Combined propulsion unit and steering control for vehicles

Claim 2

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said steering means (2) comprise steering column means (4; 4, 20, 33) which interacts with said speed control means (11).

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said steering column means (4; 4, 20, 33) acts on braking means (8) which are part of said speed control means (11).

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2, or 3, wherein said steering column means (4; 4, 20, 33) acts on accelerating means (10) which are part of said speed control means (11).

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, or 4, wherein said steering column means (4; 4, 20, 33), when activating said braking means, deactivate at the same time said accelerating means, and vice versa.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein said steering column means (4; 4, 20, 33) are axially movable on axial guide means (6).

Claim 7

Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein said braking means (8), or said accelerating means (10), are activated, or deactivated, by said steering column means (4) through rod means (7).

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said rod means are co-axial with, and coupled to, said steering column means (4), said rod means acting directly on said braking means at an end thereof remote from said steering means (8) and interacting indirectly with said accelerating means (10) through a rocker arm (10) having a first branch engaged by said rod means (7) and a second branch coupled to said accelerating means (10).

Claim 9

Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the axial stroke of said steering column means (4) is controlled by an actuator (12), preferably a hydraulic actuator.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said actuator (12) comprises a first chamber (13) and a second chamber (14) defined by a piston (15) coupled to sad rod means (7), said first chamber (13) and said second chamber (14) being fed by lines (A, B).

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said lines (A, B) are provided with valve means (16) having variable throats in order to change the inflow and outflow speed of oil in said chamber (13) and said chamber (14), respectively, during movements of the piston (15).

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said throats of said valve means (16) may be varied by remote drive means (17, 18).

Claim 13

Apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 12, and further comprising a further line (C) capable of keeping said chamber (13) pressurised if actuated by further remote drive means (19).

Claim 14

Apparatus for controlling the run of a vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said further line (C) is advantageously pressurised, even automatically, by means of a device which activates an "Air Bag".

Claim 15

Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein said accelerating means (10), or said braking means (8), are activated by said steering column means (4, 20, 33) through pushing means (21, 22, 23) connected to said steering column means (4, 20, 33) and acting on respective pedal means (25; 29) operatively associated with said accelerating means (10), or braking means (8).

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said pushing means (21, 22, 23) comprises tie rod means (21) fixed at an end thereof to extension means (33) projecting from bushing means (20) to which a steering column (4) of a steering wheel (3) of said steering means (2) is internally coupled, said steering column (4) being coupled to said bushing means (20) in such a way as to be able to rotate freely, but unable to translate, with respect to it, said tie rod means (21) being able to apply a thrust to said respective pedal means (25; 29).

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said tie rod means (21) are slidable at the inside of of an hollow element (22) provided, at one end, with a pushing element (23) capable of transmitting said thrust to said respective pedal means (25), said tie rod means (21) being provided with stop means (24) capable of limiting the penetration by sliding of the tie rod (21) into said hollow element (22).

Claim 18

Apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 17, wherein said braking means (8), or said accelerating means (10), are activated by rope means (27) having a first end connected to said steering column means (4, 20, 33) and a second end connected to said respective pedal means (27, 29).

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said rope means (27) are connected to connecting means (30) provided at a lower portion of said respective pedal means (27, 29), guide means (28) and return means (32) for said rope means (27) being provided.