Patent US3596730A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3596730A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering system
Assignee: Fairchild Hiller Corp
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Filing: 1969-04-22
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1989-04-22
Abstract
Abstract This invention includes a steering system for use with a vehicle capable of exhibiting three modes of steering, said vehicle having forward and rearward wheels, the first of said modes comprising forward-wheel steering control of the vehicle, the second and third of said modes comprising forward- and rearwardwheel steering control of the vehicle, the system including means for converting one of said modes to another.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F Cecce
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:49
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D7/00; B62D7/06; B62D7/14; B62D7/15; B62D7/1518; B62D7/1536
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
Steering apparatus for a wheeled vehicle comprising a set of steerable wheels, steering arms operatively connected to said steerable wheels, a plurality of actuatable tie assembles interconnecting said steering arms, said plurality of actuatable tie assemblies comprising a first actuatable tie assembly being adapted, upon actuation, to hold said steerable wheels in a substantially parallel steering relationship and a second actuatable tie assembly being adapted, upon actuation, to hold said steerable wheels in an Ackerman steering relationship, said first actuatable tie assembly being adapted to be deactuated to nonrigidly interconnect said steering arms when said second actuatable tie assembly is actuated, said second actuatable tie assembly being adapted to be deactuated to nonrigidly interconnect said steering arms when said first actuatable tie assembly is actuated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
Steering apparatus for a wheeled vehicle comprising a set of steerable wheels, steering arms operatively connected to said steerable wheels, a plurality of actuatable tie assembles interconnecting said steering arms, said plurality of actuatable tie assemblies comprising a first actuatable tie assembly being adapted, upon actuation, to hold said steerable wheels in a substantially parallel steering relationship and a second actuatable tie assembly being adapted, upon actuation, to hold said steerable wheels in an Ackerman steering relationship, said first actuatable tie assembly being adapted to be deactuated to nonrigidly interconnect said steering arms when said second actuatable tie assembly is actuated, said second actuatable tie assembly being adapted to be deactuated to nonrigidly interconnect said steering arms when said first actuatable tie assembly is actuated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said actuatable tie assemblies have hydraulic actuating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
103 words
Steering apparatus for a wheeled vehicle comprising at least one set of steerable wheels, linkage means for interconnecting said set of steerable wheels and adapted to hold the wheels of said set in one of a plurality of steering modes, said linkage means comprising steering arms supported by the wheels of a set of said steerable wheels, a plurality of actuatable tie assemblies operatively interconnecting said steering arms, said plurality of actuatable tie assemblies comprising a first actuable tie assembly being adapted, upon actuation, to control means cooperating with said linkage means for changing said linkage means from one steering relationship to another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
103 words
Steering apparatus for a wheeled vehicle comprising at least one set of steerable wheels, linkage means for interconnecting said set of steerable wheels and adapted to hold the wheels of said set in one of a plurality of steering modes, said linkage means comprising steering arms supported by the wheels of a set of said steerable wheels, a plurality of actuatable tie assemblies operatively interconnecting said steering arms, said plurality of actuatable tie assemblies comprising a first actuable tie assembly being adapted, upon actuation, to control means cooperating with said linkage means for changing said linkage means from one steering relationship to another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
122 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 3 comprising forward and rearward sets of wheels, and interconnecting means for interconnecting said forward and rearward sets of wheels. hold said steerable wheels in a substantially parallel steering relationship and a second actuatable tie assembly being adapted, upon actuation, to hold said steerable wheels in an Ackerman steering relationship, said first actuatable tie assembly being adapted to be deactuated to nonrigidly interconnect said steering arms when said second actuatable tie assembly is actuated, said second actuatable tie assembly being adapted to be deactuated to nonrigidly interconnect said steering arms when said first actuatable tie assembly is actuated and control means cooperating with said linkage means for changing said linkage means from one steering relationship to another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 3 comprising forward and rearward sets of wheels, and iNterconnecting means for interconnecting said forward and rearward sets of wheels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of actuatable tie assemblies operatively interconnect steering arms supported by the wheels of said forward set of wheels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 5 including rearward steering arms supported by the wheels of said rearward wheel set and a rearward tie assembly operatively interconnecting said rearward steering arms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said actuatable tie assemblies interconnecting the steering arms supported by said forward set of wheels have hydraulic actuating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said rearward tie assembly includes a rod member pivotally secured at each of its ends to a rearward steering arm, said rearward tie assembly maintaining said rearward wheels in substantially constant parallel relationship with respect to one another during movement and turning of said vehicle in any of said steering modes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said interconnecting means includes a steering yoke assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
Steering apparatus for use with a vehicle according to claim 9, said vehicle including a forward axle housing extending between said forward set of wheels and a rearward axle housing extending between said rearward set of wheels, said forward axle housing including a forward gear housing portion, said rearward axle housing including a rearward gear housing portion, said apparatus further comprising forward and rearward pivot assemblies supported by the forward and rearward gear housing portions, respectively, each of said pivot assemblies including a pair of legs integral with and extending at an angle with respect to one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said yoke assembly includes a base plate formed with first and second legs and and further formed with an arcuate slot therethrough, said base plate being supported for rotation about a yoke axis, sprocket wheels mounted on said base plate with said slot disposed between them, a link chain engaging each of said sprocket wheels and forming a closed loop, a header member secured to a link of said chain and having a guide protrusion extending into said slot, and a rearwardly extending tie rod interconnecting said header member and one of the legs of said rearward pivot assembly, the other of said rearward pivot assembly legs being interconnected with a rearward steering arm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
96 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said steering yoke assembly further includes a motor cooperatively connected to one of said sprocket wheels for causing movement of said chain in either of clockwise or counterclockwise directions, this movement causing guided movement of said header between first, second and third positions between said sprocket wheels, a centerline of said slot extending through said yoke axis, said first and third positions including said header member guide protrusion disposed at the ends of said slot, said second position including said protrusion disposed in coaxial alignment with said yoke axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said steering yoke assembly further includes a forwardly extending tie rod interconnecting said first base plate leg with one of the legs of said forward pivot assembly, the other leg of said pivot assembly being connected to a forward steering arm supported by a forward wheel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said steering yoke assembly further comprises centering means for stopping and holding said header member in said second position during its movement between the sprocket wheels.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 14, comprising a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly secured to the second leg of said base plate for rotating said steering yoke assembly about the yoke axis, thereby turning a set of wheels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
Steering apparatus accorDing to claim 15, wherein said control means includes conduit means for supplying fluid to said hydraulic actuating means, valve means for controlling the flow of said fluid through the conduit means, and selector means for controlling said valve means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
Steering apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising electric means responsive to said selector means and connected to said valve means for controlling said valve means.
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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) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |