초록 ▼

A steering mechanism for a model vehicle is provided, having one or more steering actuators, a steering control arm pivotally mounted for rotation relative to a model vehicle chassis, the steering control arm being coupled directly to at least two tie rods, each tie rod controlling the steering of a

A steering mechanism for a model vehicle is provided, having one or more steering actuators, a steering control arm pivotally mounted for rotation relative to a model vehicle chassis, the steering control arm being coupled directly to at least two tie rods, each tie rod controlling the steering of at least one wheel of a vehicle, and each of the one or more steering actuators coupled to the steering control arm to rotate the control arm relative to the vehicle chassis.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A toy model vehicle steering mechanism, comprising: one or more steering actuators; a steering control arm pivotally mounted to a toy model vehicle chassis substantially on a chassis longitudinal centerline for rotation relative to the toy model vehicle chassis, the ste

The invention claimed is: 1. A toy model vehicle steering mechanism, comprising: one or more steering actuators; a steering control arm pivotally mounted to a toy model vehicle chassis substantially on a chassis longitudinal centerline for rotation relative to the toy model vehicle chassis, the steering control arm being coupled directly to at least two tie rods, each tie rod controlling the steering of at least one wheel of the toy model vehicle; each of the one or more steering actuators being coupled to the steering control arm to rotate the steering control arm relative to the toy model vehicle chassis; and a transmission drive shaft rotatably coupled to at least one wheel for driving the at least one wheel of the toy model vehicle, the transmission drive shaft positioned above the steering control arm, relative to the chassis, and between the couplings of the steering actuators to the steering control arm. 2. The steering mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a torque or force limiting mechanism operating between at least one steered wheel of the vehicle and the one or more steering actuators for limiting the transfer load from the at least one steered wheel to the one or more steering_actuators, whereby the one or more steering actuators are protected from being damaged by torque and force applied to the at least one steered wheel. 3. The steering mechanism of claim 1, further comprising at least two steering actuators rotating the steering_control arm relative to the vehicle chassis. 4. The steering mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least two steering actuators operate in opposite directions to rotate the steering control arm relative to the toy model vehicle chassis. 5. The steering mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more steering actuators is coupled to the steering control arm at a position displaced from the axis of rotation of the steering control arm relative to the toy model vehicle chassis, to rotate the steering control arm upon actuation of the coupled steering actuator. 6. The steering mechanism of claim 5, further comprising at least one member coupling at least one of the one or more steering actuators to the steering control arm, to rotate the steering control arm relative to the toy model vehicle chassis upon actuation of the at least one steering actuator. 7. The steering mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least two steering actuators are each coupled to the steering control arm at a position displaced from the axis of rotation of the steering control arm relative to the toy model vehicle chassis, to rotate the control arm upon actuation of the coupled steering actuators. 8. The steering mechanism of claim 7, further comprising one or more members coupling the at least two steering actuators to the steering control arm, to rotate the steering control arm relative to the frame upon actuation of the steering actuators. 9. The steering mechanism of claim 5, wherein the one or more steering actuators comprise at least one servo actuator. 10. The steering mechanism of claim 8, wherein each of the at least two steering actuators comprises a servo actuator. 11. The steering mechanism of claim 10, wherein the at least two steering actuators are positioned on opposite sides of the chassis longitudinal centerline of the toy model vehicle. 12. The steering mechanism of claim 2, wherein the torque or force limiting mechanism comprises: at least one spring; and wherein the spring operates to urge the steering control arm toward a desired steering angle of the at least one steered wheel of the toy model vehicle. 13. The steering mechanism of claim 12, wherein the torque or force limiting mechanism further comprises: a first cam surface of the steering control arm cooperating with the at least one spring to urge the steering control arm toward a desired steering angle of the at least one steered wheel of the toy model vehicle. 14. The steering mechanism of claim 13, wherein the spring comprises a conical spring having a central axis in substantial alignment with the rotational axis of the steering control arm. 15. The steering mechanism of claim 14, wherein the spring urges at least a portion of the steering control arm toward the first cam surface, to urge the steering control arm toward a desired steering angle of the at least one steered wheel of the toy model vehicle. 