STEERING APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a wheel support member and a linear support mechanism including members supported on the vehicle body, and supporting pivot point of the wheel support member. The steering apparatus further includes a first arm member, and a steering mechanism that includes a tie rod linked to the wheel support member, and rotates the wheel support member around the swinging pivot point in association with the movement of the tie rod during steering. The first arm member, via the linear support mechanism, causes the swinging pivot point to move, linked to the movement of the tie rod, linearly or approximately linearly, outward in the vehicle widthwise direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and/or further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals are used to represent like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an oblique view showing a steering apparatus for a vehicle 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in the condition in which the steering apparatus is applied to a vehicle having a strut-type suspension;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a simplified model of a linear support mechanism 300;

FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C are plan views of the steering apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, in which FIG. 3A shows the condition of the right wheel when the steering angle is neutral, FIG. 3B shows the condition of the right wheel when turning right; and FIG. 3C shows the condition of the right wheel when turning left;

FIG. 4 is an oblique view showing a variation of the steering apparatus for a vehicle 100 according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an oblique view of the steering apparatus 101 for a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in the condition in which the steering apparatus is applied to a vehicle having a double-wishbone suspension;

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are plan views showing the steering apparatus for a vehicle 101 according to the second embodiment, in which FIG. 6A shows the condition when the steering angle is neutral, and FIG.6B shows the condition when turning right;

FIG. 7 is an oblique view showing a steering apparatus 102 for a vehicle according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in the condition in which the steering apparatus is applied to a vehicle having a double-wishbone suspension;

FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C are plan views of the steering apparatus for a vehicle 102 according to the third embodiment, in which FIG. 8A shows the condition of the right wheel when the steering angle is neutral, FIG. 8B shows the condition of the right wheel when turning right; and FIG. 8C shows the condition of the right wheel when turning left;

FIG. 9 is a simplified plan view of a steering apparatus 103 for a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are plan views of the steering apparatus for a vehicle 103 according to the fourth embodiment, in which FIG. 10A shows the condition of the right wheel when turning left, and FIG. 10B shows the condition of the right wheel when turning right.

Claims

1. A steering apparatus for a vehicle comprising: a wheel support member that rotatably supports a wheel;a linear support mechanism that includes at least two members that are supported on a vehicle body, and supports a first pivot point of the wheel support member that forms a kingpin axis, so as to allow linear or approximately linear movement in a vehicle widthwise direction or in a direction inclined in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle;a steering mechanism that includes a tie rod linked to the wheel support member, and rotates the wheel support member around the first pivot point in association with the movement of the tie rod during steering; anda first arm member, an end of which is swingably supported on the vehicle body, and an other end of which is swingably supported by the wheel support member at the outside of the first pivot point in the vehicle width direction, wherein the first arm member restricts a position of the wheel support member by the linear support mechanism, so that the first pivot point in association with the movement of the tie rod moves linearly or approximately linearly, outward in the vehicle width direction.

2. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first pivot point of the wheel support member, viewed from above the vehicle, is disposed on a straight line substantially the same as a straight line extending from the first arm member, when the wheel support member is located at a steering angle neutral condition.

3. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the linear support mechanism includes a first link member and a second link member, that are supported on the vehicle body, and a third link member that links the first link member and the second link member, in which the first pivot point of the wheel support member is disposed on the third link member.

4. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the linear support mechanism includes a first link member and a second link member, that are supported on the vehicle body, and a third link member that links the first link member and the second link member, in which the first pivot point of the wheel support member is disposed on the third link member, and in which a second pivot point of the wheel support member is disposed on the first link member or on the second link member, whereinthe wheel support member has a first member supported so as to be swingable around the first pivot point and rotatably supporting the wheel,a second member supported so as to be swingable around the second pivot point and swingably supporting the other end of the first arm member at the outside of the second pivot point in the vehicle width direction, anda third member that links the first member and the second member.

5. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the second pivot point, viewed from above the vehicle, is disposed on a straight line substantially the same as a straight line extending from the first arm member when the wheel support member is located at a steering angle neutral condition.

6. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an inclination of the kingpin axis changes to a vertically standing direction in association with a movement of the first pivot point of the wheel support member outward in the vehicle width direction.

7. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a second arm member, an end of which is swingably supported on the vehicle body, and an other end of which is swingably linked to the wheel support member, whereina line joining the first pivot point of the wheel support member and a linking point of the other end of the second arm member establishes the kingpin axis,the second arm member is disposed so that an inclination of the kingpin axis changes to the vertically standing direction in association with a movement of the first pivot point of the wheel support member.