| 摘要 |
<p>PROGRAMMABLE STEERING CONTROL APPARATUS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Programmable motor vehicle steering control apparatus, which enables zero settings of front wheel caster, camber, toe-in and steering axis inclination, comprises left and right pairs of first and second, tangentially loaded helical spring elements and means for connecting the left pair of spring elements between a left front wheel steering arm and tie rod and the right pair of spring elements between a right front wheel steering arm and tie rod. Parallel connecting arms of each second spring element cross so that when either pair of spring elements in push or pull loaded during vehicle turns, the two spring elements in each pair act in opposite, spring coil opening or closing directions. The connecting means includes means for offsetting outboard ends of the spring elements in each pair and preloading means are provided for selectively preloading each of the spring elements. Together, the offsetting means and preloading means cooperate to enable nonsymmetrical spring element loading and unloading in vehicle turns to provide, for example, greater spring restoring forces on outside wheels in a turn, according to required steering control and wheel return-to-center characteristics.</p> |
