US3581497A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control apparatus for hydraulic drive mechanism
Assignee: Owatonna Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1969-09-08
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1989-09-08
Abstract
Abstract Means for controlling operation of a pair of independent hydraulic drive units for a vehicle, each including a pump and cooperating motor at least one of which is of variable displacement, each unit having a control arm movable to vary said displacement to provide varying forward and rear speeds and a neutral stationary condition of said motors. A control lever is operatively connected to said control arms and is bodily movable by speed control means to control the speed of said motors in common, said control lever being mounted for pivotal movements, imparted thereto by steering means, to differentially control the motors.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank C Krumholz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:30
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/04; B60K17/10; F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/38; F16H61/40; F16H61/42; F16H61/437; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
Control apparatus for a hydraulic drive mechanism for a vehicle including a frame and a pair of rotary drive members at opposite sides of the frame, said drive mechanism including a pair of hydraulic pump and motor units, one of the pump and motor of each unit being of variable displacement to vary the speed of said rotary drive members between full forward, zero speed, and reverse direction, said units having individual control arms mounted thereon for swinging movements between full forward, neutral and reverse drive positions, and means for driving the pumps of said units, said apparatus comprising: a. steering crank means rotatably mounted on said frame on a fixed axis; b. a control lever; c. mounting means mounting said control lever on said frame for bodily reciprocating movements in a given direction transversely of said fixed crank means axis and generally in the direction of swinging movement of said control arms, and for pivotal movements on an axis fixed relative to said control lever and parallel to said fixed crank means axis; d. crank pin means on said crank means; e. said lever including a lever arm operatively engaging said crank pin means in all positions of said bodily movement of the lever for swinging movements of said lever on said axis fixed relative thereto responsive to rotation of said crank means, the effective length of said lever arm varying in accordance with said bodily movement of the lever; f. speed control means for imparting said bodily reciprocating movement to the lever; g. and linkage operatively connecting said lever to said control arms.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
265 words
Control apparatus for a hydraulic drive mechanism for a vehicle including a frame and a pair of rotary drive members at opposite sides of the frame, said drive mechanism including a pair of hydraulic pump and motor units, one of the pump and motor of each unit being of variable displacement to vary the speed of said rotary drive members between full forward, zero speed, and reverse direction, said units having individual control arms mounted thereon for swinging movements between full forward, neutral and reverse drive positions, and means for driving the pumps of said units, said apparatus comprising: a. steering crank means rotatably mounted on said frame on a fixed axis; b. a control lever; c. mounting means mounting said control lever on said frame for bodily reciprocating movements in a given direction transversely of said fixed crank means axis and generally in the direction of swinging movement of said control arms, and for pivotal movements on an axis fixed relative to said control lever and parallel to said fixed crank means axis; d. crank pin means on said crank means; e. said lever including a lever arm operatively engaging said crank pin means in all positions of said bodily movement of the lever for swinging movements of said lever on said axis fixed relative thereto responsive to rotation of said crank means, the effective length of said lever arm varying in accordance with said bodily movement of the lever; f. speed control means for imparting said bodily reciprocating movement to the lever; g. and linkage operatively connecting said lever to said control arms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The control apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said control lever includes a first lever arm extending generally transversely of said direction of bodily movement of the lever and a second lever arm generally normal to said first lever arm, said first lever arm having opposite ends each connected to a different one of said control arms by said linkage, said mounting means comprising a pivot shaft disposed generally centrally between said opposite ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The control apparatus defined in claim 2 in which said second lever arm defines a channel extending longitudinally thereof for reception of said crank pin means, said crank pin means being relatively movable longitudinally of said channel responsive to said bodily movement of the control lever.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
Control apparatus defined in claim 2 in which said linkage comprises, a pair of rigid links each having opposite ends pivotally connected to a different end of said first lever arm and its respective one of said control arms and each longitudinally slidable relative to one of said lever arms and respective control arm, stop means limiting longitudinal sliding movements of said link in one direction, and yielding means urging each of said links in the opposite direction of sliding movement thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
The control apparatus defined in claim 4 characterized by an abutment member on said frame operatively engaging said links when said control arms are moved to the limit of full forward speed controlling movement thereof by speed control means imparted movement to said control lever in one direction, said yielding means comprising a pair of springs each associated with a different one of said links and yieldable selectively to permit pivotal steering movement of said control lever, when said links operatively engage said abutment member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The control apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said steering crank means comprises a crank element, characterized by a rotor steering shaft and a pair of cooperating driving and driven speed reduction elements the former of which is mounted on said steering shaft, the crank element being mounted on said driven speed reduction element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
The control apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said control lever includes a first lever arm extending generally transversely of said direction of bodily movement of the lever and a second lever arm generally normal to said first lever arm, said first lever arm having opposite ends each connected to a different one of said control arms by said linkage, said frame defining a mounting channel extending longitudinally of said direction of bodily movement of the lever, said mounting means comprising a pivot shaft journaled on said control lever and extending transversely of said channel and slidable longitudinally therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The control apparatus defined in claim 7 in which said second lever arm defines a channel extending longitudinally thereof for reception of said crank pin means, said crank pin means being relatively movable longitudinally of said second lever arm channel responsive to said bodily movement of the control lever.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |