JP2001213346A - Limiting device for limiting steering motion of front wheel of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a limiting device for limiting steering motion, easily handled and low in cost. SOLUTION: This limiting device is provided for limiting angular displacement based on a steering mechanism for front wheels 44 of a vehicle 42 by providing a steering knuckle 14 for one wheel out of the front wheels 44, with a steering stop means 20 detachable and attachable to cooperate with a fixed engaging face 31 of a rigid part 27 of the vehicle 42. The steering stop means 20 has an unadjustable curved engaging face 24. The curved engaging face 24 is engaged with the fixed engaging face 31 of the vehicle 42 during the angular motion of the front wheel 44. Because of the curved shape of the steering stop means 20, the angular displacement of a steering member is made the same regardless of spatial change made during the suspension movement of oscillation/bounce.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vehicle (vehicle).
e) Steering knuckle
attachable steering stop means, especially an irregularly shaped surface mounted and mounted on the steering knuckle so as to provide the same limitation of the steering rotation angle regardless of the travel of the suspension wobble / bounce It relates to a means for stopping steering that cannot be performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When turning a steering structure with respect to a front wheel of a vehicle, a limit of a turning motion of each wheel must be provided so that each wheel and tires do not contact peripheral components of the vehicle. The desired limits of the steering movement of the vehicle wheels can be obtained in different ways and at different locations.
These limiting structures and devices are primarily based on the fact that some parts of the steering structure engage some rigid parts of the vehicle to limit the turning movement. One example of a prior art device uses a pin mounted on a steering knuckle to engage the adjacent surface of the axle housing in the most rotated position. These pins are adjustable,
The range of motion can be varied to produce a greater or lesser range of turning motion according to the size of the tires and / or wheels fitted to the vehicle. However, this device does not take into account the changes in kinematic relationships caused by the vehicle suspension, as described below.

[0003] The suspension of a vehicle can move vertically and to some extent horizontally with respect to wheels, which must be located on the ground. This movement changes the spatial relationship between the restriction structure or device and the opposing member of the vehicle with which the device engages. For example, if the wheel turns to its maximum extent during heavy jouncing / rebound, the limiting structure or device may not properly engage the vehicle due to altered spatial relationships. In this case, the tire comes into contact with the vehicle body. The pivoting motion limiting structure or device must therefore be made so that the same steering angle limit is obtained regardless of the distance of the sway / bounce suspension travel so that the tires do not touch the vehicle body.

[0004] Previously, steering knuckles have a steering stop curve that is integral to an irregular surface steering knuckle where the complex device geometry compensates for spatial variations caused by wobble / bounce. With this device, the steering angle range can always be the same regardless of the vehicle's sway / bounce. The problem with such a device is that this portion of the steering knuckle must be machined, but the angle of the curved surface makes processing difficult and expensive.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a conventional steering stop which eliminates the above-mentioned obstacles. This steering stop means limits the steering movement of the vehicle front wheels with respect to various actual vehicle suspensions.

[0006] The device of the present invention includes an engagement surface of a rigid portion of a vehicle, a steering knuckle, and steering stop means mounted on the steering knuckle and engaged with the engagement of the vehicle. The steering knuckle supports and turns one of the front wheels of the vehicle. The steering stop means is generally generally rectangular with a mounting surface side and a curved engagement surface side. The curved engagement surface can be adjusted on the steering knuckle to engage the engagement surface of the rigid portion of the vehicle at all varying levels and positions of the steering knuckle to limit angular motion of the front wheels of the vehicle. And positioned. The steering stop means can be removed and replaced for use with different size wheel / tire combinations.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in the partial longitudinal sectional view of FIG.
And a brake disk 11 fixed to the brake disk 2. The wheel hub 12 is rotatable around a set of tapered roller bearings 13. The roller bearing housing 15 is fixed to the pivotable steering knuckle 14. The drive axle 17 extends through the center of the wheel hub 12 and the end of the axle 17 is fixed by an axle nut 19. The drive axle 17 is connected to the drive shaft 21 by an outer constant velocity (CV) joint 23 and to a transaxle (not shown) by an inner constant velocity joint 25. Steering knuckle 14 pivots about axis A to provide the steering action of vehicle 42. The rotation of the knuckle 14 is obtained by a conventional steering link mechanism (not shown). The steering knuckle 14 is connected to a lower control arm 27 via a lower ball joint 29 to allow vertical movement of the steering knuckle 14 in response to a suspension (not shown). A steering stop engagement pin 31 is preferably mounted to lower control arm 27 along axis A. According to the present invention, the steering stop means 20 is shown mounted on the steering knuckle 14 by mounting bolts 36 which are also used to mount the heat shield 38. As shown in FIG. 3, the steering stop means 20 comprises a generally rectangular block having a mounting surface side 22 and a curved engagement surface side 24. Mounting holes 26 extend from each side through the block. Two integral anti-rotation pins 28 project from the mounting surface side 22 into the steering knuckle 14 through two corresponding holes 18. The curved mounting surface side 24 is shown as a concave surface. This configuration allows the steering knuckle 14 to pivot to the same angular location regardless of the vertical or horizontal movement caused by the suspension (not shown). When the steering knuckle 14 is at the highest or lowest vertical position as shown in FIG. 2, the engagement point with the steering stop engagement pin 31 is the concave engagement surface side portion 24.
From the center 32 (FIG. 3) to the edge 34 of the tapered concave surface. In this case, the distance between the engagement surfaces is reduced to the same extent as the distance is increased by moving up and down. As a result, during the suspension movement of the swing / bounce, the steering stop means 20 has the same effect of limiting the steering rotation angle as when the vertical movement does not occur.

The steering stop 20 is preferably made of a lightweight, durable material such as powdered metal or plastic material. The steering stop means 20 is preferably cast to a finished shape to facilitate manufacture. The use of the attachable steering stop means 20 eliminates the need for machining operations that would result in costly and difficult irregular shapes for the steering knuckle 14 having the same function as the steering stop means.

[0009] In addition to simplifying steering knuckle machining, the mounting of the steering stop 20 is provided by existing hardware or by slight modifications of existing hardware. For example, as described above, mounting bolts 36 may also mount heat shield 38 to steering knuckle 14. The bolt 36 extends through the steering knuckle 14 and connects the steering stop means 20 to the steering knuckle 1 through the mounting hole 26.
Screw to 4.

Although the steering stop means 20 cannot be adjusted, the steering stop means 20 can be removed from the steering knuckle 14. If differently sized wheel / tire combinations are used in this vehicle, the steering stop means 20 can be replaced by a stop means that meets the requirements of the new wheel / tire combination. Also, the damaged steering stop means 20 can be replaced, but in the case of a partial steering knuckle having an integrally shaped turning curve, the entire steering knuckle must be replaced.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, the description is illustrative only and does not limit the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is capable of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a steering axle assembly.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the steering stop device of the present invention engaging an engagement surface of a rigid portion of a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the steering stop device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the steering stop device shown in FIG. 3;

[Description of Signs] 14 Steering knuckle 20 Steering stop means 22 Mounting surface side 24 Curved engagement surface side 27 Rigid portion (lower control arm) 31 Engagement surface (engagement pin) 44 Front wheel

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 26, 2001 (2001.3.2)
6)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All figures

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

FIG. 2

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A limiting device for limiting steering movement of front wheels of a vehicle in relation to actual changes in vehicle suspension means, comprising: an engagement surface 31 of a rigid portion 27 of the vehicle 42; A steering knuckle for supporting and turning a wheel; and a steering stop means having a mounting surface side and a curved engagement surface side and detachably mounted on the steering knuckle. The curved engagement surface side to engage the engagement surface 31 of the rigid portion 27 of the vehicle 42 at all varying levels and positions of the knuckle 14 to limit angular movement of the wheels 44 24, the steering wheel
A limiting device for limiting steering movement, which is positioned and positioned on the knuckle 14; 2. The limiting device according to claim 1, wherein said steering stop means cannot be adjusted. 3. At least one hole 3 extending through the steering stop knuckle 14 such that the steering stop 20 can be mounted on the steering knuckle 14.
2. The limiting device according to claim 1, wherein said steering stop means (20) comprises at least one hole (26) corresponding to zero. 4. The restriction device according to claim 3, wherein said steering stop means is attached to said steering knuckle by at least one attachment bolt. 5. At least one said mounting bolt (36).
5. The restriction of claim 4 further comprising a heat shield attached to said steering knuckle. 6. The steering knuckle 14 protrudes from the steering stop means so as to prevent the steering stop means 20 from rotating after mounting.
2. The limiting device of claim 1 wherein said steering stop means comprises one or more pins that can be inserted into corresponding upper holes. 7. The limiting device of claim 6, wherein said one or more pins are integrally cast as part of said steering stop means. 8. The limiting device according to claim 1, wherein said curved engagement surface side portion of said steering stop means is integrally cast as a part of said steering stop means. 9. The restriction device according to claim 1, wherein the curved engagement surface side portion of the steering stop means has a concave shape. 10. The limiting device according to claim 9, wherein said concave shape of said curved engagement surface side portion of said steering stop means is substantially parabolic. 11. The limiting device according to claim 1, wherein said steering stop means is made of powdered metal. 12. The limiting device according to claim 1, wherein said steering stop means is made of a hard, durable plastic material. 13. The limiting device according to claim 1, wherein said steering stop means is removable and replaceable. 14. The limiter of claim 1, wherein said rigid portion of the vehicle is a lower control arm.