Modular motion diverting device

Abstract

A modular motion steering device is provided, which can be mounted on at least a first module and a second module of a modular vehicle system, each module comprising at least two axles, characterized in that for each axle, a motion steering mechanism is comprised which is adapted to move a wheel connected to the axle, a tiller is provided for controlling the motion steering mechanism arranged transversely with respect to the axle, the tiller can be constrained to the mechanism to allow transmission of motion from the tiller through the mechanism to the wheel, the tiller defines a variable steering ratio with respect to each axle, a locking device of the mechanism is adapted to make one of the axles a fulcrum rotation of the tiller, the mechanism is rigidly connected to the tiller, and wherein the first module comprises at least a first tiller having a first and a second distal end and wherein the second module comprises at least a second tiller having a first and a second distal end, and wherein the distal ends are complementary and / or shape-complementary in order to be rigidly connected to each other.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular motion steering device. BACKGROUND

[0002] The types of steering devices present on vehicles are currently known.

[0003] In particular, vehicles with trailers, towed vehicles or the like require the transmission of the steering command to all the steering wheels of the vehicle. If the vehicle is not of considerable dimensions, for example with only two axles, the steering systems of the wheels of the front and / or rear axles are known.

[0004] For example, consider the mechanical tiller steering between articulated vehicles similar to the airport trolleys, where in the case of articulated vehicles the steering system moves the entire steering axle and the vehicle has an articulated connection between the components of the vehicle train.

[0005] Furthermore, as an example of known technology, hydraulic or hydraulic-mechanical steering systems with tie rods between the axles are an example of known technology in which there is no mechanical connection between the axles of the vehicle connected, but rather electronic and hydraulic guidance.

[0006] The described known technologies include some important drawbacks.

[0007] In particular, for vehicles with multiple axles and complex steering systems, in the event of failure of the hydraulic system there is no backup mechanical guarantee that complies with the ECE 79 road vehicle steering system regulations.

[0008] Furthermore, in general, in large vehicles, for example with a large number of axles, the steering system is very expensive in terms of economy and energy consumption, since it is completely hydraulic and driven by an internal combustion engine.

[0009] Furthermore, in general, in large vehicles, for example with a large number of axles, the steering system does not have a geometry that can adapt to road vehicles with traditional suspensions and steering geometry, such as double wishbone and McPherson.

[0010] Finally, in the steering systems of the prior art, in vehicles consisting of a plurality of modules or in general connected by a plurality of elements, when two modules are connected together, there is no mechanical connection between the axles of the steering system of the connected vehicle, on the contrary they are driven only electronically and hydraulically, affecting the functional safety of the system and increasing the production and maintenance costs. SUMMARY

[0011] In this context, the technical task of the present invention is to design a modular motion steering device that can substantially avoid at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0012] Within the scope of the technical task, one of the important aims of the present application is to obtain a device that transmits the steering command to all the axles of the vehicle in a completely mechanical manner.

[0013] Another important aim of the present application is to provide a steering device suitable for common suspensions and steering systems such as double wishbone, MacPherson, etc.

[0014] Still, the aim of the present application is to provide a steering device that is able to control the kinematic steering of the wheels of different axles according to their geometry, without the need for electronic correction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] The characteristics and advantages of the present application will be clarified below by means of a detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 shows a kinematic steering device applied to a vehicle with two axles;

[0017] Figure 2 is an embodiment of the device applied to a modular vehicle system.

[0018] Figure 3 is a kinematic movement diagram of the device applied to a vehicle with multiple axles and with the rudder arm locking device provided on the last axle; and

[0019] Figure 4 is a kinematic movement diagram of the device applied to a vehicle with multiple axles and with the rudder arm locking device provided on the middle axle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In this document, when associated with "about" or other similar terms (for example "approximately" or "substantially"), measurements, values, shapes and geometric references (for example perpendicularity and parallelism) should be considered to exclude measurement errors or inaccuracies due to production and / or manufacturing errors, except for the most important, slight differences from the relevant value, measurement, shape or geometric reference. For example, these terms, if associated with a value, preferably indicate a difference of no more than 10% of that value.

[0021] Furthermore, the words "first", "second", "upper", "lower", "main", "secondary", etc. when used, do not necessarily indicate an order, a priority of relationship or a relative position, but can simply be used to clearly distinguish their different components.

