Steering wheel with airbag removed.

Steering wheel (steering wheel, rudder)- a device for controlling the movement of a car or ship in a given direction.

Steering wheels are used in most modern land vehicles, including all cars mass production, light and heavy trucks. The steering wheel is the part of the control system that is directly affected by the driver; the rest of the system responds to driver-like inputs. This may be direct mechanical contact, as in a ball nut or rack and pinion mechanism, without or with a hydraulic booster, or as in automobiles modern production using computer-controlled drives known as electric power steering. With the introduction of federal vehicle regulations in the United States in 1968, Section 114 of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards required steering locks to make the vehicle more difficult to steal; In most cars, locking occurs after removing the key from the ignition.

On new cars, remote audio controls are often built into the steering wheel.

Story

The first cars were driven by hand crank, but in 1894 Alfred Vacheron took part in the Paris-Rouen race with a 4 hp Panhard model. s., which was equipped with a steering wheel. This is believed to be one of the earliest uses of such a control principle.

Since 1898, Panhard et Levassor cars have been equipped with a steering wheel as standard. Charles Stewart Rolls introduced Britain's first car equipped with a steering wheel when he imported a 6hp Panhard from France in 1898. p.. Arthur Konstantin Krebs replaced the crank with a tilt steering wheel for the Panhard car he designed for the Paris-Amsterdam race, held from July 7 to 13, 1898. In 1899, Packard used the steering wheel on the second car it built. Within a decade steering wheel completely replaced the handle.

Cars

The steering wheel for passenger cars is usually round and mounted on the steering column in a bushing attached to the outer ring of the steering wheel by one or more spokes (with one spoke - a rather rare exception). Other classes of cars may use a butterfly or some other shape. In countries with driving on the left The steering wheel is usually on right side car (right-hand drive layout); in countries with right-hand traffic vice versa (left-hand drive layout).

In addition to the control function, there is usually a feed button on the steering wheel sound signal. In addition to this, many modern cars may have other controls built into the steering wheel, such as cruise control and audio buttons. This is in order to minimize the distance the driver must reach.

In 1968, the United States regulations (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Standard No. 204) were amended to make it acceptable for the steering wheel to move to the rear of the vehicle in the event of an accident. To implement this standard, folding (energy-absorbing) steering columns were required.

Power steering makes it easier for the driver to control the car. The basis of a modern amplifier is almost always hydraulic system, Although electrical systems are steadily replacing this technology. Invented and mechanical systems reinforcements (eg Studebaker, 1952), but their great complexity and weight outweigh all the advantages.

None of the methods of driving a passenger car, obtained during various tests, was put into operation as successfully as the steering wheel.

Other developments

Some sports cars, such as the McLaren F1, and most have one seat racing cars, the steering wheel is located in the center of the cabin.

Since the driver can be behind the wheel for many hours, the steering wheel is designed taking into account ergonomics. However, more important is the task of efficient transmission of torque by the driver to the steering wheel, this is especially important where there is no power steering or in those in rare cases when control over it is lost. Typically, handlebars are made of steel or aluminum with plastic or rubberized grip areas molded over or around them. Some drivers order vinyl or cloth steering wheel covers to increase grip or comfort, or simply to improve appearance. Another device that serves to facilitate steering is an additional handle.

A similar device in aircraft is called a control stick. Watercraft steered by a helm probably inspired the concept of the steering wheel.

Banjo steering wheel

The Banjo handlebar was an addition to standard on many early cars. The wire spokes acted as a buffer or shock absorber between the driver's hands and road vibrations. In most cases there were 3 or 4 knitting needles, each made from four or five wires. Hence the names like musical instrument: "Banjo."

Tilt steering wheel
Designed by Edward James Lobdell, the seven-way tilt steering wheel was made available in 1963 in several products General Motors. Originally as luxury car option, the tilt function helps adjust the steering wheel by moving it up and down in an arc. The tilt steering wheel is based on a ratchet mechanism located on the steering column directly below the steering wheel. By removing the ratchet, you can adjust the steering wheel to point it up or down while steering column remains motionless. Some designs place the tilt axis slightly forward along the column, giving the steering wheel a lot of vertical travel with little actual deflection, while other designs place the axis almost inside the steering wheel, allowing the steering wheel angle to be adjusted with little or no change in height.

