the steering shaft to the housing member in order to maintain the movable member of the control means in its inoperative position, and wherein the turning member is a lever attached to turn the steering shaft with respect to the housing member against the force of the spring means.

Claim 30

In a motor vehicle with two pairs of steerable road wheels, a steering linkage to simultaneously turn each pair of steerable road wheels, and a steering power source, a steering system for each pair of road wheels comprising: a rotatable housing member having a shaft bore; a mount support to rotatively support the housing member; a steering shaft extending into the shaft bore of the housing member to be rotatively supported thereby; coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn and align the housing member to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; an actuator being operable to move the steering linkage to turn the road wheels in either direction; a control means mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control means being connected to the steering power source and to the actuator, and said control means having a movable member being selectively positionable therein to operate the control means; a control arm connected to the steering shaft to turn therewith and to move the movable member to operate the control means to connect the actuator with the steering power source in order to turn the wheels in a direction in accordance with the turning of the steering shaft; spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and the control arm to move the movable member of the control means to disconnect the connection between the steering power source and the actuator; and a turning member connected to the steering shaft to enable the steering shaft to be turned against the force of the spring means in order to operate the control means to connect the actuator with the steering power source.

Claim 31

In a motor vehicle with two pairs of steerable road wheels, a steering linkage to simultaneously turn each pair of steerable road wheels, and a steering power source, a steering system for each pair of road wheels comprising: a rotatable housing member having a shaft bore; a mount support to rotatively support the housing member; a steering shaft extending into the shaft bore of the housing member to be rotatively supported thereby; coupling means connected to the housing member and to the steering linkage in order to turn and align the housing member to correspond with the turning of the road wheels; an actuator being operable to move the steering linkage to turn the road wheels in either direction; a control means mounted on the housing member to move therewith, said control means being connected to the steering power source and to the actuator, and said control means having a movable member being selectively positionable therein to operate the control means; a control arm connected to the steering shaft to turn therewith and to move the movable member to operate the control means to connect the actuator with the steering power source in order to turn the wheels in a direction in accordance with the turning of the steering shaft; spring means connected to urge the steering shaft and the control arm to move the movable member of the control means to disconnect the connection between the steering power source and the actuator; and a turning member connected to the steering shaft to enable the steering shaft to be turned against the force of the spring means in order to operate the control means to connect the actuator with the steering power source.

Claim 32

The steering system in accordance with claim 24 in which each coupling means includes a feed back arm pivotally connected to the steering linkage, a spring member connected to the housing member to urge it to rotate in one direction, and a cable connected to the feed back arm and to the housing member to turn the housing member against the force of the spring member.

Claim 33

The steering system in accordance with claim 25 which additionally includes locking means attached to the housing member to releasably secure the steering shaft to the housing member in order to maintain the movable member of the control means in its inoperative position; and wherein the turning member is a lever attached to each steering shaft to turn the steering shaft with respect to the housing member against the force of the spring means, and the steering shafts are arranged in parallel and positioned so that both levers are close to each other to be simultaneously manually operable by one hand of a driver of the motor vehicle.