US3782491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power steering system for adjustable track vehicles
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1972-02-22
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1992-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A power steering system for adjustable track vehicles wherein a double-ended power cylinder moves a piston which carries a hollow power rod. The power rod in turn receives end portions of tie rod socket arms telescopically. The socket arms are attachable to the power rod at various points along the length of the socket arm to accommodate adjustability in the vehicle track. The socket arms terminate in movable stud joints which are connected to tie rod arms which in turn are connected to the wheel steering arm.
Inventors
- 👤 E Herbenar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:51
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B35/00; B60B35/003; B60B35/02; B60B35/10; B60B35/1009; B60B35/1018; B60B35/1072; B60B35/109; B62; B62D; B62D5/00; B62D5/06; B62D5/10; B62D5/12; B60B2310/00; B60B2310/30; B60B2310/305; B60Y; B60Y2200/00; B60Y2200/20; B60Y2200/22; B60Y2200/221; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S180/00; Y10S180/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A vehicle having an axle extending transversely thereof, axle rods at both ends of the axle in telescoped relation therewith, wheel mountings on the outer ends of the axle rods, wheels singably carried by said mountings, steering arms on said mountings for swinging said wheels, means for adjusting the telescoped lengths of the axle and axle rods to vary the track width of the wheels, a double ended hydraulic power cylinder fixed transversely on the vehicle adjacent said axle, a piston slidable in said cylinder, hollow piston shafts extending from the piston through and beyond the ends of the cylinder, steering rods slidably telescoped in the ends of the hollow piston shafts, tie rods at the ends of the steering rods, ball joints on the ends of the tie rods, the joints at the inboard ends of the tie rods connected to the steering rods in adjustable telescoped relation, the joints at the outboard ends of the tie rods connected to the steering arms, means locking the axle rods in selected telescoped relation with the axle to project the axle rods at selected distances beyond the axle, means locking the steering rods in selected telescoped relation with the piston shafts to project the steering rods at distances accommodating the selected distances of projection of the axle rods, and means for adjustably connecting the ball joints at the inboard ends of the tie rods in selected relation with the steering rods to adjust the toe of the wheels without altering the projection of said steering rods.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A vehicle having an axle extending transversely thereof, axle rods at both ends of the axle in telescoped relation therewith, wheel mountings on the outer ends of the axle rods, wheels singably carried by said mountings, steering arms on said mountings for swinging said wheels, means for adjusting the telescoped lengths of the axle and axle rods to vary the track width of the wheels, a double ended hydraulic power cylinder fixed transversely on the vehicle adjacent said axle, a piston slidable in said cylinder, hollow piston shafts extending from the piston through and beyond the ends of the cylinder, steering rods slidably telescoped in the ends of the hollow piston shafts, tie rods at the ends of the steering rods, ball joints on the ends of the tie rods, the joints at the inboard ends of the tie rods connected to the steering rods in adjustable telescoped relation, the joints at the outboard ends of the tie rods connected to the steering arms, means locking the axle rods in selected telescoped relation with the axle to project the axle rods at selected distances beyond the axle, means locking the steering rods in selected telescoped relation with the piston shafts to project the steering rods at distances accommodating the selected distances of projection of the axle rods, and means for adjustably connecting the ball joints at the inboard ends of the tie rods in selected relation with the steering rods to adjust the toe of the wheels without altering the projection of said steering rods.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the ball joints at the inboard ends of the tie rods have sockets with laterally projected stems threaded in the ends of the steering rods and ball studs with shanks projecting from the sockets secured to the tie rods.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
152 words
A power steering linkage for wheeled vehicles having adjustable track widths which comprises a double-ended hydraulic cylinder mounted transversely of the vehicle, a piston slidable in said cylinder having a power rod extending from both sides thereof through both ends of the cylinder, the outboard ends of said power rod being hollow, steering rods slideably telescoped in said hollow outboard ends of the power rod, means for locking the steering rods to the power rod in selected telescoped relation with the power rod to project the steering rods at selected distances beyond the power rod, tie rods at the ends of the steering rods, tie rod joints connecting the tie rods with the ends of the steering rods, and means for adjusting the joints to vary the position of the inboard ends of the tie rods from the outboard ends of the steering rods without altering the projection of the steering rods.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
152 words
A power steering linkage for wheeled vehicles having adjustable track widths which comprises a double-ended hydraulic cylinder mounted transversely of the vehicle, a piston slidable in said cylinder having a power rod extending from both sides thereof through both ends of the cylinder, the outboard ends of said power rod being hollow, steering rods slideably telescoped in said hollow outboard ends of the power rod, means for locking the steering rods to the power rod in selected telescoped relation with the power rod to project the steering rods at selected distances beyond the power rod, tie rods at the ends of the steering rods, tie rod joints connecting the tie rods with the ends of the steering rods, and means for adjusting the joints to vary the position of the inboard ends of the tie rods from the outboard ends of the steering rods without altering the projection of the steering rods.
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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) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |