Vehicle steering mechanism
A steering mechanism of a vehicle has a suspension arm, and steering acceleration gear mechanisms for steering left and right front wheels provided to either end of the suspension arm. A portion of the suspension arm protrudes further forwardly of the vehicle than the steering acceleration gear mechanisms, so that the steering acceleration gear mechanisms including knuckle arms are protected from obstructions.
1. A steering mechanism comprising:
a suspension arm extending laterally of a vehicle; and
steering acceleration gear mechanisms mounted on left and right ends of the suspension arm designed to steer wheels via a force from a steering wheel of the vehicle,
wherein each of the steering acceleration gear mechanisms has an input gear mounted on a left or right end of the suspension arm, an output gear that meshes with the input gear and has a smaller radius than that of the input gear, and a knuckle arm to which the force from the steering wheel is transmitted to rotate the input gear,
the suspension arm has a portion that protrudes further forwardly of the vehicle than the steering acceleration gear mechanisms,
the suspension arm has a central arm part designed to be connected to a frame of the vehicle, and side arm parts mounted to left and right ends of the central arm part,
the side arm parts are U-shaped as viewed in top plan so as to provide clearance around the knuckle arm,
one leg part of each said side arm part is mounted to an input bearing boss accommodating an input shaft which is a rotational center of the associated input gear,
another leg part of each said side arm part is mounted to an output bearing boss accommodating an output shaft which is a rotational center of the associated output gear, and
the side arm parts protrude further forwardly of the vehicle than the steering acceleration gear mechanisms.
2. The steering mechanism of claim 1 , wherein each said knuckle arm is disposed in a space formed closely to a lower end of the associated input bearing boss between the input bearing boss and the associated output bearing boss.
3. The steering mechanism of claim 1 , wherein each said side arm part has a lower end located at a position equivalent to a heightwise position from the ground of the associated knuckle arm.
4. The steering mechanism of claim 1 , wherein each said knuckle arm is disposed at a position below the associated steering acceleration gear mechanism.
5. The steering mechanism of claim 1 , wherein pockets are formed rearwardly of protruding portions of the side arm parts and the knuckle arms are disposed within the pockets, respectively.