Multi-purpose vehicle

Claim 1

A multi-purpose vehicle adapted for towing including means for driving in two directions of travel, one the direction of street traffic and the other the direction of performing working operations, said vehicle comprising a steering axle having small wheels and a rigid drive axle having large wheels including tools, mounted on said drive axle, a steering wheel with a steering rod for each direction of travel, means including two steering blocks one associated with each said steering wheel and rod linking said steering wheels and rods to each other and to said steering axle, foot pedals for gas, clutch and brake disposed proximate each steering rod, a driver''s seat pivotally mounted generally centrally of the vehicle as related to its length and disposed between said steering wheels and movable about a vertical axis through an angle of 180*, an underfloor engine below said driver''s seat, operating and control devices disposed laterally of said driver''s seat and means including a power take-off and a suspension device linking said operating and control devices to said tools for the operation thereof while travelling in said working direction, said steering wheel and column for travelling in the direction of street traffic being fixedly mounted for both directions of travel, and said steering wheel and rod for the direction of performing working operations being removable, and means for covering said foot pedals associated with the steering wheel for travelling in the working direction comprising a foldable loading bridge disposed above the area of said driving wheel axle.