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:
Oct. 13, 1992
Filed:
Jun. 21, 1989
Aisin AW Co., Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
In a steering mechanism wherein the turning angle of a steering wheel is transmitted to a wheel via a link mechanism employing a tire rod (3) and a knuckle arm (4), the link mechanism and the wheel (1) are coupled by a multiplying gear (2). Individual drive mechanisms are mounted independently on each wheel, and each wheel is driven independently to enable front-wheel independent drive, rear-wheel independent drive and four-wheel independent drive. Drive of an inner rear wheel is changed over at a steering angle in the vicinity of 90.degree. to effect control of steering. A steering angle multiplied twofold or more can be obtained in simple fashion via the multiplying gear (2) even for a steering angle of about 45.degree. using the conventional link mechanism. In the drive of each wheel, drive of the inner rear wheel is halted in the vicinity of the 90.degree. steering angle, so that locking of the inner front wheel can be avoided. Further, only the inner rear wheel is driven in the reverse direction when a large steering angle is obtained. This makes smooth vehicle travel possible even at large steering angles.