The Application of Power Assistance to the Steering of Wheeled Vehicles

The object of this paper is to survey the rapidly broadening range of vehicle types to which power assisted steering is being fitted, to give descriptions of some of the various approaches to the problem of making such provision and to comment on particular features of systems using alternative installation layouts and/or different sources of power.

Emphasis has been given to the problems of applying power assistance to the steering of the General Service or Public Service classes of vehicle, since it is felt that in these spheres the higher road performance attainable with the aid of such assistance may give rise to operating troubles with designs that previously have proved satisfactory over a long period of development and usage.

Special purpose vehicles would normally be expected to go through a proving period, while the steering of private cars up to the limit of road adhesion is possible without power assistance.

It is considered that it is in recent months rather than in recent years, a marked practical interest in steering assistance has developed in Great Britain, and although this ground has been largely covered previously in published articles and particularly in American literature, some recapitulation should prove of interest and, it is hoped, of value, to those who, until a comparatively short time ago, had not given very serious thought to the likelihood of a more general demand arising, but who are now attempting to judge the strength of the present trend.

Brief remarks are made regarding the history and development of powered steering installations, but such observations that are made are not intended to present a full story.

The MS. of this paper was received at the Institution on 23rd December 1953, and in its revised form, as accepted for publication on 5th January 1954. For the Report of the meeting at which this paper was presented, see p. 94.