Mazda Motor Corporation

Muneharu Yamada

Takao Kijima

Teruhiko Takatani

Atsuo Tomoda

Tomomi Miyamoto

Takaaki Itoh

A four-wheel steering mechanism comprising a front steering disposed outside of a passenger compartment for steering front wheels in accordance with a steering wheel, rear steering mechanism disposed outside of the passenger compartment for steering rear wheels in accordance with the steering amount of the front wheels, and connecting members connected with both the front and rear steering mechanisms and extended longitudinally for transmitting the steering in the front wheels to the rear steering mechanism characterized by the connecting member being provided in the passenger compartment. The steering mechanism can be protected from rusting.

Layout of steering mechanism for four-wheel steering vehicle

In an automotive vehicle having front and rear wheel pairs and a steering wheel drivingly coupled with the front wheel pair for steering the vehicle with respect to the direction of run of the vehicle, said steering wheel being rotatable in any one of the opposite directions from a neutral position at which the vehicle can run straightforward, an automotive four wheel steering system is provided with a right-hand rear wheel turning structure for turning the right-hand rear wheel in a direction in which the toe-in takes place, a left-hand rear wheel turning structure for turning the left-hand rear wheel in a direction in which the toe-in takes place, a right-hand rear wheel toe-out stopper for mechanically preventing the right-hand rear wheel from turning in a direction in which the toe-out takes place, a left-hand rear wheel toe-out stopper for mechanically preventing the left-hand rear wheel from turning in a direction in which the toe-out takes place, and a rear wheel operating structure for operating either one of the right-hand and left-hand rear wheel turning structure in response to running conditions of the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Hiroshima, Japan

Muneharu Yamada