Method and apparatus for steering a vehicle

Details Method and apparatus for steering a vehicle Method and apparatus for steering a vehicle

1991-05-08

1993-08-24

Pape, Joseph D.

Motor vehicles

Including one or more ski-like or runner members

With at least one surface-engaging propulsion element

280 91, B62D 500

Patent

active

052380777

ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling a vehicle steering system of the type having front steerable wheels and rear steerable wheels. The present invention permits the vehicle operator to select front wheel only steering, crab steering, or curl steering. If the vehicle speed is above a predetermined value, steering control is automatically switched to front wheel only steering, and the rear steerable wheels are locked in the straight-ahead direction. The lock mechanism is not actuatable until the rear steerable wheels are sensed to be within a predetermined angle of a straight-ahead direction. If the vehicle operator switches from one steering mode to another steering mode, the rear steerable wheels must return to a near straight-ahead direction before the mode will be switched. When the vehicle wheels are locked in front wheel only steering and the lock mechanism is deactuated so as to unlock the rear wheels from the vehicle frame but the rear wheels do not unlock, the present invention applies alternately driving forces to the rear steerable wheels so as to dither the wheels and free the locking mechanism. A lock mechanism is also disclosed.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4856606 (1989-08-01), Brown
patent: 4884647 (1989-12-01), Mimuro et al.

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