[0022] Unless otherwise indicated, in the following discussion, terms such as "processing", "computing", "determining", "counting" or similar terms refer to the action and / or processes of a computer or similar electronic computing device, which manipulates and / or transforms data represented as physical quantities (for example, electronic quantities in the computer system registers and / or memories, other data similarly represented as physical quantities in a computer system, registers or other storage, transmission or information display devices).

[0023] Unless otherwise stated, the measurements and data reported herein are performed according to the International Standard Atmosphere ICAO (ISO 2533:1975).

[0024] With reference to the attached drawings, the device according to the present application is indicated as a whole with the reference number 1.

[0025] The device 1 described herein is a motion steering device, suitable for being installed on a vehicle 2. Motion steering, in the present text, means steering that provides the wheels connected to at least one axle of the vehicle to perform the steering action with different steering ratios and / or steering angles from each other, for example a steering system able to distinguish the angle of two wheels on a single steering axle.

[0026] The vehicle 2 is a vehicle comprising at least two axles. Preferably, said vehicle 2 is a non-articulated vehicle.

[0027] Said axles of the vehicle 2 according to the present application are equipped with motion steering mechanisms 4, suitable for moving the wheels 31 connected to said axles. According to the present application, said mechanisms 4 and said axles are both connected to the wheels 31, as shown in figure 1, and arranged substantially parallel to each other. The axles are provided with hubs and have means of known technology able to allow said wheels 31 to rotate in more than one plane, for example in a vertical plane for movement and in a horizontal plane for steering.

[0028] The mechanism 4 can for example consist of a motion mechanism connected to said wheels 31. An example of a preferred motion mechanism is shown in figure 1, in which said mechanism 4 comprises a plurality of components suitable for implementing an articulated parallelogram suitable for guaranteeing the kinematic steering on said wheels 31. Also, preferably, said mechanism 4 comprises a fixed bar 4a, two cranks and / or rocker arms 4b and a connecting rod 4c, connected at both ends to a steering tie rod 4d, connected to the wheels.

[0029] Preferably, said steering mechanism 4 is placed in correspondence of each of said axles.

[0030] Preferably, the device 1 comprises a tiller 41 for controlling said motion steering mechanisms 4. The tiller 41 is arranged transversely with respect to the axles, therefore passing over each of said axles as shown in figure 1 and can be connected to said mechanisms 4.

[0031] The tiller 41 means a rigid mechanical element able to transmit a motion, i.e. said command caused for example at one end of the same tiller 41.

[0032] The shape and material of said tiller 41 can for example be further adapted to provide structural stiffness, which will be clarified in the preferred embodiments of the present application hereinafter.

[0033] Likewise, preferably the connection between the tiller 41 and the mechanism 4 allows the transmission of movement from the tiller 41 to the wheels 31 through the mechanism 4. The transmission of movement can also occur in the opposite direction, from the mechanism 4 to the tiller 41, as will be clarified below.

[0034] Preferably, the tiller 41 can be constrained to the mechanism 4 on each axis.

[0035] Preferably, the device 1 comprises a locking device 42 of the mechanism 4, which can be activated on each axis. The locking device 42 is able to make the tiller 41 (by preventing the movement of the tiller 41), the mechanism 4 and the wheels 31 one, thus not allowing the lateral movement of the tiller 41 with respect to the axis and thus preventing the transmission of the steering command to the wheels 31 at the axis. Therefore, the locking device 42 is adapted to make the axis (on which the locking device 42 acts) the rotation fulcrum of the tiller 41 by rigidly connecting the mechanism 4 with the tiller 41. When the locking mechanism 42 is active, the lateral movement of the tiller 41 is thus prevented by means of the steering mechanism 4, for example by directly or indirectly preventing the movement of the connecting rod 4c, preventing the transmission of the steering control from the tiller 41 to the wheels 31. Preferably, the locking device 42 stops the tiller 41 in a substantially central position with respect to the two wheels 31 connected to the axis, on which the locking device 42 is active.

[0036] Therefore, the device 1 according to the present application implements a variable steering ratio on each of the wheels 31 of the axis of the vehicle 2 through the tiller 41.

[0037] Furthermore, preferably the vehicle comprises a front axis 3a and a rear axis 3b. The vehicle can generally comprise a plurality of axes defining the front axis 3a and the rear axis 3b in the same way.

