Search Results

The toe-change of road-wheel, so-called compliance-steer(CS), caused by suspension compliance is proved to occur around a steady instantaneous center under steady run at constant speed. The adverse/proverse CS, that increases/decreases the side-slip angle versus the velocity vector of vehicle, is realized by locating the center rearward/forward of the axle. By designing the front/rear wheel CS as a proverse/adverse CS with nonlinear compliance that is large at on-center but small at off-center, vehicle characteristics to reduce lateral deviation caused by disturbance and to improve tracking performance are possible.

The running direction of a vehicle can be controlled by not only wheel steer but also torque steer. This paper introduces the tractive torque steer effect produced by a newly developed electropneumatic control system, the limited-slip differential for large-sized vehicles. This system enhances the vehicle's running stability and controllability by controlling the tractive force of the drive axle. The tractive force maintains a stable running course against disturbances such as road roughness and wind gusts, thereby enhancing the steering response and providing a better feeling of handling to the driver. The system also improves mobility. especially on low-μ roads. It is expected that a single axle equipped with this system will exhibit good performance comparable to that of tandem axle.

A driving simulator system for developing steering road feel has been developed. A new steering gear box or an electronic steering system is installed on the simulator and its road feel and control algorithm are developed according to the characteristics of any vehicle which has been programed into the engineering work-station. The vehicle model programed into the engineering work station runs according to the driver's operations, which are fed through the new steering system to be tested. The steer-restoring torque of the vehicle programed into the engineering work-station is produced by an actuator, and gives the impression through the new system of having been fed back from an actual road.

Hino Motors had developed an electronically controlled mechanical automatic transmission and employed it for the ′85 models of large size buses, and also ′86 models of heavy/ medium duty trucks. This system gives minimum fuel consumption and even smoother/easier driving than an automatic transmission with torque converter, by controlling an engine also with a transmission and employing an oil spray clutch. The trade name of this system is EE-Drive which means easy and economy drive.