KINEMATIC SYNTHESIS OF CENTRAL-LEVER STEERING MECHANISM FOR FOUR WHEEL VEHICLES

Abstract

A central lever steering mechanism has been synthesized to obtain five precision points for a four-wheel vehicle using Hooke and Jeeves optimization method. This compound mechanism has been studied as two identical crossed four-bar mechanisms arranged in series. The optimization has been carried out for one crossed four-bar mechanism only instead of the entire mechanism. The number of design parameters considered for the optimization is two. The inner wheel has been considered to rotate up to 52 degrees. The steering error, pressure angle and mechanical advantage of the proposed mechanism have been compared with those achieved by the Ackermann steering mechanism. The proposed mechanism has less steering error, more favourable pressure angle and increased mechanical advantage. The method of compounding the mechanism is also applicable when the central lever is offset from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.