Patent US3783966A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3783966A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Steering system for vehicles
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-18
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1992-08-18
Abstract
Abstract A steering system for vehicles includes an oscillating axle, a pair of wheel lean members individually transversely rockably coupled to the opposite ends of the axle, a pair of king pins associated with each of the wheel lean members, a pair of spindle housings individually pivotally movable on each wheel lean member through the king pins and having an integral steering arm thereon, a pair of wheels individually rotatable with respect to the spindle housings, a tie rod directly connecting each of the steering arms, and at least one steering cylinder connected between one of the steering arms and the axle to provide a high angle of steer for increased vehicle maneuverability and a minimum of interaction between wheel lean and steering functions.
Inventors
- 👤 J Campbell
- 👤 C Hart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:13
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D49/00; B62D49/06; B62D49/0621; B62D49/0635; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/30; B62D9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A steering system for vehicles comprising, an elongated frame having a longitudinal axis substantially aligned with a predetermined forward and rearward direction of earth traversing movement of such a vehicle, axle means rockably coupled to said frame transversely of said axis having opposite outer ends, a pair of wheel lean members individually rockably coupled to said opposite ends of said axle means for swinging movement in a substantially upright plane, wheel lean actuation means pivotally mounted on said axle means and effective to rock said wheel lean members relative to said axle means, wheel mounting means pivotally mounted on said wheel lean members for swinging movement through a plane substantially normal to said plane of pivotal movement of said wheel lean members and having a steering arm thereon, tie rod means directly connecting each of said steering arms, and power means pivotally interconnecting at least one of said steering arms and said axle means and being disposed in substantially horizontally coplanar relation to said axle means in order to provide a minimum interaction between the wheel lean and steering functions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A steering system for vehicles comprising, an elongated frame having a longitudinal axis substantially aligned with a predetermined forward and rearward direction of earth traversing movement of such a vehicle, axle means rockably coupled to said frame transversely of said axis having opposite outer ends, a pair of wheel lean members individually rockably coupled to said opposite ends of said axle means for swinging movement in a substantially upright plane, wheel lean actuation means pivotally mounted on said axle means and effective to rock said wheel lean members relative to said axle means, wheel mounting means pivotally mounted on said wheel lean members for swinging movement through a plane substantially normal to said plane of pivotal movement of said wheel lean members and having a steering arm thereon, tie rod means directly connecting each of said steering arms, and power means pivotally interconnecting at least one of said steering arms and said axle means and being disposed in substantially horizontally coplanar relation to said axle means in order to provide a minimum interaction between the wheel lean and steering functions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The steering system of claim 1 wherein said tie rod means is a single tie rod pivotally connected to each of said steering arms independently of the pivotal connection of said power means to at least one of said steering arms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The steering system of claim 1 wherein said power means comprises at least one cylinder and associated extendible piston rod substantially horizontally rearwardly coupled to said axle means and one of said steering arms for maximum protection against objects encountered during said earth traversing movement of the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The steering system of claim 1 including a pair of horizontally longitudinally disposed wheel lean pins for individually rockably mounting said wheel lean members on said outer ends of said axle means, and a pair of vertically spaced king pins individually positioned above and below each of said wheel lean pins and in relatively transversely closely spaced relation thereto whereby errors in steering due to rocking of said wheel lean members is minimized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The steering system of claim 4 wherein said power means comprises at least one extendible hydraulic cylinder connected to said steering arm at an elevation substantially coinciding with said wheel lean pin whereby the rocking of said wheel lean members on said axle results in only a minimum influence on the steering angle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The steering system of claim 1 wherein said wheel mounting means includes a spindle housing having a cylindrical bore and bearing means disposed in said bore, a spindle rotatably received in said bearing means, and a wheel removably secured to said spindle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The steering system of claim 1 wherein said axle means includes an elongated axle having bifurcated opposite ends individually adapted to embrace said wheel lean member, and means individually pivotally mounting said whEel lean members on said ends of the axle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The steering system for vehicles of claim 7 wherein said wheel lean actuation means is pivotally disposed between at least one of said pair of wheel lean members and said axle in elevationally spaced substantially coplanar relation with said bifurcated opposite ends of said axle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The steering system of claim 8 including a wheel lean link, and an upwardly extending arm on each of said wheel lean members pivotally attached to said link whereby said link is substantially horizontally disposed at an elevational position forwardly adjacent to said wheel lean actuation means in shielding relation during said forward earth traversing movement of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
