Abstract: In a front suspension device for an automotive vehicle, in which wheel support members of right and left front wheels are coupled with each other via a steering unit, outer ends of two lower arms are pivotally attached to the wheel support members, and inner ends of two lower arms are pivotally attached to a vehicle body via a resilient member, there are provided a damping device equipped with a coil spring and attached to one of the two lower arms at its lower end and to the vehicle body at its upper end respectively, and a suppression (rotational torque absorption) device for suppressing a toe-change of the front wheels caused by a rotational torque applied according to extension and contraction of the coil spring of the damping device.

Abstract: In a front suspension device for an automotive vehicle, in which wheel support members of right and left front wheels are coupled with each other via a steering unit, outer ends of two lower arms are pivotally attached to the wheel support members, and inner ends of two lower arms are pivotally attached to a vehicle body via a resilient member, there are provided a damping device equipped with a coil spring and attached to one of the two lower arms at its lower end and to the vehicle body at its upper end respectively, and a suppression (rotational torque absorption) device for suppressing a toe-change of the front wheels caused by a rotational torque applied according to extension and contraction of the coil spring of the damping device.

Abstract: In a four-wheel steering system for a vehicle, a rear wheel turning mechanism for turning the rear wheels is controlled so that the ratio of the rear wheel turning angle to the front wheel turning angle changes with change in the vehicle speed. The ratio of the rear wheel turning angle to the front wheel turning angle is set so that the vehicle lateral acceleration response characteristics and the vehicle heading response characteristics generated by operation of the steering wheel approximate each other as far as possible.

Abstract: A steering mechanism of a vehicle including a front wheel steering mechanism for steering front wheels of the vehicle, a steering wheel wheel for effecting a steering movement of the front wheel steering mechanism to a desired angle, a rear wheel steering mechanism for steering rear wheels of the vehicle, a control unit for effecting a steering movement of the rear wheel steering mechanism in relation with the steering movement of the front wheels. The arrangement is such that a ratio of the steering angle of the rear wheel to the steering angle of the front wheel is increased in the same direction of steering as the steered direction of the front wheels as the rate of the steering operation for the steering wheel is increased so as to obtain a desirable steering movement of the rear wheels.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system for a vehicle comprises a steering wheel, a front wheel turning mechanism for turning the front wheels in response to operation of the steering wheel, a rear wheel turning mechanism including a rear wheel steering ratio determining circuit for determining the rear wheel steering ratio and an actuator for turning the rear wheels according to the rear wheel steering ratio determined by the rear wheel steering ratio determining circuit. The four-wheel steering system is provided with a road condition sensor for detecting road surface conditions which can weaken the road gripping force of the wheels and a rear wheel steering ratio controller for changing the rear wheel steering ratio determined by the rear wheel steering ratio determining circuit so that the rear wheel steering ratio is increased when the road condition is such that the road gripping force of the wheels can be weakened.

Abstract: A vehicle four wheel steering system including a rear wheel steering mechanism with a power assist device. The rear wheel steering mechanism includes a steering rod extending transversely of the vehicle and having the opposite ends connected with tie rods which are in turn connected with knuckle arms of the rear wheels. The steering rod is provided with a power cylinder in which a piston is slidably disposed. The piston is provided on the steering rod and defines hydraulic chambers in the cylinder. A control valve is provided to control hydraulic oil supply to the power cylinder. The control valve has a casing which is connected with the steering rod through an interconnecting section and hydraulic oil passages are formed in the interconnecting section for passing hydraulic oil to and from the power cylinder.

Abstract: A steering mechanism of a vehicle including a front wheel steering mechanism for steering front wheels of the vehicle, a steering handle wheel for effecting a steering movement of the front wheel steering mechanism to a desired angle, a rear wheel steering mechanism for steering rear wheels of the vehicle, a control circuit for effecting a steering movement of the rear wheel steering mechanism in relation with the steering movement of the front wheels. The arrangement is such that a ratio of the steering angle of the rear wheel to the steering angle of the front wheel as considered in the same direction of steering is increased in accordance with an increase in the steered angle of the front wheel.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system comprises a steering wheel; a steering shaft which is connected to the steering wheel to be rotated in response to operation of the steering wheel and is provided with a first pinion fixedly mounted thereon; a rack bar which is supported for sliding motion in the transverse direction of the vehicle body, is provided with a first rack gear in mesh with the first pinion and a second rack gear, and is connected to the right and left front wheels by way of tie rods, a rear wheel turning force taking-out mechanism which includes a second pinion in mesh with the second rack gear on the rack bar and a rod member connected to the second pinion, and which converts the sliding motion of the rack bar into rotation of the rod member; and a rear wheel turning mechanism which is arranged to turn the rear wheels in response to rotation of the rod member.

Abstract: In a four-wheel steering apparatus of a vehicle for steering also the rear wheels in conformity with the steering of the front wheels by a steering wheel, a control force for a rear wheel steering device is mechanically taken out from a front wheel steering device and is suitably controlled in the intermediate portion and is transmitted as a steering control force to the rear wheel steering device, whereby the front wheels and the rear wheels are steered in the same direction when the absolute value of the steering angle of the front wheels is less than a predetermined value, and the rear wheels are steered in the direction reverse to the front wheels when the absolute value is greater than the predetermined value.

Abstract: The rear wheels of a vehicle are turned in response to the turning of the front wheels upon operation of the steering wheel. A rack member is provided to be operatively connected with a movable member of the front wheel steering system which is moved right and left in response to operation of the steering wheel so that the rack member is moved together with the movable member. The rack member is in mesh with a pinion fixed to an end of an output shaft whose rotation is transmitted to the rear wheel steering system as steering force for moving it by way of a transmission shaft.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system for a vehicle has a rear wheel steering ratio changing means which changes the rear wheel steering ratio in accordance with rear wheel steering ratio characteristics predetermined according to the vehicle speed, and an inhibiting means which inhibits the rear wheel steering ratio changing means from changing the rear wheel steering ratio when the steering wheel is turned right or left from its neutral position.