Patent · US Expired

Motor assisted steering apparatus for vehicle

US5249638A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
0References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 3, 1992
Grant dateOct 5, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 3, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB62D7/1581
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Rear wheels are returned to central orientations when a rear wheel steering mechanism of 4WS system fails to operate. Required drive power is minimized and the apparatus is reduced in size. A main motor M1 is coupled to a steering shaft 1 through a drive transmitting mechanism 1a, 5a, 5b and 6a, and an auxiliary electric motor M2 is coupled to a drive shaft 6 through a gear mechanism 9, 12, 8a, 7 which includes a solenoid operated clutch CL. The motor M2 is normally disengaged from the drive shaft, but upon detecting the occurrence of a failure, the clutch is activated and the motor M2 is set in operation for returning the steered position of the rear wheels to the center.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.