16. The steering mechanism of claim 15, further comprising: a second cam surface of the steering control arm mating with at least a portion of the first cam surface; and wherein the steering control arm is positioned at a desired steering angle of the at least one steered wheel of the toy model vehicle when at least a portion of the first and second cam surfaces are mated. 17. The steering mechanism of claim 1, wherein the steering control arm further comprises: an actuator arm coupled to at least one of the one or more steering actuators; the actuator arm being offset at the axis of pivotal rotation of the steering control arm downwardly from the point of coupling to the at least one or more steering actuators relative to the toy model vehicle chassis, to provide clearance for the transmission drive shaft above the steering control arm. 18. The steering mechanism of claim 17, wherein at least one of the one or more steering actuators is secured to the toy model vehicle chassis and extends upwardly and inwardly relative to the chassis. 19. The steering mechanism of claim 18, wherein the toy model vehicle chassis comprises a steering actuator support surface positioned lower and outboard of a central portion of the toy model vehicle chassis and sloped upwardly and outwardly relative to the central portion of the toy model vehicle chassis, the steering actuator support surface providing clearance above the steering control arm for the transmission drive shaft. 20. The steering mechanism of claim 1, wherein the steering control arm further comprises an actuator shock protector for limiting the transmission of forces received from the at least one steered wheel of the vehicle to the one or more steering actuators. 21. A steering mechanism for a toy model vehicle, comprising: a vehicle chassis; a suspension arm supported on the chassis by a first pivot for substantially vertical pivotal movement relative to the chassis; a wheel supported by the suspension arm for steering the vehicle; a steering control arm supported on the chassis for substantially horizontal pivotal movement about an arm pivot axis relative to the chassis, the steering control arm having a neutral steer position in which the wheel directs the vehicle in a heading substantially straight ahead; a tie rod for steering the wheel, the tie rod pivotally secured to the steering control arm by a second pivot for substantially vertical pivotal movement relative to the chassis; wherein the first and second pivots are substantially vertically aligned relative to the chassis when the control arm is in the neutral steer position; and a transmission drive shaft positioned above the first pivot and the second pivot, relative to the chassis, wherein the transmission drive shaft is rotatably coupled to at least one wheel for driving the at least one wheel of the vehicle. 22. The steering mechanism of claim 21, wherein the wheel has a range of travel of at least about 1 cm. 23. The steering mechanism of claim 22, wherein the wheel has a range of travel of at least about 2.5 cm. 24. The steering mechanism of claim 21, wherein the toy model vehicle is an off-road type vehicle configured for use over adverse terrain. 25. The steering mechanism of claim 21, wherein the suspension arm and the tie rod are of substantially the same length. 26. The steering mechanism of claim 21, wherein the transmission drive shaft substantially intersects the arm pivot axis of the steering control arm. 27. A steering mechanism for a toy model vehicle, comprising: a vehicle chassis; a plurality of suspension arms, each supported on opposite sides of the chassis for substantially vertical pivotal movement relative to the chassis; a plurality of wheels, wherein each of the wheels is supported by one of the suspension arms for steering the toy model vehicle; a steering control arm pivotally supported on the chassis substantially on a chassis longitudinal centerline for substantially horizontal pivotal movement about an arm pivot axis relative to the chassis; a plurality of tie rods coupled to the steering control arm for steering the plurality of wheels and extending in substantially opposite directions, each tie rod supported by the steering control arm for substantially vertical pivotal movement relative to the chassis and for inboard and outboard actuation by the steering control arm to steer the plurality of wheels; and wherein the outboard end of the suspension arms each has a range of travel of at least about 1 cm. of vertical displacement; and a transmission drive shaft rotatably coupled to at least one wheel for driving the at least one wheel of the toy model vehicle, the transmission drive shaft positioned above the steering control arm, relative to the chassis. 28. The steering mechanism of claim 27, wherein the outboard end of the suspension arms each has a range of travel of at least about 2.5 cm. of vertical displacement. 29. The steering mechanism of claim 27, wherein the toy model vehicle is an off-road type vehicle configured for use over adverse terrain. 30. The steering mechanism of claim 27, wherein the outboard end of the suspension arms each has a range of travel of at least about 2 cm. of vertical displacement. 