Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Patent
1983-10-11
1986-02-18
Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
280442, B62D 1302
Patent
active
045709653
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to steering mechanisms for steering the rear end of a long vehicle. The invention is more specifically concerned with such vehicles as articulated lorries comprising a cab portion incorporating the engine and a long trailer linked to the cab portion by a pivot device, or even non-articulated cab and trailer combinations. Other possible uses for the steering mechanism are in trailer caravans, tracked vehicles or even such vehicles as boats or ships.
At present an articulated lorry may have wheels on fixed axles situated at the rear of the trailer. When the vehicle negotiates a bend, the rear wheels initially tend to follow the original direction of motion until the rear end begins to slew round into the new direction in which the cab is heading. As a result a long vehicle requires a fairly large turning circle and on tight bends will tend to stray substantially onto the other side of the road. Also undue stresses are applied to the tyres which are rubbed laterally across the road surface and distorted during the turning action so that they are subjected to significant wear. Furthermore, on slippery surfaces, because the rear wheels are tending to slide over the surface, the possibility of jack-knifing occurring is greatly increased.
It is also known to provide a direct steering linkage between the cab and steered rear wheels of the trailer with the result that, as the cab turns relative to the trailer, the rear wheels turn to the same degree at the same time. Consequently the rear end of the trailer tends to be driven immediately towards the outside of the bend thus possibly encroaching over the center line of the road or onto the pavement. Again therefore the driver requires a larger turning circle on the bend.
It is an object of this invention to provide a steering mechanism for a long vehicle which will enable the vehicle more closely to follow curves into the route which the vehicle is taking and will operate automatically to this effect.
Accordingly, this invention provides a steering mechanism for a long vehicle having leading and trailing ends and comprising:
a first steering device located towards the leading end,
a steering member located towards the trailing end and so controlled by a second steering device located towards the trailing end that the steering member will act in a steering mode in which it positively steers that end of the vehicle or in a following mode in which it follows an existing direction of motion which is a straight line or follows an arc of constant radius;
a linkage between the first and second steering devices;
actuating means within that linkage, and responsive both to a first angle which the first device makes with the fore-and-aft centreline of the vehicle and a second angle which the second device makes with the same line;
said actuating means operating to cause the second device to make the steering member act in its following mode whenever the second angle is less than a predetermined function of the first angle, but operating under other conditions to cause the second device to make the steering member operate in its steering mode in a manner which tends to achieve equality between the second angle and that function of the first angle.
In the preferred embodiment the second steering device includes a follower member which is freely rotatable about a vertical axis of the vehicle so as to be free to follow an existing direction of motion and forming part of means to steer the steering member, and the actuating means comprises a guide member which is linked with the follower member in the following mode for rotational movement therewith and released from the follower member in the steering mode so as to rotate relative to the follower member and cause adjustment of the steering member.
As a result of the operational relationship between the guide member and the follower member steering of the rear end of the vehicle is delayed until some time after the front of the vehicle has taken a direction with the result that the rear end of the vehicle mor
REFERENCES:
patent: 2793052 (1957-05-01), Googe
patent: 2968495 (1961-01-01), Hutchens
patent: 3322439 (1967-05-01), LeMmon
McGiehan Donn
National Research Development Corporation
Peters Jr. Joseph F.
LandOfFree
Vehicle steering mechanisms does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle steering mechanisms, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle steering mechanisms will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1547862