Hydrostatic vehicle{13 four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering

Claim 2

A hydrostatic vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the slots have terminal edge elements engageable by the lever arm and thereby predetermining the limits of movement of the lever arm and corresponding control functions relative to (a) driving all the wheels together in forward and reverse direction, and (b) changing the direction of the drive of the wheels in opposite sides in opposite direction.

Claim 3

A hydrostatic vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the side slots are straight and control the direction of drive of the wheels with respect to opposite sides of the vehicle and also the differential in speed in the wheels on opposite sides.

Claim 4

A hydrostatic vehicle according to claim 2 wherein said slots include longitudinal slots and side slots, the longitudinal slots determine the forward and reverse directions of movement of all of the wheels together and the side slots determining the direction of drive of the wheels in opposite directions relative to opposite sides of the vehicle, and the longitudinal slots include transversely enlarged portions enabling limited movement of the lever arm in sidewise directions therein.

Claim 5

A hydrostatic vehicle according to claim 5 wherein the longitudinal slots are roughly diamond shape providing shoulders facing diagonally toward the central position of the lever whereby to enable the operator to sense lateral positions of the lever within the longitudinal slots by sensing those shoulders and thereby more easily controlling the position of the lever.

Claim 6

A hydrostatic vehicle comprising, ground engaging wheels adjustably movable between straight fore-and-aft position and angular position, first hydrostatic motor means for adjustably moving the wheels between their different said positions, second hydrostatic motor means for driving the wheels, power means for driving the motor means, first control means for controlling the first hydrostatic motor means and thereby alternatively and selectively positioning the wheels in their different set positions, second control means for controlling the second hydrostatic motor means and thereby driving the wheels, and a single manually manipulable control member including a main element operatively connected with the second hydrostatic motor means and upon manipulation thereof operative for controlling that motor means for selectively driving the wheels on opposite sides, and for selectively so in opposite directions, and a second element carried by the main element operatively connected with the first hydrostatic motor means and upon manipulation thereof operative for controlling that motor means.

Claim 7

A hydrostatic vehicle according to claim 7 wherein the second hydrostatic motor means includes a pair of units one related to the wheels on each side of the vehicle, and the single manually manipulable member is operative for selectively controlling the units of the second control member for thereby correspondingly driving the wheels on the respective sides of the vehicle.

Claim 8

A hydrostatic vehicle according to claim 7 wherein the first hydrostatic motor means includes hydrostatic jack means operatively movable between extended and retracted limit positions, and the vehicle includes linkage operatively interconnecting the jack means and the wheels for moving the wheels to their different positions pursuant to movement of the jack means to its extended and retracted limit positions.

Claim 9

A hydrostatic vehIcle according to claim 9 wherein when the wheels are in angular position, they are disposed in a common circle about a vertical axis internal to the vehicle, and the single manually manipulable member is operative for selectively controlling the units of second hydrostatic motor means for driving the wheels on the respective sides in opposite directions, and when the wheels are so angle and so driven, all of them move in a common direction relative to external viewpoint toward said internal vertical axis.

Claim 10

A hydrostatic vehicle according to claim 7 wherein the first element is a lever swingable to different positions and the second element includes a push button on the lever, and the control means includes means responsive to swinging movements of the lever for controlling the drive of the wheels respectively in direction and speed, and means is included responsive to the actuation of the push button for moving the wheels between straight fore-and-aft position and angular position.

Claim 11

A hydrostatic vehicle comprising, ground engaging wheels adjustably movable between straight fore-and-aft position and angular position, first hydrostatic motor means for adjustably moving the wheels between their different said positions, second hydrostatic motor means for driving the wheels, power means for driving the motor means, linkage operative interconnecting the first hydrostatic motor means and the wheels including a single rock shaft, and links interconnecting each end of the rock shaft and the wheels on corresponding sides of the vehicle.

Claim 12

A hydrostatic vehicle according to claim 12 wherein double-ended lever arms are mounted on the ends of the rock shaft, the links are pivotally connected to the ends of the lever arms, a crank arm is mounted on the rock shaft, and the first hydrostatic motor means includes a hydrostatic jack pivotally connected to the crank arm.

Claim 13

A hydrostatic vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the second hydrostatic motor means includes a motor mounted in each wheel and movable therewith in the movement of the wheels between their said positions, the hydrostatic jack is extensible/contractible to limit positions, and the jack, crank arm and lever arms are so constructed and arranged that when the jack is in one limit position the wheels are in straight fore-and-aft position and when it is in its other limit position, the wheels are in angular position and when the wheels are in their latter position, the axes of the wheels intersect a common vertical axis internal to the vehicle.