Right hand drive steering system and conversion method from left hand drive vehicle

US6276476A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• International Truck and Engine Corporation Canada · US

Inventors

• Joseph J. Farwell · Fort Wayne, US
• Robert J. Haverstick · Huntertown, US
• Lee Williams · Magnolia, US
• Derek R. Scheetz · Dublin, US
• Bruce C. Noah · Lafayette, US
• John A. Budzik · Huntertown, US
• Robert W. Hammond · Hanover, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 5, 2000
• Grant date: Aug 21, 2001
• Expiry date: Apr 5, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B62D1/22
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A right-hand drive vehicle steering system (10) that may be factory built or converted from a left-hand drive steering system or vice versa. The method of conversion begins with the removal of the left-hand drive steering components. A left-hand drive designed steering gear is engaged to an adapter bracket (50). The adapter bracket allows the orientation of the left-hand drive designed steering gear to remain the same in a right-hand drive installation as when installed in the left-hand drive. As a result, the pitman arm (18) that directs the wheel direction of steering and is outboard of the steering gear for left-hand drive applications, is inboard of the steering gear for right-hand drive applications. The adapter bracket allows displacement of the steering column and associated steering equipment to further outboard in the right-hand drive system relative to the outboard position in left-hand drive applications. The adapter bracket allows pitman arm operation through an operating slot (51) in spite of the location of the pitman arm between the steering gear and the frame rail (103). The adapter bracket and steering gear are mounted to the frame rail. The pitman arm is pivotably…