Electromechanical apparatuses for controlling vehicle suspension settings. Described herein are electromechanical apparatuses for controlling wheel alignment (e.g., camber, castor and/or toe). In particular, described herein are camber adjusting apparatuses for electromechanically adjusting camber or camber and toe that may be retrofitted onto existing vehicle suspensions.

Electromechanical apparatuses for controlling vehicle suspension settings. Described herein are electromechanical apparatuses for controlling wheel alignment (e.g., camber, castor and/or toe). In particular, described herein are camber adjusting apparatuses for electromechanically adjusting camber or camber and toe that may be retrofitted onto existing vehicle suspensions.

Provided is a turning function-equipped having a reduced size and having improved strength to an external shock force and improved reliability. The turning function-equipped hub unit includes: a hub unit main body; a unit support member; and a turning actuator. The unit support member is provided to a chassis frame component. The unit support member includes an abutment part with which a part of the hub unit main body is brought into abutment in a vertical direction during non-normal time, the abutment part being separated from the hub unit main body in the vertical direction during normal time, and the non-normal time in which the abutment is caused, is a time when an impact load equal to or greater than a predetermined value acts on the hub unit main body in the vertical direction due to an external force from the wheel.

A suspension system for a vehicle includes a wheel carriage assembly, a gear box, and steering and caster subsystems. The wheel carriage assembly and the steering and caster subsystems are pivotable with respect to one another via the gear box. The gear box pivotably couples the steering and caster subsystems to the wheel carriage assembly by rotatable arms such that translational motion applied by actuators and/or motors is transferred between the steering and caster subsystems and the wheel carriage assembly via the gear box. In addition, the wheel carriage assembly and the gear box are pivotable with respect to a chassis of the vehicle via the steering and caster subsystems via actuators and motors. Sensors are provided throughout the suspension system to provide input to a controller that outputs instructions to the actuators and/or motors, allowing the suspension system to actively adjust the pitch and roll of the vehicle.

A suspension system for a vehicle includes a wheel carriage assembly, a gear box, and steering and caster subsystems. The wheel carriage assembly and the steering and caster subsystems are pivotable with respect to one another via the gear box. The gear box pivotably couples the steering and caster subsystems to the wheel carriage assembly by rotatable arms such that translational motion applied by actuators and/or motors is transferred between the steering and caster subsystems and the wheel carriage assembly via the gear box. In addition, the wheel carriage assembly and the gear box are pivotable with respect to a chassis of the vehicle via the steering and caster subsystems via actuators and motors. Sensors are provided throughout the suspension system to provide input to a controller that outputs instructions to the actuators and/or motors, allowing the suspension system to actively adjust the pitch and roll of the vehicle.

A vehicle steering system for a compact mobile elevating work platform (“MEWP”) or other vehicle and a method for dynamically determining independent wheel steering angles such that a predetermined steering geometry between steerable wheels of the vehicle are described. The steering system determines coordination of the independent wheels based on angle differences of the steerable wheels. The independent master and follower wheels of the present system are not mechanically linked, and the absence of mechanical linkages between the independent steerable wheels allows for efficiency of spatial efficiency and steering geometry accuracy. The independent operation facilitates accommodation of the steering actuators into confined lateral compartments, which itself enables the machine lifting mechanism to occupy a space hitherto used for a mechanical steering connection between the wheel assemblies.

A vehicle steering system for a compact mobile elevating work platform (“MEWP”) or other vehicle and a method for dynamically determining independent wheel steering angles such that a predetermined steering geometry between steerable wheels of the vehicle are described. The steering system determines coordination of the independent wheels based on angle differences of the steerable wheels. The independent master and follower wheels of the present system are not mechanically linked, and the absence of mechanical linkages between the independent steerable wheels allows for efficiency of spatial efficiency and steering geometry accuracy. The independent operation facilitates accommodation of the steering actuators into confined lateral compartments, which itself enables the machine lifting mechanism to occupy a space hitherto used for a mechanical steering connection between the wheel assemblies.

This arm support structure is equipped with: a bracket on which base end section of an arm of a suspension device is positioned between a pair of facing walls which face one another at a distance in vehicle chassis front-rear direction; axial support members which axially support the base end section on the bracket, by being inserted into long holes formed to pass through facing walls and through-holes formed to pass through the base end section; eccentric plate members which are formed in a circular shape and capable of integrally rotating with axial support members, and have an engaging hole capable of engaging an axial support member formed to pass therethrough at a location offset in radial direction from the circular center thereof; and a plurality of contact parts which contact the circumferential edge of the eccentric plate members, and rotatably support the eccentric plate members.

This arm support structure is equipped with: a bracket on which base end section of an arm of a suspension device is positioned between a pair of facing walls which face one another at a distance in vehicle chassis front-rear direction; axial support members which axially support the base end section on the bracket, by being inserted into long holes formed to pass through facing walls and through-holes formed to pass through the base end section; eccentric plate members which are formed in a circular shape and capable of integrally rotating with axial support members, and have an engaging hole capable of engaging an axial support member formed to pass therethrough at a location offset in radial direction from the circular center thereof; and a plurality of contact parts which contact the circumferential edge of the eccentric plate members, and rotatably support the eccentric plate members.

A steering device includes a steering power unit, a transmission unit, an upper control arm, a steering element, an eccentric bolt and a steering knuckle. The steering power unit has at least one torque-output end. The transmission unit is connected with the torque-output end. The steering element is connected with the transmission unit. The eccentric bolt, installed at the upper control arm, is connected with the steering power unit. The steering knuckle, mounted to a wheel disc, is connected with the steering element and the upper control arm, and used for controlling the wheel disc. The steering power unit drives the steering element to push or pull the steering knuckle for controlling a turning angle, and simultaneously drives the eccentric bolt to have the upper control arm to push or pull the steering knuckle for varying a camber angle of the wheel disc. In addition, a steering method is provided.