181 words
A steering system comprising, an elongated frame having a longitudinal axis, an axle transversely rockably coupled to said frame and having a pair of outwardly disposed opposite ends, a longitudinally oriented wheel lean pin associated with each of said opposite ends, a bifurcated wheel lean member transversely and rockably coupled to each of said opposite ends of said axle by said wheel lean pin, a wheel lean cylinder pivotally mounted on said axle and effective to rock said wheel lean members relative to said axle, king pin means associated with said wheel lean member, a bifurcated spindle housing having a steering arm thereon and cooperatively associated with said king pin means for pivotal turning of said spindle housing on each of said wheel lean members and so that said wheel lean pin is transversely closely spaced with respect to said king pin means for minimum steering error with respect to wheel lean, wheel means adapted for rotation with respect to each of said spindle housings, and a steering cylinder connected between at least one of said steering arms and said axle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
181 words
A steering system comprising, an elongated frame having a longitudinal axis, an axle transversely rockably coupled to said frame and having a pair of outwardly disposed opposite ends, a longitudinally oriented wheel lean pin associated with each of said opposite ends, a bifurcated wheel lean member transversely and rockably coupled to each of said opposite ends of said axle by said wheel lean pin, a wheel lean cylinder pivotally mounted on said axle and effective to rock said wheel lean members relative to said axle, king pin means associated with said wheel lean member, a bifurcated spindle housing having a steering arm thereon and cooperatively associated with said king pin means for pivotal turning of said spindle housing on each of said wheel lean members and so that said wheel lean pin is transversely closely spaced with respect to said king pin means for minimum steering error with respect to wheel lean, wheel means adapted for rotation with respect to each of said spindle housings, and a steering cylinder connected between at least one of said steering arms and said axle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The steering system of claim 10 wherein said king pin means is an upper pin and a lower pin pivotally joining said bifurcated spindle housing and said bifurcated wheel lean member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The steering system for vehicles of claim 11 wherein said wheel lean pin is positioned in a substantially horizontal plane substantially intermediate said upper pin and said lower pin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
163 words
A wheel mounting arrangement for a vehicle comprising; pivotal connection means on the vehicle; bifurcated wheel lean means rockably mounted on said pivotal connection means and having an outwardly directed upper flange and an outwardly directed lower flange substantially equidistantly spaced from said pivotal connection means; bifurcated spindle means having an integral steering arm, an inwardly directed upper flange, and an inwardly directed lower flange with the flanges being substantially equidistantly spaced from said pivotal connection means between said upper and lower flanges of said wheel lean means; a pair of vertically spaced king pins individually pivotally coupling said upper flanges and said lower flanges of said spindle means and said wheel lean means, respectively; wheel means adapted for rotation on said spindle means; and powered extendible retractable steering means pivotally attached to said steering arm at an elevation corresponding with said pivotal connection means so that the influence of wheel lean is minimal on the angle of steer of said wheel means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
163 words
A wheel mounting arrangement for a vehicle comprising; pivotal connection means on the vehicle; bifurcated wheel lean means rockably mounted on said pivotal connection means and having an outwardly directed upper flange and an outwardly directed lower flange substantially equidistantly spaced from said pivotal connection means; bifurcated spindle means having an integral steering arm, an inwardly directed upper flange, and an inwardly directed lower flange with the flanges being substantially equidistantly spaced from said pivotal connection means between said upper and lower flanges of said wheel lean means; a pair of vertically spaced king pins individually pivotally coupling said upper flanges and said lower flanges of said spindle means and said wheel lean means, respectively; wheel means adapted for rotation on said spindle means; and powered extendible retractable steering means pivotally attached to said steering arm at an elevation corresponding with said pivotal connection means so that the influence of wheel lean is minimal on the angle of steer of said wheel 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) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |