The Development and Experiment of the Variable Rack Stroke (VRS) System

The turning radius is designed with considering sufficient gap between front tires including snow chains and front parts around wheels (e.g. side member, wheel guard, and suspension control arms). Therefore, when we don't use the snow chain needed only in winter season, there remains gap between tires and elements around front wheels. Since there is much available space between the front tire and other parts around wheel without the snow chains, we strived to increase the steering angle of the front wheels for the smaller turning radius of the vehicle. In this paper, with the idea, we strived to develop the VRS (Variable Rack Stroke) system which is invented by Hyundai Motor Company for the first time around world and is capable of varying the minimum tuning radius of the vehicle. The minimum turning radius which is crucially related with competitiveness of vehicle in the market would be reduced as much as the gap condition designed for installing the snow chain or increased for enlarging the sectional width of the side members which play important role in the crash performance.