Telescopic steering wheel
Developed by General Motors, the telescoping steering wheel can be adjusted to an infinite number of positions over a three-inch range. This development was introduced as an exclusive option for Cadillac cars in 1965.

Adjustable steering column
In response to this, adjustable steering columns were introduced, which allowed for a small range of height adjustment, but more importantly, allowed the steering wheel to be adjusted in angle. Most of these systems worked with compression locks or electric motors, instead ratchet mechanism. The latter allows you to remember the settings and use them when the driver gets into the car or move the steering wheel away when you need to get in or out.

Steering wheel
Introduced in 1961 in the Ford Thunderbird and available in other vehicles throughout the 1960s. Ford models. The tilt steering wheel made it possible to move it 9 inches to the right in parking mode, which was very convenient for the driver to enter and exit the car.

Usage

The steering wheel must be used with guiding, rotating movements of the hands and rapid rotation with the help of the wrists. To ensure the safety of your limbs, you need to be careful and careful. Constantly used movements must be performed with caution. Remember the rule: “Proper hand position is extremely important. As a general rule, the wrist should not be bent, but should remain straight to avoid straining the tendons and compressing nerves and blood vessels.”

Taxiing techniques

Interception. It consists in the fact that when turning, the driver intercepts the steering wheel at certain points. As a rule, the hands are located at ten and two o'clock. Efficient technology for maneuvering in confined spaces.

Push-pull. Simplified version of the previous version. When entering a left turn, the left hand grabs the steering wheel from above and pulls it down, and the right hand slides down with opposite side, until it is on the same level as the left one. If further rotation is necessary, the right hand pushes the steering wheel up, and the left hand slides in the same direction, to a position where you can begin to pull the steering wheel down again.

Rotation technique (crossing arms). The driver does not move his hands, but simply turns the steering wheel, crossing his hands. This technique will allow you to constantly securely fix the steering wheel and control the car.

Turning the steering wheel while the vehicle is stationary is called dry steering. It is strongly recommended to avoid dry steering as it puts stress on the steering mechanism and causes severe wear on the tires.

Buttons and instruments on the steering wheel

The first button added to the steering wheel was the horn switch. Traditionally located on the steering wheel hub or center plate, the switch was sometimes located on the handle or activated through a trim ring, eliminating the need to reach far from the steering wheel rim. A further development was the "Rim Blow" handlebar, which had a horn switch inside its rim.

When speed control systems were introduced in the 1960s, some car manufacturers located the transmission control lever on the steering wheel. In the 1990s, the proliferation of new buttons began to appear on car steering wheels. Remote or alternative adjustment for audio system, telephone and sound control, acoustic repeat of last instruction navigation system, infotainment system and on-board computer You can control it comfortably and safely using the buttons on the steering wheel. This guarantees high standard additional security, since the driver can control many systems in this way without even taking his hands off the wheel and without taking his eyes off the road.

Scroll wheels can be used to change audio volume or select a menu item.

The steering audio control can use universal interfaces and adapters.

Every car enthusiast knows that the main thing in transportation is safety, and the key to success is this process indicates the serviceability of all systems vehicle. First of all, this statement concerns the braking system, because if it is faulty, then you will not be able to prevent a collision. However, the brake pedal is not the only one important detail. Also, along with braking system, traffic safety is achieved through steering, the principle of operation of which we will now discuss.

1. Why does a car need a steering wheel?

Steering A car is one of the most important life systems of any vehicle. It consists of a number of mechanisms, the operation of which is aimed at moving the car in the direction specified by the driver. As a rule, in passenger cars The wheels of the front axle can be controlled (kinematic method of turning), but sometimes, for better control over the car and more high level its controllability, the vehicle is made completely controllable. In this case, the driver controls not only the front axle, but can also control the wheels rear axle, that is, in relation to a given trajectory, they can deviate at a certain angle.

The steering design consists of a steering wheel, which is connected to the steering shaft using a steering mechanism and a corresponding drive. Sometimes the steering system includes power steering - hydraulic or electric. In fact, it is difficult to imagine a modern car without such an addition. All the work of this system is aimed at making us (drivers) feel as comfortable as possible. The amplifier helps a person actively steer, park, and turn sharply without putting in extra physical effort.

The entire steering mechanism is designed to transform the rotational force of the steering wheel shaft into a similar rotational force, but this time of the bipod shaft. That is, even without using it, the force applied by the driver increases significantly, which naturally makes it easier to control the vehicle.

The steering drive is a system of rods and levers, which, together with the steering mechanism, ensure the rotation of the car's wheels. As a result of its operation, the bipod moves the longitudinal rod forward (or backward), thereby forcing one wheel to turn, while the rotation of the second is ensured by the operation of the steering linkage (transmits turning torque). The latter is a kind of articulated four-link, the design of which includes a beam front axle, transverse Tie Rod, right and left lever of the steering linkage connected to swivel fists(steered wheels are mounted on them).

The presence of a steering linkage ensures rotation of the steered wheels: with internal rotation, the wheel rotates at a large angle, while with external rotation, the wheels roll without significant sliding. The difference in rotation angles is determined by the angle of inclination of the left and right trapezoid arms.

2. Steering prevention

To avoid problems on the road, every time before leaving the garage or parking lot, you should inspect your vehicle for breakdowns or inconsistencies in the operation of the systems. One of the most important is the steering system, malfunctions of which are fraught with more than serious troubles: imagine that while driving on a highway, you get stuck and you can no longer get off it, what do you think should be expected in this case? One thing is clear - nothing good, and if so, then it is better to do everything possible to avoid such a scenario.

In fact, there is nothing complicated here, the main thing is to carry out preventive measures in a timely manner. They include and daily inspection vehicle steering: diagnostics of the amount of free play of the steering wheel, external inspection of the steering gear housing seals (to predict the leakage of lubricant), and if the car has a hydraulic booster, then it would also be useful to monitor the tightness of the system connections and the reliability of the hydraulic booster pump. An equally important component of the preventive inspection is checking (adjusting) the air distributor present in the design of the pneumatic amplifier.

IN mandatory, the steering gear, tie rod ball pins, and bracket bolts are tightened to the car frame. Most often, the described actions are carried out during the first vehicle maintenance. In the future, they are also added to check the fastening of the steering bipod on the shaft, fastening ball pin , washing the power steering pump filter, checking the steering gear clearances. If the diagnostic results show that they are all outside the limits permissible norm

– make appropriate adjustments. Experts recommend that every 10,000 kilometers full check state To carry it out, it is advisable to contact the service station employees, otherwise you will have to ask a friend for help, since one person will not physically be able to cope. All necessary actions are carried out in the following sequence: the car is placed on inspection hole

or overpass; All parts of the steering mechanism are cleaned of dirt, after which the front wheels are set in a position corresponding to straight movement. Then, turning the steering wheel in different directions, check whether extraneous knocks in hinges, steering gear and all related connections; Are they securely fastened? bipod , bracket for the pendulum arm and gearbox housing; is it missing freewheel

in the pendulum arm bracket and rod joints; whether the worm shaft has moved along the axis. Also, external diagnostics makes it possible to check the cotter pins of the ball pin nuts, general state protective covers, and the presence of an oil leak from the steering gear housing. For a long time and stable operation the entire steering system, preventive measures – a mandatory phenomenon, since a thorough check of parts and mechanisms can prevent longer and expensive repairs

. However, in addition to prevention, the durability of steering components is also affected by driving style. Therefore, if you are a fan of “getting around”, then a professional vehicle inspection should be carried out much more often.

3. Weak spots of the steering

For example, an increase in steering play and the appearance of knocking noises may indicate loose fastenings of the crankcase, steering bipod or pendulum arm bracket.

The possibility of failure of the steering rod joints, bushings or transmission pair of the pendulum arm cannot be ruled out. A number of simple manipulations will help fix the problem: worn parts are replaced with new ones, after which all fasteners and gears are adjusted.

In some cases, when turning the steering wheel, excessive resistance is felt, as if someone is turning the steering wheel in the other direction, making it difficult to control the car. The reason for this phenomenon may be a violation of the ratio of the angles of the front wheels or the engagement of the transmission pair. In addition, stiff steering movement is often a consequence of lack of lubrication in the crankcase. In any case, after an appropriate inspection, it is necessary to eliminate the problem that has arisen: adjust the installation angles, add lubricant or adjust the gearing.

4. How the steering works

The operation of modern cars has largely become possible thanks to the components of the steering, which are represented by the steering wheel and steering column (shaft); steering mechanism; steering gear (equipped with either a power amplifier or shock absorbers). The steering wheel is located inside the vehicle and is located in such a way that it is convenient to grasp it with both hands. Its task is to change the direction of movement as soon as the driver wants it, as well as a certain information function: based on the magnitude of the effort and the nature of the vibrations, the driver receives the necessary data about the characteristics of the movement. The size of this part is not standard, which means that the diameter of the steering wheel for each car model can be individual. In two identical situations, it is easier to turn a steering wheel with a larger diameter, although maneuverability in this case is significantly reduced. Nowadays, the size of the steering wheel produced passenger cars lies within 380-425 mm , heavy – trucks and buses 440-550 mm

, and the smallest ones today are the steering wheels of sports cars. The steering gear increases the force applied to the steering wheel and transmits it to the steering gear. As of this device apply gearboxes, characterized by a specific gear ratio. Most often, on passenger cars, you can find a rack and pinion steering mechanism, which includes a gear (installed on the steering wheel shaft and connected to a rack). When the driver turns the steering wheel, the rack begins to move and, with the help of steering rods, causes the wheels to rotate. Some designs of the steering mechanism use a rack with a variable pitch of teeth, which, for example, allows you to park a vehicle without much effort (increases the ability to maneuver).

Automakers of such famous companies How Honda, Mitsubishi, BMW, Nissan, Mazda, Toyota, Renault, supply individual Cars a steering mechanism that allows all four wheels to turn. This technical solution allows you to achieve a higher level of maneuverability when moving at low speeds (front and rear wheels turned in different directions), and also ensure better stability when driving on high speed(front and rear wheels are turned in the same direction).

The steering drive provides desired angle wheel rotation, regardless of vertical movements suspension (coordination of the kinematics of the steering drive and suspension).

In order for such a phenomenon to become possible, the design of the steering gear, more precisely the location and number of its steering rods (as well as hinges) depends on the type of suspension used on the car. The most complex steering drive is for vehicles that have several steerable axles. To reduce the level of effort that the driver needs to exert to turn the steering wheel, the steering drive is equipped with special amplifiers. As a rule, the source of their work is the vehicle engine. Initially, power steering was used only on trucks and buses, but today they are also actively used on passenger cars.

To “dampen” shocks and jerks transmitted to the steering wheel when driving on an uneven surface, the steering drive can be equipped with some damping elements - steering shock absorbers. The design of these parts is similar to the structure of suspension shock absorbers. General device and the operating principle of the steering system of a car, like many other modern vehicles, can be described as follows. The steering has tie rods, a rack and pinion steering mechanism or and a steering column ending in a steering wheel. The system functions quite simply: when the steering wheel is applied, the force is transmitted through the steering mechanism to the steering rods, which are pivotally connected to the suspension arms, which leads to a change in the trajectory of the car. In addition, the steering wheel informs the driver about the status road surface, determined by the amount of force applied to the steering wheel. If you do not take into account the size of the steering wheel of sports cars, the diameter of the steering wheel for most cars is in the range of 38-42.5 cm.

The steering wheel is connected to the steering mechanism via a safety steering column, which has several universal joints. Injury safety lies in the fact that when head-on collision on high speed it (the column) folds, thus reducing the severity of injuries inflicted on the driver. Modern cars equipped with electric or mechanical adjustment adaptation of the steering column to the height of the driver. The change is carried out both in the vertical direction and along the length, or in two directions. Also provided anti-theft protection by locking the steering column electrically or mechanically.

The steering mechanism acts as a multiplier of the forces applied by the driver to the steering wheel with the subsequent distribution of the load on the steering drive. The most used type of steering gear in cars is the worm and rack and pinion design, and the first option was more often used in cars of the last century. The rack and pinion version is a cylindrical gear that is integral with the shaft and moves along a rack, which is pivotally connected to the steering rods. When the position of the steering wheel changes to a certain angle, the rack moves in a horizontal plane and turns the wheels through rods. The gear-rack pair is located in the gearbox housing, which is located in the suspension subframe.

Some vehicles are equipped with variable steering gear ratio, where applied rack With different profile teeth: in the near-zero zone the teeth have the shape of a triangle, and closer to the edges they have the shape of a trapezoid. The design of the rack with different tooth geometries helps to change the gear ratio in the gear-rack pair, reducing the angle of rotation of the steering wheel. Thanks to this scheme, driving a car is much more convenient, more dynamic, and less effort is required on the steering wheel.

Some car manufacturers use four-wheel steering mechanisms on their cars. The design allows for more effective management and ensures machine stability when driving at high speed. Thanks to this technical solution the front and rear wheels of the car are synchronized when turning in one direction or another. In addition, maneuverability has been improved when the car is moving at low speed: the front and rear wheels can be turned in different directions. This is achieved due to the fact that at high vehicle speeds, silent blocks installed on rear suspension, under the influence of forces during a turn, the car is deformed, preventing the wheels from significantly changing the angle of rotation.

The steering drive is a hinge-lever structure, through which the forces applied to the steering wheel are transmitted directly to the wheels, while ensuring vehicle stability when turning. In addition, the structure holds the wheels while the suspension is operating, the type of which depends on the steering drive device.

The most popular mechanical design of the steering drive includes tie rods and ball joints(steering joints). In turn, the ball joint, protected from wear by liners, is located in a housing with a closed rubber boot, which prevents dust and dirt from entering the hinge joint. The ball joint is made as one piece with a ball pin, which serves as a tip for the steering rods and forms an additional suspension arm with them.

To adjust the steering, there are several parameters that affect the stability of the car while driving and the force applied to the steering wheel. The four most important of them relate to angular adjustments: camber, toe, caster and caster angles. swivel hub wheels, as well as two arm adjustments (stabilization and running-in). It is worth noting that all adjustments are interconnected and have an important impact on the operation of the entire steering system.

Modern cars can no longer do without power steering, which significantly reduces the force applied to the steering wheel and allows you to accurately and quickly respond to the environment when driving. Thanks to the power steering, the driver is less tired, and gear ratio The gears in the gearbox can be reduced, making it more compact. By type, the amplifier drive is divided into electric, hydraulic or pneumatic. The latter is more related to trucks.

Most of the current generation of cars are equipped with hydraulic power steering, called “power steering” for simplicity. In addition, there is a variant of it - an electro-hydraulic booster, in which the liquid is pumped by a pump driven by an electric motor. However, the one used today is considered progressive electric amplifier steering wheel, in which the torque of the electric motor shaft is supplied directly to cardan shaft steering wheel or directly to the steering gearbox. And the use of electronics does possible use electric booster when parking in automatic mode or in a system that helps keep the car in its lane.

Adaptive power steering can be considered an innovative power steering, thanks to which the force applied when turning the wheel depends on the speed of movement. An example of such a design is the well-known adaptive hydraulic booster Servotronic. Another new feature is the active steering system. BMW control, as well as Audi's dynamic steering system, in which the steering gear ratio depends on the vehicle's speed.

The main component in any vehicle is the steering. Why is steering needed? For all the time the system design has been improved, the basic operating principle of the steering has remained the same. It consists in converting and transferring the driver’s physical effort while acting on the car’s steering wheel to the wheels. In other words, the steering control unit provides feedback, allowing you to change the trajectory of the vehicle.

Steering device

What does a car's steering system consist of? The general design of this unit on vehicles is represented by the following elements:

• wheels;
• steering gear;
• steering mechanism;
• rods and column.

The interaction between the car steering wheel and the drive wheel pair is not complicated. The driver, through the drive, transmits force to the steering mechanism, which ensures the rotation of the wheels. In addition, the node, providing feedback, provides information about the condition of the road surface. According to the vibrations of the steering wheel, the type of movement is determined as accurately as possible, on the basis of which diagnostics are made and vehicle control is adjusted.

