Active toe adjustment apparatus

Details Active toe adjustment apparatus Active toe adjustment apparatus

1991-07-05

1992-09-01

Marmor, Charles A.

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Running gear

280 91, B62D 1700

Patent

active

051434008

ABSTRACT:
The advantage of the theoretically correct Ackerman steering of land vehicles is well documented in the literature. Steering forces, vehicle handling, and tire wear are greatly improved by having correct toe angles of all steerable wheels. Adjustements in the suspension system and steering apparatus at the factory only provide first-order corrections to toe angles. A process for actively adjusting toe angles during operation of the vehicle is disclosed in this invention. Vehicle dynamics measuring devices to sense vehicle motion or position steering devices to measure toe angles are used in this process. Secondary toe angle corrections can be actively provided to account for inherent toe angle changes during maneuvers of the vehicle. An aftermarket apparatus for actively adjusting the toe angle is an embodiment of this invention. One such device includes a mechanical screw actuator apparatus, a microstepping motor with optical encoder, computer with control strategy chip and a toe angle sensing device or an onboard dynamics computer. This apparatus can be used on all land vehicles and is especially useful for modifying existing truck and bus steering systems.

REFERENCES:
patent: 663986 (1900-12-01), Thornycroft
patent: 663986 (1900-12-01), Thornycroft
patent: 2756066 (1956-07-01), Ludowici
patent: 3294368 (1966-12-01), Hunter
patent: 3498630 (1970-03-01), Crawford
patent: 3597728 (1971-08-01), Kurtz
patent: 3597729 (1971-08-01), Kurtz
patent: 4371191 (1983-02-01), Goldberg
patent: 4398616 (1983-08-01), Braden et al.
patent: 4402603 (1963-09-01), Lill et al.
patent: 4402603 (1983-09-01), Lill et al.
patent: 4498554 (1985-02-01), Young et al.
patent: 4498554 (1985-02-01), Young et al.
patent: 4545602 (1985-10-01), Shibahata
patent: 4600205 (1986-07-01), Stewart et al.
patent: 4706978 (1987-11-01), Ito
patent: 4768603 (1988-09-01), Sugiyama
patent: 4796720 (1989-01-01), Bauer
patent: 4796720 (1989-01-01), Bauer
patent: 4796904 (1989-01-01), Kubo et al.
patent: 4811969 (1989-03-01), Sugiyama
patent: 4828283 (1989-05-01), Ishij et al.
patent: 4835714 (1989-05-01), Sano
patent: 4926954 (1990-05-01), Ataka
patent: 5002147 (1991-03-01), Klosterbaus
patent: 5014802 (1991-05-01), Knoll et al.
SAE/SP-240, R. B. Kazer, Use of Computers in Steering Geometry Anlysis, Dec. '62, pp. 1 and 2.
SAE 861975, Gerald R. Miller, The Effect of Ackerman Steering Correction Upon Front Tire Wear of Medium Duty Trucks, Nov. '86, pp. 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Active toe adjustment apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Active toe adjustment apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Active toe adjustment apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-764115