Variable-speed drive and combined braking and steering mechanism

Claim 1

A selective vehicle wheel speed control system for use in association with a vehicle having wheels rotatably associated therewith on each side thereof, motor means for driving said vehicle, and separate side drive train systems driven by said motor means and transmitting power from said motor means to at least one driven wheel on each side of said vehicle respectively said vehicle being adapted to be steered at least in part by selective braking of at least one of said driven wheels and stopped by simultaneous braking of both and comprising; a drive member adapted to be operatively connected to said motor means and a driven member adapted to be operatively connected to a said driven wheel, incorporated in each said side drive train system; constant ratio frictional drive transmission means incorporated in each said side drive train system and operatively connecting said drive member and said driven member; separate drive disengaging means in respective said side drive train systems for selectively releasing either one of said drive transmission means from a said member at least; separate braking means connected with respective said side drive train systems for braking said wheels driven by said respective driven member; means interconnecting said drive disengaging means and its respective braking means in respective said side drive train systems for simultaneous operation of said braking means with said releasing of the respective drive transmission means; Joint brake operating means connected both to said disengaging means and to said braking means for simultaneous operation of both braking means and both dIsengaging means for stopping, and braking with said drive disengaged, and, selective brake-operating means connectable with one or other of said disengaging means and respective braking means in a said side drive train system for selective drive disengagement and braking of its respective said driven member.