[0038] In the embodiment shown in figure 1, the front axle 3a of the vehicle 2 comprises connection means 43 to a control device 5 present on the vehicle 2 and available to the user. The connection means 43 can consist of purely mechanical, pneumatic and / or electrically assisted connection means 43. In a preferred embodiment, the connection means 43 are purely mechanical, suitable for transmitting commands to the rudder 41. The connection means 43 can connect the kinematic steering mechanism 4, allowing it to move when it is rigidly connected to the rudder 41. The rudder 41 is thus adapted to issue different kinematic steering commands for each axle, wherein the commands are implemented as a function of the geometry of the rudder 41 and / or as a function of the position of the locking means 42 with respect to the axle. Different kinematic steering between different axles is thus implemented as a function of the amount proportional to the angle and / or distance of the steering of the rudder 41 with respect to the axle from the vertical. The kinematic steering of the wheels 31 of the same axle, which provides that the two wheels 31 of the same axle have different steering angles, and therefore that the wheels 31 receive a single command from the rudder 41, is implemented by the steering mechanism 4, thus as a function of the kinematic mechanism for transmitting the command from the rudder 41 to the wheels 31.

[0039] An example of the device 1 described is shown in figure 3 by means of a kinematic diagram, the rudder 41 being locked on the rear axle 3b by means 42. Thus, as the distance of the axle from the rear axle 3b on which the locking means 42 are located increases, the rudder 41 applies a significantly increased steering angle as a function of the distance from the vertical.

[0040] Likewise, for example, when the locking means 42 act on an axle of the vehicle 2 other than the rear axle 3b, the rudder 41 transmits a counter-steering command to the wheels 31 located on the axle downstream of the locking means 42. An example of this configuration is shown in figure 4.

[0041] The present invention also relates to a modular kinematic steering device 1 adapted to be installed on a modular vehicle system 10.

[0042] By modular vehicle, or module of the system, it is meant the vehicle 2 just described.

[0043] The modular vehicle system 10 comprises at least a first module and a second module. Preferably, when the modules are connected to form the system 10, they form a system 10 similar to a non-articulated vehicle, as clarified from the interpretation of the connection between the modules.

[0044] Each module comprises a modular kinematic steering device 1.

[0045] The modular motion steering device 1 is a motion steering device 1 as just described herein, more preferably comprising a rudder 41 having a first distal end 41a and a second distal end 41b, the first distal end 41a and the second distal end 41b being complementary and / or shape-complementary so as to be rigidly connected to each other. In this context, rigidly connected means a connection that at least allows the transmission of the steering command through the combination of two or more rudders 41 of two or more modular vehicles.

[0046] Preferably, the modular vehicle system 10 comprises at least a first module and a second module, the first module comprising at least a first rudder 41' having a first and a second distal end 41a', 41b', the second module comprising at least a second rudder 41'' having a first and a second distal end 41a'', 41b'', wherein the distal ends 41a', 41b'' and / or 41b' and 41a'' are complementary and / or shape-complementary so as to be rigidly connected to each other.

[0047] For example, as shown in figure 2, the first module comprises a distal end 41b' corresponding to the rear axle 3b, which is adapted to rigidly connect the distal end 41a'' of the second module. The ends 41a, 41b can be oriented in any way with respect to the axles of the modular vehicle.

[0048] Therefore, the connection of several modular vehicles occurs through the implementation of an inter-vehicle rudder 41 having the same characteristics already discussed for the rudders 41 already described.

[0049] Likewise, preferably, the rudders 41' and 41'' each comprise a first distal end 41a and a second distal end 41b adapted to be connected by a coupling system 44.

[0050] More preferably, the coupling system 44 is present on each distal end 41a, 41b. Moreover, the components that together form the coupling system 44 can be partially present on one end and partially present on the connected end behind.

[0051] Likewise, preferably, the coupling system 44 is a non-articulated coupling system. In fact, it is clear from the description that the coupling system 44 connects a plurality of rudders 41 so as to transmit the steering command in a non-articulated way, for example, without generating a relative angle of rotation between the two rudders 41', 41'' of two vehicles, coupled in order to obtain an inter-vehicle rudder, and likewise without generating a relative angle of rotation between the same vehicles that form the system 10.

[0052] Again preferably, the coupling system 44 is adapted to activate and / or deactivate the locking device 42 of the motion steering mechanism 4 of the axle through mechanical interference.

[0053] Alternatively, or in combination with what has been described, the locking device 42 is electrically actuated.

[0054] The operation of the device 1 previously described in structural terms is as follows.

[0055] Therefore, in the embodiment illustrated in figure 1, the device 1 is applied to a two-axle vehicle; in this case, the selection of the axle on which the locking device 42 of the tiller acts is limited, since the rear axle 3b necessarily becomes the fulcrum of the tiller 41. Once the tiller 41 is pivoted on the axle 3b, it receives the steering control through the control device 5 connected to the kinematic steering mechanism 4 housed near the front axle 3a. The controller then rotates and / or integrally moves the mechanism 4, the wheel 31 and the tiller 41, the latter rotating around the fulcrum positioned on the rear axle 3b by means of the device 42. The single vehicle geometry results in a standard front axle steering, in the preferred embodiment a sporty steering, while the rear axle remains non-steering, since the tiller is pivoted on it. The result is a typical driving performance of a short-wheelbase road vehicle, such as a small car.

[0056] In general, the steering angle on each axle is determined mechanically based solely on the steering quantity applied to the front-most axle; the steering command is transmitted through the inter-vehicle tiller connected between the steering axles. When two or more vehicles are connected to each other, the respective tillers are rigidly connected as a whole, effectively creating a long inter-vehicle tiller, which operates similarly to the operation described in the system with only two axles.

[0057] When equipped with more than two axles, the system can become more efficient by ensuring a smaller steering radius through the locking device 42, which prevents the steering of the axles other than the first and last one. In this way, the fixed axles of the locking system act as a rotation fulcrum of the inter-vehicle tiller, so that the axles behind the fulcrum will be counter-steered.

[0058] The device 1 according to the present application achieves important advantages.

[0059] In fact, with respect to the steering systems of the known art applied to vehicles with multiple axles and large size, the device 1 described here represents a very economical alternative to implement.

[0060] The device 1 illustrated can be further assisted hydraulically and electronically, but with advantage compared to the systems of the prior art, in the event of failure of the steering servo-assistance system, the mechanical connection makes the system compliant with the ECE 79 regulation and guarantees the highest level of functional safety. The device 1 according to the present application represents an alternative with high safety in the event of failure.

[0061] Furthermore, thanks to the device 1 according to the present application, the steering ratio between the individual axles is automatically coordinated by the geometry of the system, without the need for electronic corrections.

[0062] The present application allows variants falling within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the claims. In this case, all the details can be replaced by equivalent elements, the materials, shapes and dimensions can be arbitrary.

Claims

1. A modular motion diverting device (1) mountable on at least a first module and a second module of a modular vehicle system (10), each module comprising at least two axles, characterized in that Comprising - for each axle, a motion steering mechanism (4) able to move a wheel (31) connected to said axle, - a rudder (41) for controlling said motion steering mechanism (4), arranged transversely with respect to the axle, said rudder (41) being able to be constrained to said motion steering mechanism (4) to allow the transmission of motion from said rudder (41) to said wheel (31) by means of said motion steering mechanism (4), said rudder (41) defining a variable steering ratio with respect to each of said axles, - a locking device (42) of said motion steering mechanism (4) able to make one of said axles a rotation fulcrum of said rudder (41) by rigidly connecting said motion steering mechanism (4) to said rudder (41), and - wherein said first module comprises at least a first rudder (41') having a first distal end and a second distal end, and wherein said second module comprises at least a second rudder (41'') having a first distal end and a second distal end, and wherein the distal ends adjacent in front and behind have a profile and / or a shape complementary so as to be rigidly connected to each other.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein each distal end is provided with a coupling system (44), the distal ends adjacent in front and behind transmitting the steering command by means of said coupling system (44).

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said coupling system (44) present on each distal end is able to activate and / or deactivate the locking device (42) of the motion steering mechanism (4) of the axle by mechanical interference.

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking device (42) is electrically driven.

5. Device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said coupling system (44) is a non-hinged coupling system.

6. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of said modules comprises at least a front axle (3a) and a rear axle (3b), and wherein said front axle (3a) of said module comprises connection means (43) to a control device (5) present on said vehicle (2) and able to be used by a user.

7. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said motion steering mechanism (4) comprises a fixed bar (4a), two cranks and / or rocker arms (4b) and a connecting rod (4c) connected at both ends to a steering drag link (4d) connected to a wheel (31).

8. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said locking device (42) of said motion steering mechanism (4) is able to be activated on each axle and to make said axle on which said locking device (42) is present a rotation fulcrum of said rudder (41).

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