31. The steering mechanism of claim 27, wherein the transmission drive shaft substantially intersects the arm pivot axis of the steering control arm. 32. A steering mechanism for a toy model vehicle, comprising: an actuator link member for coupling to one or more steering actuators; a steering member for coupling to one or more steered wheels; the actuator link member and the steering member having one or more mating surfaces for engaging and transmitting a steering force or steering torque from one or more steering actuators to one or more steered wheels; and a spring for urging the mating surfaces of the actuator link member and the steering member into engagement, wherein at least a portion of the spring is conically shaped to allow a plurality of coils to nest as the spring compresses, thereby reducing the space required for housing the spring. 33. The steering mechanism of claim 32, wherein the actuator link member is mounted for pivotal movement about a rotational axis upon actuation by one or more steering actuators, wherein the steering member is mounted for pivotal movement with the actuator link member about the rotational axis when the mating surfaces are engaged, and wherein the plurality of coils of the spring surround the rotational axis and urge the mating surfaces of the actuator link member and the steering member into engagement. 34. The steering mechanism of claim 32, further comprising a vehicle chassis supporting the actuator link member and the steering member; a transmission drive shaft for driving one or more steered wheels; and wherein portions of the actuator link member and steering member adjacent the rotational axis are disposed below the chassis by a predetermined clearance; and wherein the transmission drive shaft extends between the chassis and the predetermined clearance between the actuator link member and the steering member. 35. The steering mechanism of claim 34, wherein the transmission drive shaft extends substantially through the rotational axis of the actuator link member and the steering member. 36. A toy model vehicle, comprising: a chassis; one or more steering actuators supported by the chassis; a plurality of steered wheels; a steering mechanism for transmitting movement of the one or more steering actuators to at least one of the plurality of steered wheels; a support member supporting the steering mechanism on the chassis, the support member being offset downwardly relative to and away from the chassis to define a space above the steering mechanism and between the chassis and the steering mechanism; and a transmission drive shaft rotatably coupled to at least one of the plurality of steered wheels for driving at least one steered wheel, wherein the transmission drive shaft extends through the space between the chassis and the steering mechanism. 37. The toy model vehicle of claim 36, wherein the space and the transmission drive shaft are disposed substantially along the centerline of the chassis. 38. The toy model vehicle of claim 36, further comprising a pivot pin securing at least a portion of the steering mechanism to the support member for rotation, wherein the pivot pin does not extend into the space between the chassis and the steering mechanism. 39. The toy model vehicle of claim 36, wherein the steering mechanism further comprises an actuator shock protector for limiting the transmission of forces received from the at least one of a plurality of steered wheels to the one or more steering actuators. 40. A toy model vehicle, comprising: a chassis; a steering mechanism comprising a steering control arm for steering one or more steered wheels supporting the chassis, the steering mechanism further comprising a pivot pin mounted on a support member, wherein the support member is offset downwardly relative to and away from the chassis to define a space above the steering mechanism and between the chassis and the steering mechanism; wherein at least a portion of the steering control arm is mounted on the pivot pin for pivotal movement of the steering control arm; and a transmission drive shaft rotatably coupled to the one or more steered wheels, at least a portion of which extends through the space between the steering mechanism and the chassis. 41. The toy model vehicle of claim 40, wherein the pivot pin does not extend into contact with the drive shaft. 42. The toy model vehicle of claim 40, further comprising a mechanism for limiting the forces transmitted by the steering mechanism to and from the one or more steered wheels. 43. A toy model vehicle steering mechanism, comprising: one or more steering actuators; a steering control arm pivotally mounted to a toy model vehicle chassis substantially on a chassis longitudinal centerline for rotation relative to the toy model vehicle chassis, the steering control arm being coupled directly to at least two tie rods, each tie rod controlling the steering of at least one wheel of the toy model vehicle; each of the one or more steering actuators being coupled to the steering control arm to rotate the steering control arm relative to the toy model vehicle chassis; and a transmission drive shaft rotatably coupled to at least one wheel for driving the at least one wheel of the toy model vehicle, the transmission drive shaft positioned above the steering control arm, relative to the chassis.