Caster angle

Abstract: A tilting, preferably three-wheeled, vehicle is disclosed that has a tilting mechanism that allows the vehicle to have leaning characteristics substantially similar to those offered by an in-line two-wheeled vehicle, but that does not require complex linkages and/or control systems to operate effectively. A tilting linkage is operably secured to a frame to allow a pair of spaced apart wheels to remain substantially aligned with the plane of the vehicle throughout its range of movement while still allowing the steering axes of each wheel to intersect the substantially vertical centerline of each wheel. The linkage also allows the caster angle of each wheel's pivot axis can be optimized independently of the angle of the vehicle's handlebar steering shaft.

Abstract: The main purpose of this paper is to propose a new nonlinear model of the Macpherson strut suspension system for ride control applications. The model includes the vertical acceleration of the sprung mass and incorporates the suspension linkage kinematics. This two-degree-of-freedom (DOF) model not only provides a more accurate representation of the Macpherson suspension system for control applications in order to improve the ride quality, but also facilitates evaluation of the suspension kinematic parameters, such as camber, caster and king-pin angles as well as track alterations on the ride vibrations. The performances of the nonlinear and linearised models are investigated and compared with those of the conventional model. Besides, it is shown that the semi-active force improves the ride quality better than active force, while the opposite is true in terms of improving the performance of the kinematic parameters. The results of variations of the kinematic parameters based on the linear model subject to ...

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining camber and caster of a vehicle wheel in which the camber angle is determined in a manner that accounts for the influence of any existing toe angle. This is accomplished by detecting the displacement of one or more points located fore or aft of the wheel's vertical measurement plane and then making a correction to these displacements to account for influence of the toe angle. The apparatus includes a laser that projects shaped light onto the sidewall of the tire at a location offset from the normal upper measurement position. The shaped light illuminates an offset measurement point on the tire sidewall and an optical sensor detects the reflected image. A computer then determines the location of the measurement point within the two-dimensional image space of the optical sensor. Trigonometric equations utilizing the toe angle are then used to determine the horizontal displacement within the vertical measurement plane of this offset measurement point from the tire center or other reference point. Once this horizontal displacement is known, the camber can be determined mathematically using a known trigonometric relationship. By determining the camber angle at left and right steered toe angle, the caster angle of the wheel can the be determined.

Abstract: An independent steering suspension for a steering vehicle wheel, including: a carrier for supporting the steering vehicle wheel; a knuckle for supporting the carrier to be angularly movable relative thereto about a steering axis; upper and lower arms mounted laterally between upper and lower portions of the knuckle and opposing portions of the vehicle body, respectively, the upper and lower arms each having a general plan configuration selected from alphabetic letters A, L, T and Y to have a broad end corresponding to the bottom of A or L or the top of T or Y and a narrow end corresponding to the top of A or L or the bottom of T or Y and being pivotably connected with the knuckle upper or lower portion at the broad end and with the vehicle body at the narrow end; a steering device mounted between the carrier and the vehicle body to variably determine an angular position of the carrier about the steering axis; and a damper and spring mounted between the knuckle and the vehicle body.