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US3866706A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Vehicle steering arrangement

Assignee: Volkswagen AG
•
Filing: 1974-04-15
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1994-04-15
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Abstract

Abstract Vehicle steering apparatus having a mechanism for compensating the influence of disturbing lateral forces on the direction of travel. The apparatus includes a reference signal generator for producing a first signal corresponding to the actual lateral acceleration of the vehicle, a reference signal generator for producing a second signal corresponding to the steering commands of the vehicle operator, a reference signal generator for producing a third signal corresponding to the travelling speed of the vehicle, a first logic element for receiving the second and third signals and producing a fourth signal corresponding to the theoretical lateral acceleration of the vehicle which should occur as a result of the vehicle steering commands, and a second logic element for receiving the first and fourth signals and producing a control signal corresponding to the difference between the first and fourth signals. A steering regulator system is also provided for regulating the steering mechanism of the vehicle in accordance with the control signal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wolfgang Lincke
  • 👤 Walter Zimdahl
  • 👤 Peter Andreas
  • 👤 Harald Schimkat
  • 👤 Hans Kuhlborn

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 18:46
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D6/00; B62D6/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 197 words
Vehicle steering apparatus having means for compensating the influence of disturbing lateral forces on the direction of travel, said apparatus comprising, in Combination: a. first reference signal generator means for producing at least one first signal corresponding to the actual lateral acceleration of the vehicle; b. second reference signal generator means for producing at least one second signal corresponding to the steering commands of the vehicle operator; c. third reference signal generator means for producing at least one third signal corresponding to the travelling speed of the vehicle; d. first logic means connected to said second and third generator means for receiving said second and third signals and producing at least one fourth signal corresponding to the theoretical lateral acceleration of the vehicle which should occur as a result of the vehicle steering commands; e. second logic means connected to said first generator means and to said first logic means for receiving said first and fourth signals and producing a control signal corresponding to the difference between said first and fourth signals; and f. steering regulator means connected to said second logic means for regulating the steering servomechanism of the vehicle in accordance with said control signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 197 words
Vehicle steering apparatus having means for compensating the influence of disturbing lateral forces on the direction of travel, said apparatus comprising, in Combination: a. first reference signal generator means for producing at least one first signal corresponding to the actual lateral acceleration of the vehicle; b. second reference signal generator means for producing at least one second signal corresponding to the steering commands of the vehicle operator; c. third reference signal generator means for producing at least one third signal corresponding to the travelling speed of the vehicle; d. first logic means connected to said second and third generator means for receiving said second and third signals and producing at least one fourth signal corresponding to the theoretical lateral acceleration of the vehicle which should occur as a result of the vehicle steering commands; e. second logic means connected to said first generator means and to said first logic means for receiving said first and fourth signals and producing a control signal corresponding to the difference between said first and fourth signals; and f. steering regulator means connected to said second logic means for regulating the steering servomechanism of the vehicle in accordance with said control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
function element means connected to said third generator means for producing a sixth signal in dependence upon said third signal; and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
function element means connected to said third generator means for producing a sixth signal in dependence upon said third signal; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The steering apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said first logic means includes:
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 76 words
The steering apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said time element means has a transfer function equal to (1 + T.s/F(v)) 1 and said function element means has a transfer function equal to 1/F(v); where v is travelling speed of the vehicle, F(v) is a function of the travelling speed determined experimentally for the vehicle, T is a time constant determined by the vehicle characteristics, and s is the observed complex frequency in said second signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 61 words
multiplier element means connected to said time element means and to said function element means for producing said fourth signal in dependence upon the product of said fifth and sixth signals, said time element means and said function element means having transfer functions such that said fourth signal corresponds, at least approximately, to the theoretical, ideal lateral acceleration of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 61 words
multiplier element means connected to said time element means and to said function element means for producing said fourth signal in dependence upon the product of said fifth and sixth signals, said time element means and said function element means having transfer functions such that said fourth signal corresponds, at least approximately, to the theoretical, ideal lateral acceleration of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 43 words
The steering apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein said first logic means includes integrator means having a constant of integration equals to T and feedback means, coupling the output to the input of said integrator means, having a transfer function dependent upon F(v).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
The steering apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said feedback means includes switch means which is actuated in dependence upon the vehicle travelling speed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
The steering apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said steering regulator means includes means for maintaining the steering angle of the vehicle within prescribed limits notwithstanding the regulation of the steering servo-mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The steering apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said first signal generator means includes acceleration sensor means located on the vehicle forward of the vehicle center of gravity.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2957535A Cited
US3744587A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-02-17 1978-08-19 1979-02-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-02-17 1982-08-19 1983-02-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-02-17 1986-08-19 1987-02-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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