Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10501117-B2
Application number	US-201515320856-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2015
Priority date	Jun 27, 2014
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle including wheels, and a steering module configured to steer the wheels in one of two mutually opposite right and left directions, or in one and the other of the two mutually opposite right and left directions, respectively. In the vehicle, a caster angle is set within the range of ±3 degrees relative to a kingpin angle. Though each wheel usually forms a camber angle when steered, by setting in the wheel the caster angle beforehand within the above range, the wheel does not or is less likely to form the camber angle because the camber angle and the caster angle cancel each other. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the steering angles of the wheels from being restricted, and to prevent the deterioration of steering operability.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
wheels; and
a steering module configured to steer the wheels in one of two mutually opposite right and left directions, or in one and another of the two mutually opposite right and left directions, respectively,
wherein a caster angle is set within a range of ±3 degrees relative to a kingpin angle, and the kingpin angle is set within a range of 4 to 10 degrees, and
wherein the steering module is capable of steering the wheels by 90 degrees relative to a direction in which the vehicle travels in a straight line.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the wheels comprise at least a pair of right and left wheels which are either a pair of front wheels of the vehicle, or a pair of rear wheels of the vehicle, and
wherein the vehicle further comprises in-wheel motors provided, respectively, in the pair of right and left wheels so as to drive the pair of right and left wheels.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the steering module comprises:
a pair of first and second rack bars configured to steer the pair of right and left wheels in one of the two mutually opposite right and left directions, or one and another of the two mutually opposite right and left directions, respectively; and
a rack bar moving arrangement for moving the first and second rack bars in one of two opposite directions along which rack teeth of the first and second rack bars are arranged, or in one and another of the two opposite directions, respectively, by a same distance, and
wherein the rack bar moving arrangement comprises:
a synchronizing gear assembly meshing with the first and second rack bars such that a movement of the first rack bar in one of the two opposite directions is converted to a movement of the second rack bar in another of the two opposite directions;
a first pinion gear meshing with the first rack bar;
a second pinion gear meshing with the second rack bar; and
a coupling mechanism configured such that the first pinon gear and the second pinion gear can be coupled together or uncoupled from each other by the coupling mechanism.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the steering module comprises:
a pair of first and second rack bars configured to steer the wheels in one of the two mutually opposite right and left directions, or one and another of the two mutually opposite right and left directions, respectively; and
a rack bar moving arrangement for moving the first and second rack bars in one of two opposite directions along which rack teeth of the first and second rack bars are arranged, or in one and another of the two opposite directions, respectively, by a same distance, and
wherein the rack bar moving arrangement comprises:
a synchronizing gear assembly meshing with the first and second rack bars such that a movement of the first rack bar in one of the two opposite directions is converted to a movement of the second rack bar in another of the two opposite directions;
a first pinion gear meshing with the first rack bar;
a second pinion gear meshing with the second rack bar; and
a coupling mechanism configured such that the first pinon gear and the second pinion gear can be coupled together or uncoupled from each other by the coupling mechanism.

Assignees

• Ntn Toyo Bearing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ohba Hirokazu
• IGI Taisuke

Classifications

• B62D7/1509

  with different steering modes, e.g. crab-steering, or steering specially adapted for reversing of the vehicle · CPC title

• B62D7/09

  characterised by means varying the ratio between the steering angles of the steered wheels (varying the ratio automatically depending on driving conditions B62D6/00) · CPC title

• B60G2300/50

  Electric vehicles; Hybrid vehicles · CPC title

• B60G2200/44

  steerable · CPC title

• B62D3/12

  of rack-and-pinion type · CPC title