h a l f b a k e r yRomantic, but doomed to fail.
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A hand control, when engaged, causes the rear wheels to turn to the same angle and direction as the front wheels. This would allow the driver to park in tighter spaces because, as he moves back and forth, she would not have to straighten out each time. As the car moves sideways, it maintains the same
orientation. For safety's sake, the car would revert automatically to conventual steering when not in use.
4WS
http://en.wikipedia...Four-wheel_steering [AbsintheWithoutLeave, Jan 14 2010]
swing bike
http://www.swingbik...e_rider_gallery.htm Two wheel steering [pocmloc, Jan 14 2010]
conventual steering
http://74.125.93.13...hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us [mouseposture, Jan 15 2010]
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You googled for this, didn't you? |
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I wish I could bone this twice, once for the bakedness and once for the bad design, as if both wheels turned the same, it would be impossible to parallel park. (--) |
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//For safety's sake, the car would revert automatically to conventual steering when not in use// Shirley it matters not what steering system is engaged when the car is not in use? You could have one wheel steered by a rope, and the other 3 castoring. As long as the handbrake was firmly engaged. |
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The Honda Prelude system was very clever: small steering input turned the rear wheels the same direction, to 'crab' the vehicle at speed. Medium steering input straightened the rear wheels again, and large input made the rear wheels turn opposite to the front for super small turning circle - ideal for parking and other slow manouvering. All done with mechanical linkages, no fancy flybywire computer nonsense back in them days. I think there may even have been compensation for the front Ackermann as well. |
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Also I have seen lorry trailers with steering rear wheels, they turn opposite to the front for manouverability. I think they steer automatically like linked castors though. I have seen WW2 era models of tank transporters and similar low loaders with a second steering wheel at the back. |
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On checking the cited websites, I saw that they apparently referred to rear wheels turning in a direction opposite to that of the front. I suggested that they they be made to turn in the same direction, that way, the car would remain parallel to the curb as it moved closer. I don't see why it wouldn't work, but, if not, it would certainly work with 4 wheel drive. Also, when I said it would revert to conventional steering when shut off, I, of course meant that the steering would be in that default condition when restarting.
I see now that brevity is the soul of confusion, not wit. I'll try to be more long winded in the future. |
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[marked-for-deletion] widely known to exist |
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Suggestion: rename the idea. Maybe something like "Parallel Four-wheel Steering." |
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the "parallel" part is baked in the Honda/Acura: on the highway you can crab over to the next lane. Not sure if it worked for parking though: I imagine a dash-mounted lever would suffice; never owned one of them though, so I'm not sure. |
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Sometime in the mid-90's, makers of SUV's and other large vehicles experimented with exactly this, making 4 wheel steering that had the rear wheels turn opposite the front at low speeds and high angles and in the same direction at high speeds and low angles. |
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