The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 25, 1991
Filed:
Jan. 25, 1990
Harry J Bauer, Troy, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A rear wheel steering mechanism capable of independently positioning the rear wheels of a vehicle also independently corrects the toe error of each steered wheel. In the preferred embodiment, each rear wheel is steered by a separate actuator. The overall steering command for the actuators is determined at least in relation to the front steering angle, the command being constrained within predefined command limits. The actuators, on the other hand, have a control range which exceeds that of the predefined command limits. The controller which generates the steering commands is adapted to receive and store signals representing the toe error of each rear wheel from a conventional wheel alignment machine, and the controller causes the actuator to position each rear wheel as a combined function of the steering command and the respective stored toe error signals. When realignment becomes necessary, an alignment machine is connected to the controller, and the system enters a reset mode in which the rear wheels are steered to a 'straight ahead' position independent of the previously stored toe error values, and the newly measured toe error values are stored for future steering control.