US3666033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering mechanism for tracked vehicles, especially snow mobiles
Assignee: Karl Kaessbohrer Fahrzeugwerke GmbH
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Filing: 1970-06-01
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-06-01
Abstract
Abstract Steering mechanism for a vehicle having independently driven wheels, especially a tracked vehicle. Assuming the wheels or tracks on opposite sides of the vehicle to be independently driven by the speed controllable motors, such as hydraulic motors, one respective end of suitable push-pull rods are connected to the controls of such motors for operation of same in forward, reverse directions and for placement in neutral position. A steering wheel is connected by linkage to a rotatable substantially vertically, positioned shaft and a crank is mounted by its apex pivotally to one end of said shaft, the axis of such pivoting being substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said shaft. When in one selected pivotal position, a first arm of said crank is substantially coaxial with the axis of said shaft and the free end of said arm is connected to said rods. The free end of the other arm of said crank is connected to a manual control by which the crank can be moved on its pivot. Thus rotation of said shaft by the steering wheel when said first arm is coaxial with the shaft effects no movement of said pushpull rods and same remain in neutral position. Movement of said crank on said pivot will move said rods to control the motors to forward, reversing, or neutral positions. Rotation of said shaft when said crank is in a position for forward or reversing operation will alter the respective degree of positioning of the respective motors to effect the desired steering function.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Haug
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:09
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D11/00; B62D11/02; B62D11/06; B62D11/10; B62D11/14; B62D11/18; B62D11/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In a vehicle having two ground engaging elements spaced transversely thereof, vehicle propulsion means comprising an engine and a pair of variable speed ratio power transmissions connecting said engine to said ground engaging elements to drive said vehicle, transmission control means to vary the speed ratios thereof and manually operable speed control means, the improvement comprising: manually operable steering control means comprising a rotatably mounted steering wheel, a pivotally mounted crank-shaft, means connecting said steering wheel to said crankshaft to effect a rotational movement of said crankshaft in response to a turning motion of said steering wheel and a two arm crank pivotally secured to said crankshaft about an axis extending transversely of the axis of said crankshaft, said two arm crank having a first arm connected to said manually operable speed control means to thereby permit a manual control of the movement of said two arm crank about said axis thereof and a second arm connected to said transmission control means to (1) establish a given proportionality between the speed ratios in response to said turning motion of said steering wheel and to (2) establish said speed ratios of said transmission jointly in response to a manual control of said speed control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a vehicle having two ground engaging elements spaced transversely thereof, vehicle propulsion means comprising an engine and a pair of variable speed ratio power transmissions connecting said engine to said ground engaging elements to drive said vehicle, transmission control means to vary the speed ratios thereof and manually operable speed control means, the improvement comprising: manually operable steering control means comprising a rotatably mounted steering wheel, a pivotally mounted crank-shaft, means connecting said steering wheel to said crankshaft to effect a rotational movement of said crankshaft in response to a turning motion of said steering wheel and a two arm crank pivotally secured to said crankshaft about an axis extending transversely of the axis of said crankshaft, said two arm crank having a first arm connected to said manually operable speed control means to thereby permit a manual control of the movement of said two arm crank about said axis thereof and a second arm connected to said transmission control means to (1) establish a given proportionality between the speed ratios in response to said turning motion of said steering wheel and to (2) establish said speed ratios of said transmission jointly in response to a manual control of said speed control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said pair of transmissions each have a control arm thereon; wherein said transmission control means includes a pair of control linkage means connecting said second arm of said two arm crank to each of said control arms on the respective ones of said transmissions; and wherein each of said control linkage means includes means defining an elastically extendible rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said second arm of said two arm crank is pivotable in a plane parallel with the axis of said crankshaft and on opposite sides of and through a position wherein the longitudinal axis of said second arm is in parallel alignment with said crank-shaft axis in response to a manual operation of said speed control means, the speed output of said transmissions being zero when said second arm is in parallel alignment to said crankshaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a vehicle having two ground engaging elements spaced transversely thereof, vehicle propulsion means comprising an engine and a pair of variable speed ratio power transmissioNs connecting said engine to said ground engaging elements to drive said vehicle, transmission control means to vary the speed ratios thereof and manually operable speed control means, the improvement comprising: manually operable steering control means comprising a rotatably mounted steering wheel, a pivotally mounted crankshaft, means connecting said steering wheel to said crankshaft to effect a rotational movement of said crankshaft in response to a turning motion of said steering wheel and crank means pivotally secured to said crankshaft about an axis extending transversely of the axis of said crankshaft, first linkage means connecting said crank means to said manually operable speed control means to thereby permit a manual control of the movement of said crank means about said axis thereof and second linkage means connecting said crank means to said transmission control means to (1) establish a given proportionality between the speed ratios in response to said turning motion of said steering wheel and to (2) establish said speed ratios of said transmissions jointly in response to a manual control of said speed control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a vehicle having two ground engaging elements spaced transversely thereof, vehicle propulsion means comprising an engine and a pair of variable speed ratio power transmissioNs connecting said engine to said ground engaging elements to drive said vehicle, transmission control means to vary the speed ratios thereof and manually operable speed control means, the improvement comprising: manually operable steering control means comprising a rotatably mounted steering wheel, a pivotally mounted crankshaft, means connecting said steering wheel to said crankshaft to effect a rotational movement of said crankshaft in response to a turning motion of said steering wheel and crank means pivotally secured to said crankshaft about an axis extending transversely of the axis of said crankshaft, first linkage means connecting said crank means to said manually operable speed control means to thereby permit a manual control of the movement of said crank means about said axis thereof and second linkage means connecting said crank means to said transmission control means to (1) establish a given proportionality between the speed ratios in response to said turning motion of said steering wheel and to (2) establish said speed ratios of said transmissions jointly in response to a manual control of said speed control 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) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |