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Study of 4 Wheel Steering Systems To Reduce Turning Radius and Increase Stability
Study of 4 Wheel Steering Systems To Reduce Turning Radius and Increase Stability
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1. Introduction
1.1 What is Steering? The basic aim of steering is to ensure that the
Steering is the term applied to the collection of wheels are pointing in the desired directions. This is
components, linkages, etc. which will allow a vessel typically achieved by a series of linkages, rods, pivots
(ship, boat) or vehicle (car, motorcycle, and bicycle) and gears. One of the fundamental concepts is that of
to follow the desired course. An exception is the case caster angle - each wheel is steered with a pivot point
of rail transport by which rail tracks combined ahead of the wheel; this makes the steering tend to be
together with railroad switches provide the steering self-centering towards the direction of travel.
function. The most conventional steering arrangement The steering linkages connecting the steering box
is to turn the front wheels using a hand–operated and the wheels usually conforms to a variation of
steering wheel which is positioned in front of the Ackermann steering geometry, to account for the fact
driver, via the steering column, which may contain that in a turn, the inner wheel is actually travelling a
universal joints, to allow it to deviate somewhat from path of smaller radius than the outer wheel, so that the
a straight line. Other arrangements are sometimes degree of toe suitable for driving in a straight path is
found on different types of vehicles, for example, a not suitable for turns. The angle the wheels make with
tiller or rear–wheel steering. Tracked vehicles such as the vertical plane also influences steering dynamics
bulldozers and tanks usually employ differential (see camber angle) as do the tires.
steering that is, the tracks are made to move at Many modern cars use rack and pinion steering
different speeds or even in opposite directions, using mechanisms, where the steering wheel turns the
clutches and brakes, to bring about a change of course pinion gear; the pinion moves the rack, which is a
or direction. linear gear that meshes with the pinion, converting
circular motion into linear motion along the transverse
1.2 Basic Geometry axis of the car (side to side motion). This motion
applies steering torque to the swivel pin ball joints
Corresponding Author
that replaced previously used kingpins of the stub axle
E-mail address: arun_singh011@yahoo.com
of the steered wheels via tie rods and a short lever arm
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called the steering arm.
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the turning circle can be tightened so parking and 2.3.3 Rear Wheel Steering
manoeuvring is easier.
A few types of vehicle use only rear wheel
steering, notably fork lift trucks, camera dollies, early
pay loaders, Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion car, and
the Thrusts SC.
Rear wheel steering tends to be unstable because
in turns the steering geometry changes hence
decreasing the turn radius (oversteer), rather than
increase it (Understeer). A rear wheel steered
automobile exhibits non-minimum phase behavior. It
turns in the direction opposite of how it is initially
steered. A rapid steering input will cause two
Fig: 3. Comparing turning radius for a 4WS and a accelerations, first in the direction that the wheel is
2WS steered, and then in the opposite direction: a "reverse
response." This makes it harder to steer a rear wheel
steered vehicle at high speed than a front wheel
steered vehicle.
2.3.4 Passive Rear Wheel Steering
Many modern vehicles offer a form of passive
rear steering to counteract normal vehicle tendencies.
For example, Subaru used a passive steering system to
correct for the rear wheel's tendency to toe-out. On
many vehicles, when cornering, the rear wheels tend
to steer slightly to the outside of a turn, which can
reduce stability. The passive steering system uses the
lateral forces generated in a turn (through suspension
geometry) and the bushings to correct this tendency
and steer the wheels slightly to the inside of the
corner. This improves the stability of the car, through
the turn. This effect is called compliance Understeer
and it, or its opposite, is present on all suspensions.
Fig: 4. Turning radius for inner and outer wheel Typical methods of achieving compliance Understeer
2.3 Modes in 4WS system are to use a Watt's Link on a live rear axle, or the use
of toe control bushings on a twist beam suspension.
2.3.1 Four Wheel Steer On an independent rear suspension it is normally
In Four Wheel Steer mode the rear wheels will achieved by changing the rates of the rubber bushings
always follow the front ones and will give the tightest in the suspension. Some suspensions will always have
turning circle. You may switch to and from this compliance oversteer due to geometry, such as
position at any time in the field and the rear wheels Hotchkiss live axles or a semi-trailing arm IRS.
will re-align automatically regardless of the front 3. Components And Working
wheel position.
3.1 Components
2.3.2 Crab Steer
3.1.1 Primary Components
Crab steering is a special type of active four-
wheel steering. It operates by steering all wheels in Vehicle speed sensors Interpret speedometer shelf
the same direction and at the same angle. Crab revolutions and send signal to the electronic
steering is used when the vehicle needs to proceed in computer unit. Two sensors, one within the
a straight line but under an angle (i.e. when moving speedometer and the other at the transmission
loads with a reach truck, or during filming with a output, are used to crosscheck the other for
camera dolly), or when the rear wheels may not accuracy and failsafe measures.
follow the front wheel tracks (i.e. to reduce soil Steering phase control unit conveys to the power
compaction when using rolling farm equipment). steering cylinder booster valve the direction and
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stroke of rear wheel steering by the combined to-front steering ratio proportionately increases
movement of the control yoke angle and bevel and the vehicle's steering lock tightens.
gear revolutions. Same phase (direction) over 35km/h (22mph).
Electric stepper motor Performs altering of the The operation of this phase is the reverse of the
yoke angle and bevel gear phasing opposite phase one, because the control yoke is
Rear steering shaft Transmits front wheel steering angled toward "positive" in this vehicle speed
angle by turning the small bevel gear in the range, as illustrated. The phasing of the swing
steering phase control unit, which rotates the arm, yoke rod and bevel gear steers the rear
main bevel gear in the assembly. wheels toward the right-the same direction as the
front wheels.
Control valve Feeds hydraulic pressure to the
steering actuator, according to the phase and Neutral phase, at 35km/h (22mph) the control
stroke required for appropriate rear wheel yoke's angle is horizontal (neutral). Thus, the
steering. input rod is not affected, even if the control rod is
moved with the rotation of the bevel gear unit. As
Hydraulic power cylinder operates the output rod a result, the rear wheels are not steered in this
by hydraulic pressure and steers the rear wheels. mode.
It locks the rear wheels in a
"neutral"(straightforward) position with the 3.2 Working Mechanism
centering lock spring, which is activated by a
Consists of a rack-and-pinion front steering
solenoid valve in case of failure to ensure a
system that is hydraulically assisted by a twin-
normal 2WS
tandem pump main power source.
Function for the vehicle hydraulic pump provides
The rear wheel steering mechanism is also
hydraulic pressure to both the front and rear
hydraulically assisted by the main pump and
steering systems.
electronically controlled - according to the front
3.1.2 Steering Phase Control Unit steering angle and vehicle speed.
The steering phase control unit alters the The rear steering shaft extends from the rack bar
direction and degree of rear wheel steering. It consists of the front steering gear assembly to the rear
of a stepper motor that controls the rear steering ratio, steering-phase control unit.
a control yoke, a swing arm, a main bevel gear The rear steering system is comprised of the input
engaged to the rear steering shaft via a small bevel end of the rear steering shaft, vehicle speed
gear, and a control rod connected to the control valve. sensors, a steering-phase control unit
It operates: (determining direction and degree), a power
Opposite phase (direction) steering under 35km/h cylinder and an output rod
(22mph) A centering lock spring is incorporated, which
Control Yoke is at an angle activated by the locks the rear system in a neutral
stepper motor (straightforward) position in the event of
hydraulic failure. Additionally, a solenoid valve
Front wheels are steered to the right. The small
that disengages hydraulic assist (thereby
bevel gear is rotated in direction X by the rotation
activating the centering lock spring) in case of an
of the rear steering shaft. The small bevel gear, in
electrical failure is included.
turn, rotates the main bevel gear.
The 4WS system varies the phase and ratio of the
Rotation of the main bevel gear causes movement
rear-wheel steering to the front wheels, according
of the control rod toward the control valve.
to the vehicle speed.
Input rod of the control valve is pushed to the
It steers the rear wheels toward the opposite
right, according to the degree of the control rod's
phase (direction) of the front wheel during speeds
movement (determined by the disposition of the
less than 35km/h (22mph) for a tighter turn and
swing arm), which is positioned to move in an
"neutralizes" them (to a straightforward direction,
upward direction, to the right. The rear wheels
as in a conventional two-wheel steering principle)
are thus steered to the left, in an opposite
at 35km/h (22mph).
direction to the front wheels.
Above the speed of 35 km/h, the system steers
As the angle of the control yoke is increased in
toward the same phase-direction as the front
direction A as vehicle speed decreases, the rear-
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causes the front and rear wheels to follow more- U-Turns: By minimizing the vehicle’s turning
or-less path. As a result the vehicle can be turned radius, counter –phase steering of the rear wheels
easily at a junction. enables U-turns to be performed easily on narrow
Slippery road surfaces: During steering roads.
operation on low friction surfaces, steering of the 6. Conclusion
rear wheels suppress sideways drift of the
vehicle’s rear end. As a result the vehicles Four wheel steering is a relatively new
direction is easier to control. technology, that imposes maneuverability in cars,
High speed straight line operation: When trucks and trailers .in standard two wheels steering
traveling in a straight line at high speed, a vehicles, the rear set of wheels are always directed
vehicle’s driver frequently needs to make small forward therefore and do not play an active role in
steering correction to maintain the desired controlling the steering in four wheel steering system
direction, in phase steering of the rear wheels the rear wheel can turn left and right . To keep the
minimizes these corrective steering inputs. driving controls as simple as possible.
The aim of 4WS system is a better stability
Narrow roads: On narrow roads with tight during overtaking manoeuvres, reduction of vehicle
bends, counter-phase steering of the rear wheels oscillation around its vertical axis, reduced sensibility
minimizes the vehicle’s turning radius, thereby to lateral wind, neutral behaviour during cornering,
reducing side-to –side rotation of the steering etc., i.e. improvement of active safety.
wheels and making the vehicle easier to turn.
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