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The steering pivot points [clarification needed] are joined by a rigid bar called the tie rod, which can also be part of the steering mechanism, in the form of a rack and pinion for instance. With perfect Ackermann, at any angle of steering, the centre point of all of the circles traced by all wheels will lie at a common point.
In Europe the universal joint is often called the Cardano joint (and a drive shaft that uses the joints, a Cardan shaft), after the 16th century Italian mathematician, Gerolamo Cardano, who was an early writer on gimbals, although his writings mentioned only gimbal mountings, not universal joints.
Universal joints let the shaft keep rotating while allowing for changes due to suspension movement, such as shaft length and horizontal angle, and shaft angle as the steering turns. Constant-velocity universal joints are normally used to transfer power smoothly between the components. The inner universal can be a plunge or tripod type joint.
Modern vehicles are fitted with a steering lock which is an anti-theft device.It is fitted to the steering column usually below the steering wheel. The lock is combined with the ignition switch and engaged and disengaged either by a mechanical ignition key or electronically from the vehicles electronic control unit.
The patent drawings show an automobile with a complicated arrangement of gears and shafts that provided a crude form of four-wheel drive and power-steering. [2] Figure 2. 1902 Twyford Stanhope. For four-wheel drive, the drawings have a shaft going the complete length of the chassis, which has two sets of friction clutches. One friction clutch ...
The wheel and tire assembly attach to the hub or spindle of the knuckle where the tire/wheel rotates while being held in a stable plane of motion by the knuckle/suspension assembly. In the attached photograph of a double-wishbone suspension, the knuckle is shown attached to the upper control arm at the top and the lower control arm at the bottom.
The steering linkage which connects the steering gearbox to the front wheels consists of a number of rods. These rods are connected with a socket arrangement similar to a ball joint, called a tie rod end, allowing the linkage to move back and forth freely so that the steering effort will not interfere with the vehicles up-and-down motion as the ...
Also, although universal joints are simple to produce and can withstand large forces, universal joints often become "notchy" and difficult to rotate as the angle of operation increases. The first type of constant-velocity joint was the Double Hooke's (Double Cardan) Joint which was invented by Robert Hooke in the 17th century. This design uses ...