Steering and drive assembly for self-propelled units

Claim 2

In a self-propelled unit including a frame, a source of power in said frame, at least two ground engaging drive wheels journaled one upon each side of said frame, and a pair of combination pump and motor assemblies mounted in said frame, one being operatively connected to one drive wheel and the other being operatively connected to the other drive wheel, and speed control means on each of said pump and motor assemblies, the improvement which consists of a steering component and a speed lever, both mounted in said frame, linkage means extending between said steering component and the speed control means of each of said pump and motor assemblies, whereby when one pump and motor assembly increases in speed, the other pump and motor assembly decreases in speed and vice-versa, when said steering component is operated thus initiating steering movement to said unit, said steering component including a pinion rotated by said steering component, a pair of longitudinally extending rack bars one upon each side of said pinion and in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and engageable with said pinion, said linkage means being operatively connected between each rack bar and each of said speed control means, means mounting said rack bars for limited longitudinal sliding movement, and stop means engageable by one end of each of said rack bars when said speed lever is moved to the neutral position thereby centering said steering component and moving said speed control means on both of said pump and motor assemblies, to the neutral position.

Claim 3

The improvement according to claim 1 which includes a steering wheel, a steering column rotatable by said wheel, said pinion being mounted on the lower end of said steering column.

Claim 4

The improvement according to claim 2 in which said means mounting said rack bars for limited longitudinal sliding movement includes a casing, a hub on said casing, the lower end of said steering column being journaled for rotation in said hub, said pinion gear being situated in said casing, said rack gears being supported in said casing one upon each side of said pinion gear.

Claim 5

The improvement according to claim 3 in which said speed lever includes means within which speed lever engages in a plurality of incremental positions, linkage operatively extending between said speed lever and said casing mounting said rack gear and said pinions, and means on said frame mounting said casing for limited longitudinal sliding movement.

Claim 6

The improvement according to claim 4 in which steering column is pivoted adjacent the upper end thereof to said frame, and a universal joint in said steering column adjacent the lower end thereof.

Claim 7

The improvement according to claim 5 which includes a reversing lever for each of said pump and motor assemblies, each of said reversing lever including linkage means operatively connecting said reversing levers to one each of said pump and motor assemblies.

Claim 8

The improvement according to claim 6 which includes further means on said linkage means enabling said reversing levers to override said rack gears.

Claim 9

The improvement according to claim 7 in which each of said link rods operatively connected between said rack gears and said speed control means includes a link pivotted by one end thereof to said frame and by the other end thereof to adjacent one end of said rack bars, said further means in said linkage means iNcluding a relatively short rod slidably engageable in one end of said link rod, a first pivot pin engaging through one end of said short rod and through said link intermediate the ends of said link, the ends of said pivot pin extending upon each side of said link, said reversing lever being pivotted by the lower end thereof to said frame, a second pivot pin extending through said reversing lever and through said link rod, said second pivot pin extending upon each side of said link rod and said reversing lever, and tension springs extending between the extending ends of said first pivot pin and the extending ends of said second pivot pin.

Claim 10

The improvement according to claim 4 which includes a reversing lever for each of said pump and motor assemblies, each of said reversing levers including linkage means operatively connecting said reversing levers to one each of said pump and motor assemblies.

Claim 11

The improvement according to claim 9 which includes further means on said linkage means enabling said reversing levers to override said rack gears.

Claim 12

The improvement according to claim 10 in which each of said link rods operatively connected between said rack gears and said speed control means includes a link pivotted by one end thereof to said frame and by the other end thereof to adjacent one end of said rack bars, said further means in said linkage means including a relatively short rod slidably engageable in one end of said link rod, a first pivot pin engaging through one end of said short rod and through said link intermediate the extending upon of said link, the ends of said pivot pin extending upon each side of said link, said reversing lever being pivotted by the lower end thereof to said frame, a second pivot pin extending through said reversing lever and through said link rod, said second pivot pin extending upon each side of said link rod and said reversing lever, and tension springs extending between the extending ends of said first pivot pin and the extending ends of said second pivot pin.

Claim 13

A self-propelled unit comprising in combination a frame, a source of power in said frame, a pair of ground engaging ground wheels one upon each side of said frame and at one end thereof, a castoring wheel assembly supporting the other end of said frame, a pair of combination pump and motor assemblies mounted in said frame, one for each drive wheel, said pump and motor assemblies being operatively connected one to each of said drive wheels, means operatively connecting said source of power to said pump and motor assemblies, speed control means on each of said pump and motor assemblies, a steering component in said frame and a speed lever also mounted in said frame, whereby when one pump and motor assembly increases in speed, the other pump and motor assembly decreases in speed and vice-versa, when said steering component is operated thus initiating steering movement to said unit, said steering component including a pinion rotated by said steering component, a pair of longitudinally extending rack bars one upon each side of said pinion and in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and engageable with said pinion, a link rod operatively connected between each rack bar and each of said speed control means, means mounting said rack bars for limited longitudinal sliding movement, and stop means engageable by one end of each of said rack bars when said speed lever is moved to the neutral position thereby centering said steering component and moving said speed control means on both of said pump and motor assemblies, to the neutral position.

Claim 14

A self-propelled unit comprising in combination a frame, a source of power in said frame, a pair of ground engaging ground wheels one upon each side of said frame and at one end thereof, a castoring wheel assembly supporting the other end of said frame, a pair of combination pump and motor assemblies mounted in said frame, one for each drive wheel, said pump and motor assemblies being operatively connected one to each of said drive wheels, means operatively connecting said source of power to said pump and motor assemblies, speed control means on each of said pump and motor assemblies, a steering component in said frame and a speed lever also mounted in said frame, whereby when one pump and motor assembly increases in speed, the other pump and motor assembly decreases in speed and vice-versa, when said steering component is operated thus initiating steering movement to said unit, said steering component including a pinion rotated by said steering component, a pair of longitudinally extending rack bars one upon each side of said pinion and in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and engageable with said pinion, a link rod operatively connected between each rack bar and each of said speed control means, means mounting said rack bars for limited longitudinal sliding movement, and stop means engageable by one end of each of said rack bars when said speed lever is moved to the neutral position thereby centering said steering component and moving said speed control means on both of said pump and motor assemblies, to the neutral position.

Claim 15

The improvement according to claim 12 which includes a steering wheel, a steering column rotatable by said steering wheel, said pinion being mounted on the lower end of said steering column.

Claim 16

The improvement according to claim 13 in which said means mounting said rack bars for limited longitudinal sliding movement includes a casing, a hub on said casing, the lower end of said steering column being journalled foR rotation in said hub, said pinion gear being situated in said casing, said rack gears being supported in said casing one upon each side of said pinion gear.

Claim 17

The improvement according to claim 14 in which said speed lever includes means within which speed lever engages in a plurality of incremental positions, linkage operatively extending between said speed lever and said casing mounting said rack gear and said pinions, and means on said frame mounting said casing for limited longitudinal sliding movement.

Claim 18

The improvement according to claim 15 in which said steering column is pivotted adjacent the upper end thereof to said frame, and a universal joint in said steering column adjacent the lower end thereof.

Claim 19

The improvement according to claim 16 which includes a reversing lever for each of said pump and motor assemblies, each of said reversing levers including linkage means operatively connecting said reversing levers to one each of said pump and motor assemblies.

Claim 20

The improvement according to claim 17 which includes further means on said linkage means enabling said reversing levers to override said rack gears.

Claim 21

The improvement according to claim 18 in which each of said link rods operatively connected between said rack gears and said speed control means includes a link pivotted by one end thereof to said frame and by the other end thereof to adjacent one end of said rack bars, said further means in said linkage means including a relatively short rod slidably engageable in one end of said link rod, a first pivot pin engaging through one end of said short rod and through said link intermediate the ends of said link, the ends of said pivot pin extending upon each side of said link, said reversing lever being pivotted by the lower end thereof to said frame, a second pivot pin extending through said reversing lever and through said link rod, said second pivot pin extending upon each side of said link rod and said reversing lever, and tension springs extending between the extending ends of said first pivot pin and the extending ends of said second pivot pin.

Claim 22

The improvement according to claim 15 which includes a reversing lever for each of said pump and motor assemblies, each of said reversing levers including linkage means operatively connecting said reversing levers to one each of said pump and motor assemblies.

Claim 23

The improvement according to claim 20 which includes further means on said linkage means enabling said reversing levers to override said rack gears.

Claim 24

The improvement according to claim 21 in which each of said link rods operatively connected between said rack gears and said speed control means includes a link pivotted by one end thereof to said frame and by the other end thereof to adjacent one end of said rack bars, said further means in said linkage means including a relatively short rod slidably engageable in one end of said link rod, a first pivot pin engaging through one end of said short rod and through said link intermediate the ends of said link, the ends of said pivot pin extending upon each side of said link, said reversing lever being pivotted by the lower end thereof to said frame, a second pivot pin extending through said reversing lever and through said link rod, said second pivot pin extending upon each side of said link rod and reversing lever, and tension springs extending between the extending ends of said first pivot pin and the extending ends of said second pivot pin.