US4600205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering apparatus for motor vehicles
Assignee: STEERING CONTROL SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1984-10-05
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Granted: 1986-07-15
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Expires: 2004-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A steerable control system for roadable vehicles includes an axle 16 having rotatably mounted wheels 14a and 14b upon the respective ends thereof. These wheels each include a king pin assembly 60 connected to the axle ends by a pair of king pins 76. Nested within a tapered hole 78 through a spindle member 70 in each of the king pin assemblies 60 is a tapered section 36 of a steering arm 32. A control arm portion 46 of each steering arm 32 is angled outward and backward from the tapered section 36 and generally toward a well of the adjacent wheel 14a or 14b. Attached to the perforate ends 50 of the arms 32 are the ends 86 of a tie rod 30 such that lateral movement of the tie rod 30 causes the arms 32 to rotate the wheels 14a and 14b upon the axle 16, the result being a tighter turning radius with a truer wheel rolling motion than in standard steering systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Denzil S. Stewart
- 👤 Alfred J. Bland
- 👤 Donald D. Rogers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:14
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D7/00; B62D7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A steerable control system for a roadable vehicle including a double ended front axle having a pair of wheels steerably mounted for rotation upon said ends, a double ended tie rod mounted adjacent and generally parallel to said axle, a pair of steering arms interconnecting the respective wheels to said tie rod ends, each said steering arm being configured to extend generally rearward and outward toward said wheels and outward from a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and having a first axis generally normal to the rotational axis of the wheel to which connected and a second axis angled outward from said first axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A steerable control system for a roadable vehicle including a double ended front axle having a pair of wheels steerably mounted for rotation upon said ends, a double ended tie rod mounted adjacent and generally parallel to said axle, a pair of steering arms interconnecting the respective wheels to said tie rod ends, each said steering arm being configured to extend generally rearward and outward toward said wheels and outward from a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and having a first axis generally normal to the rotational axis of the wheel to which connected and a second axis angled outward from said first axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The steerable control system of claim 1 wherein the angle between said first and second axes of each said steering arm is between 20° and 30°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The steerable control system of claim 1 wherein the angle between said first and second axes of each said steering arm is approximately 25 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
A steering arm for use in a steering system for roadable vehicles having steerable wheels with spindle sockets, the invention comprising: an axial shaft portion tapered to nest within a mating region in a wheel spindle socket in a steerable wheel of the vehicle; a threaded end extending axially outward from said shaft portion; an arm section extending from said shaft portion at an angle therefrom, adapted to extend toward the vehicle wheel, and being of a length to extend not beyond the wheel; and an end portion upon an extremity of said arm section and perforated to receive a tie rod end connected thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
A steering arm for use in a steering system for roadable vehicles having steerable wheels with spindle sockets, the invention comprising: an axial shaft portion tapered to nest within a mating region in a wheel spindle socket in a steerable wheel of the vehicle; a threaded end extending axially outward from said shaft portion; an arm section extending from said shaft portion at an angle therefrom, adapted to extend toward the vehicle wheel, and being of a length to extend not beyond the wheel; and an end portion upon an extremity of said arm section and perforated to receive a tie rod end connected thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The steering arm of claim 4 wherein the axis of said arm section extends from said shaft portion at an angle of between about 20 and 30 degrees from the axis of said shaft portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The steering arm of claim 4 wherein said arm section extends from said shaft portion at an angle of about 25 degrees from the axis of said shaft portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The steering arm of claim 4 wherein said end portion perforation is tapered to receive a tapered pin for connection of a tie rod end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
165 words
A steering control system for the front end of a roadable vehicle with a transversely mounted front axle having opposite ends upon which a pair of steerable wheels are mounted via a king pin through a king pin assembly having a spindle member extending outward from the wheel and positioned inwardly of the king pin, the improvement comprising: a pair of steering arms each including a straight shank portion having a straight first axis and being fixedly attached to one of the spindle members; a control arm portion of said steering arm angled generally rearward and outward along a second axis toward its adjacent wheel and terminating in a boss member drilled for attachment of a tie rod; and a double ended tie rod connected to said boss members and thereby interconnecting said steering arms and of a length to provide a toe out wheel condition, whereby the foregoing combination results in a truer rolling action and a tighter turning radius than in conventional systems.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
165 words
A steering control system for the front end of a roadable vehicle with a transversely mounted front axle having opposite ends upon which a pair of steerable wheels are mounted via a king pin through a king pin assembly having a spindle member extending outward from the wheel and positioned inwardly of the king pin, the improvement comprising: a pair of steering arms each including a straight shank portion having a straight first axis and being fixedly attached to one of the spindle members; a control arm portion of said steering arm angled generally rearward and outward along a second axis toward its adjacent wheel and terminating in a boss member drilled for attachment of a tie rod; and a double ended tie rod connected to said boss members and thereby interconnecting said steering arms and of a length to provide a toe out wheel condition, whereby the foregoing combination results in a truer rolling action and a tighter turning radius than in conventional systems.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The steering control system of claim 8 wherein said control arm portion of each said steering arm extends into a well upon an inner side of its adjacent wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The steering control system of claim 8 wherein said control arm portion of each said steering arm is of a length such that said tie rod is behind the axle when the wheels are in their straight forward positions in a distance of between about 3 to 6 inches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The steering control system of claim 8 wherein the length of said tie rod is such that the toe out of the wheels approximates 2 inches in a full turn.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The steering control system of claim 8 wherein the toe out of the wheels approximates 300 percent less than that in standard vehicles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
The steering control system of claim 8 wherein said control arm portion of said steering arm, utilized upon a truck having a wheelbase of about 254 inches and an axle length of between about 62 and 74 inches, the control arm portion length is about 2.75 inches, said tie rod is between about 62 and 73 inches in length, and the toe out of the wheels is about 2 inches in a full turn.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
A steering arm for use in a steering system for roadable vehicles having wheels with spindle sockets, the invention comprising: an axial shaft portion tapered to nest within the wheel spindle sockets; a threaded and extending axially outward from said shaft portion; an arm section extending from said shaft portion at an angle therefrom and adapted to extend toward the vehicle wheel and being of a length to extend not beyond the wheel; and an end portion upon an extremity of said arm section and perforated to receive a tie rod end connected thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
94 words
A steering arm for use in a steering system for roadable vehicles having wheels with spindle sockets, the invention comprising: an axial shaft portion tapered to nest within the wheel spindle sockets; a threaded and extending axially outward from said shaft portion; an arm section extending from said shaft portion at an angle therefrom and adapted to extend toward the vehicle wheel and being of a length to extend not beyond the wheel; and an end portion upon an extremity of said arm section and perforated to receive a tie rod end connected thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The steering arm of claim 14 wherein said arm section extends said shaft portion at an angle of between about 20 and 30 degrees from the axis of said shaft portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The steering arm of claim 4 wherein said end portion perforation is tapered to receive a tapered pin for connection of a tie rod end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-07-14 | 1990-01-13 | 1990-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-14 | 1994-01-13 | 1994-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-14 | 1998-01-13 | 1998-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |