Steering control

Claim 2

In a vehicle having pairs of wheels in spaced wheel steering assemblies fore and aft on the vehicle; each of said wheel steering assemblies having means to steer the wheels thereof with connecting mechanism between the fore-andaft assemblies affording means to selectively steer the foreand-aft wheels in the same direction for one mode of steering a opposite directions for another steering mode; spaced operator positions, one adjacent each wheel steering assembly; whereby said spaced wheel steering assemblies are positioned, one in an adjacent and one in a remote position relative to each said spaced operator position; operating connections from one operator position to actuate the remote one of said wheel steering assemblies; further operating connections from said remote steering assembly to actuate said adjaCent steering assembly; other like operating connections between the other one of said operator positioned and the respective steering assemblies which bear equivalent symmetrical remote and adjacent relationship to the said other one of said operator positions as does said first-mentioned operator position from the other end of the vehicle; mechanism selectively operable in each of said like connections constructed to actuate the adjacent one of said steering assemblies relative to the operator position in use to change the steering mode; whereby the wheel steering assembly actuated to change the steering mode will be in the adjacent wheel steering assembly relative to the operator regardless of which operator position is in use.

Claim 3

In a vehicle having pairs of wheels in spaced wheel steering assemblies fore and aft on the vehicle; of said steering assemblies having means to steer the wheels thereof with connecting mechanism between the fore-and-aft assemblies affording means to selectively steer the fore-and-aft wheels in the same direction for one mode of steering and opposite directions for another steering mode; spaced operator positions, one adjacent each wheel steering assembly; whereby said spaced wheel steering assemblies are positioned, one in an adjacent and one in a remote position relative to each said spaced operator position; operating connections from one operator position to actuate the adjacent one of said wheel steering assemblies; further operating connections from said adjacent steering assembly to actuate said remote steering assembly; other like operating connections between the other one of said operator positions and the respective steering assemblies which bear equivalent symmetrical remote and adjacent relationship to the said other one of said operator positions as does said first-mentioned operator position from the other end of the vehicle; mechanism selectively operable in each of said like connections constructed to actuate the remote one of said steering assemblies relative to the operator position in use to change the steering mode; whereby the wheel steering assembly actuated to change the steering mode will be in the remote wheel steering assembly relative to the operator regardless of which operator position is in use.

Claim 4

In a vehicle having pairs of wheels in spaced wheel steering assemblies fore and aft on the vehicle; of said steering assemblies having means to steer the wheels thereof with connecting mechanism between the fore-and-aft assemblies affording means to selectively steer the fore-and-aft wheels in the same direction for one mode of steering and opposite directions for another steering mode; spaced operator positions, one adjacent each wheel steering assembly; whereby said spaced wheel steering assemblies are positioned, one in an adjacent and one in a remote position relative to each said spaced operator position; operating connections from one operator position to actuate the adjacent one of said wheel steering assemblies; further operating connections from said adjacent steering assembly to actuate said remote steering assembly; other like operating connections between the other one of said operator positions and the respective steering assemblies which bear equivalent symmetrical remote and adjacent relationship to the said other one of said operator positions as does said first-mentioned operator position from the other end of the vehicle; mechanism selectively operable in each of said like connections constructed to actuate the remote one of said steering assemblies relative to the operator position in use to change the steering mode; whereby the wheel steering assembly actuated to change the steering mode will be in the remote wheel steering assembly relative to the operator regardless of which operator position is in use.

Claim 5

In a vehicle having pairs of wheels in spaced wheel steering assemblies fore and aft on the vehicle; each of said wheel steering assemblies having means to steer the wheels thereof with connecting mechanism between the fore-and-aft assemblies affording means to selectively steer the fore-and-aft wheels in one relative relationship for one mode of steering and in another relative relationship for another steering mode; spaced operator positions, one adjacent each wheel steering assembly; whereby said spaced wheel steering assemblies are positioned one in an adjacent and one in a remote position relative to each said spaced operator position; said connecting mechanism including operating connections from one operator position to actuate a first one of said wheel steering assemblies; further operating connections from said first one steering assembly to actuate the second one of said steering assemblies; other like operating connections between the other one of said operator positions and the respective steering assemblies which bear equivalent symmetrical remote and adjacent relationship to the said other one of said operator positions as does said first-mentioned operator position from the other end of the vehicle mechanism selectively operable in each of said like connections constructed to actuate the selected one of said steering assemblies relative to the operator position in use to change the steering mode; whereby the wheel steering assembly actuated to change the steering mode will be in the same position relative to the operator regardless of which operator position is in use.

Claim 6

In a vehicle having pairs of wheels in spaced wheel steering assemblies fore and aft on the vehicle; each of said wheel steering assemblies having means to steer the wheels thereof with connecting mechanism between the fore-and-aft assemblies affording means to selectively steer the fore-and-aft wheels in one relative relationship for one mode of steering and in another relative relationship for another steering mode; spaced operator positions, one adjacent each wheel steering assembly; whereby said spaced wheel steering assemblies are positioned one in an adjacent and one in a remote position relative to each said spaced operator position; said connecting mechanism including operating connections from one operator position to actuate a first one of said wheel steering assemblies; further operating connections from said first one steering assembly to actuate the second one of said steering assemblies; other like operating connections between the other one of said operator positions and the respective steering assemblies which bear equivalent symmetrical remote and adjacent relationship to the said other one of said operator positions as does said first-mentioned operator position from the other end of the vehicle mechanism selectively operable in each of said like connections constructed to actuate the selected one of said steering assemblies relative to the operator position in use to change the steering mode; whereby the wheel steering assembly actuated to change the steering mode will be in the same position relative to the operator regardless of which operator position is in use.

Claim 7

Mechanism as in claim 3 wherein: the operating connections from one operator position to actuate a first one of said wheel steering assemblies include hydraulic means with fluid under pressure to actuate a first one of said wheel steering assemblies a further hydraulic connection from said first one of said wheel steering assemblies to actuate a second one of said wheel steering assemblies; electrical means including a variable resistor is provided operable with said further hydraulic connecting to modify the relative direction and relative amount of actuation of said wheel steering assemblies thereby to afford a transition from one mode of steering to another.

Claim 8

Mechanism as in claim 3, wherein: mechanism to change the steering mode includes: a variable resistor; an actuating means; a servo device connected to be actuable by said actuating means and said resistor; thereby to vary operation of said actuating means to modify relative actuation of said wheel steering assemblies to change the steering mode.

Claim 9

Mechanism as in claim 3, wherein: said operating connections include; actuating means from each operator position including hydraulic means with fluid under pressure fed from one spaced operator position to actuate one of said spaced wheel steering assemblies; further hydraulic connection from said one spaced wheel steering assembly connected to actuate the other of said wheel steering assemblies; further connecting and actuating means operable to modify the relative amount and direction of actuation of said wheel steering assemblies.

Claim 10

Mechanism as in claim 3 wherein: mechanism to change the steering mode includes an electrical resistor; a connection actuated by movement of one of said wheel steering assemblies to vary current flow through said resistor; a wheel steering assembly actuating means; connections to said actuating means controlled by current flow thru said resistor; whereby one of said wheel steering assemblies is actuated relative to the other to change the steering mode.