Average steering wheel diameter passenger transport is approximately 400 mm. In cargo and special equipment the steering wheel is somewhat larger, and in sports cars smaller.

What's included in the steering?

Between the steering wheel and the mechanism there is a steering column, which is represented by a durable shaft with articulated joints. A special feature of the column design is the minimal risk of injury to the driver in the event of an accident, since in the event of a strong frontal collision it collapses. For comfortable operation vehicle, the position of the steering column is adjusted using a mechanical or electrical drive. In addition, there is a mechanism locking system that helps prevent car theft.

The main purpose of the steering is to increase the mechanical force of the driver and transmit it to the wheels. For this purpose, a special gearbox is included in the system design. The following types of steering are mainly used in passenger cars:

1. A rack and pinion mechanism, the design of which consists of a set of gears mounted on a shaft, aggregated with a rack; special teeth are applied along one of its planes along its entire length. When the steering wheel rotates, force is transmitted through the column to the steering rack, as a result of which it moves freely, interacting with the steering rods and turning the wheels. It should be noted that the steering of a car may have a rack on which teeth with variable pitch are located. This design significantly increases the efficiency of vehicle control.
2. Worm steering mechanism. Its operating principle is as follows: the “worm”, when interacting with the driven gear, transmits force to the bipod. In turn, the steering bipod interacts with one of the rods, the end of which ends in a pendulum arm. This lever is mounted on a support. When you turn the steering wheel, the bipod moves the side rod simultaneously with the middle lever, which interacts with the second side rod and changes its position. Thanks to this, the hubs of the steered wheels rotate.

Some features of the car steering system

Majority modern models road transport have an innovative four-wheel steering system. Thanks to this, the dynamics of vehicle movement in areas with difficult terrain are significantly improved. In addition, the car's steering system, adapted to all wheels, allows you to achieve greater maneuverability when driving at high speed. This is possible due to the rotation of each of the wheels.

It is noteworthy that in the steering system, wheel steering can be carried out by a system in passive mode. This is possible due to the presence of special elastic rubber-metal parts in the design of the rear part of the suspension. When body roll occurs, due to changes in the magnitude and direction of the load, the direction of movement is changed. Steering with steering function rear wheels allows you to effectively distribute the force to turn all wheels. In addition, such a system does not allow the wheels to turn when the suspension is active.

In design adaptive system steering includes hinges and rods. The hinge has several elements in its composition; for ease of use, its design is presented in the form of a removable tip. It is most convenient to imagine the kinematic diagram of a car’s steering in the idea of ​​a rectangle, on each side of which there are:

• shoulders;
• toe angle;
• camber;
• longitudinal and lateral slope.

The shoulders, longitudinal and lateral inclination ensure movement stabilization, while other parameters are in constant opposition. Therefore, another task of the steering is to stabilize all forces arising during the movement.

The role of the amplifier in the steering system

This element, in addition to reducing the force applied by the driver to the steering wheel, can significantly increase the accuracy of driving. Thanks to the presence of an amplifier in the steering design, it became possible to use elements in the system that have a small subordinate number. Control amplifiers are divided into three types:

1. Electric.
2. Pneumatic.
3. Hydraulic.

However, the latter type has become more widespread. Hydraulics are distinguished by their reliable design and smooth operation, but require Maintenance for fluid replacement. Electric power steering is less common, but most models of modern automobiles are equipped with it. Strengthening it provides electric drive. notice, that electronic control It is distinguished by the presence of an expanded range of capabilities, but occasionally requires checking and adjustment.

What is automatic steering?

One of promising developments in the automotive industry is intelligent system automatic control vehicles. We can say that the autopilot described by most science fiction writers in their works has now become a reality. Today is modern automotive technology capable of performing most actions without driver participation, the most common of which is parking.

The leader in the production of cars equipped with this innovative system is the German BMW concern, which actively uses on its model range double planetary gearbox. Such a gearbox is controlled using an electric drive, as a result of which it is possible, together with changes in vehicle speed, to change the additional ratio when transmitting force from the steering wheel to the rotary wheels. Thanks to this technical solution, performance is significantly increased and the most accurate feedback is provided.