Land vehicles – Suspension modification enacted during travel – Suspension geometry
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-28
2003-07-08
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Suspension modification enacted during travel
Suspension geometry
Reexamination Certificate
active
06588770
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a turning radius system for an automobile, and, more particularly, to an improved minimal turning radius control system capable of optimally controlling a minimal turning radius according to a load of vehicle.
(b) Description of the Related Art
When a vehicle having a large turning radius makes a U-turn on a limited-width road, the driver needs to perform several steering operations to complete the U-turn, which occasionally causes traffic congestion as well as being bothersome to the driver.
Nowadays, as the overall lengths of oversize passenger cars increase, the turning radius problem is becoming more serious.
This turning radius problem appears particularly in front-engine front wheel drive vehicles in which the engine is mounted transversely because the engine in such vehicles occupies much space in both the left and right hand sides the of the vehicle engine compartment. With this engine-mounting configuration, it is difficult to secure enough space for the steering of the front wheels.
Generally, the steering stroke in a steering gear box is set in such a way that when a vehicle having tire chains on the front wheels is operating in a worst case condition, a minimal gap between the a wheel and side member and other elements is maintained.
In such a steering gear box setting, when common width tires without chains are mounted to the vehicle, excessive space exists between the wheel and vehicle body such that steering angles of the wheel are wasted.
Although the turning radius in a vehicle, especially in higher end passenger cars, is an important element influencing the commodity value of the vehicle, it is likely to be not appropriately considered during the designing the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems of the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a minimal turning radius control system capable of optimally minimizing the turning radius of a vehicle according to a vehicle's load detected at the start of travel for when the vehicle makes a U-turn.
To achieve the above object, the minimum turning radius control system comprises a sensing means for sensing a height of a vehicle body, a pair of actuators which is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) according to a height of the vehicle, and a pair of steering stroke adjusting means which are actuated by actuators for adjusting steering stroke.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4598788 (1986-07-01), Serizawa et al.
patent: 4630701 (1986-12-01), Venetjoki
patent: 4700972 (1987-10-01), Young
patent: 4828283 (1989-05-01), Ishii et al.
patent: 5069302 (1991-12-01), Kageyama
patent: 5975573 (1999-11-01), Belleau
patent: 6293561 (2001-09-01), Goetzen et al.
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Dickson Paul N.
Fleming Faye M.
Hyundai Motor Company
LandOfFree
Automotive minimal-turning radius control system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Automotive minimal-turning radius control system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Automotive minimal-turning radius control system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3049306