Dual steering for tilt-cab vehicle

Claim 2

In a tilt cab vehicle having directing means for governing the angular direction of steerable wheels upon which the vehicle travels, torque transfer means for transferring steering torque to the directing means, a first manually operable steering control means located within the tilt cab connected to the torque transfer means for generating said steering torque, the improvement comprising a second manually operable steering control means within the tilt cab positionally displaced from the first control means for alternatively generating said steering torque, a rod adapted to be extended operably interconnecting the first and second control means for transferring steering torque from the second control means to the first control means, a first gear means operably connected between the rod and the first control means for transferring steering torque generated at the second control means from the rod to the first control means, a second gear means operably connected between the second control means and the rod for transferring steering torque generated at the second control means from the second control means to the rod, a first holding means aligning the first gear means for correct intermeshing of the gear means and an attachment means slidably and pivotally attaching the first holding means to the tilt cab for restricting the first holding means from any rotation due to steering torque thereby permitting the cab to be tilted.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment means further comprises a plate fixedly attached to the holding means, a pin, securely mounted on the plate, extending away from the holding means, a stand, fixedly attached to the tilt cab, having edges defining a slot into which the pin is slidably and pivotally engaged thereby permitting the gear means enough freedom to allow the cab to tilt.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the slot further comprises a first slot which is greater in width than the lower steering shaft for providing ample clearance for angular displacement of the lower shaft when the cab is tilted and a second slot, closely dimensioned to approximate the diameter of the pin, for providing a close fit of the pin in the slot thereby restricting any turning of the first holding means due to steering torque.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment means further comprises a plate fixedly attached to the first holding means having edges defining a slot, a stand fixedly attached to the tilt cab, a pin securely mounted on the stand extending into the slot where it is slidably and pivotally engaged thereby permitting the gear means enough freedom to allow the cab to tilt while restricting any turning of the first holding means due to steering torque.

Claim 6

In a tilt cab vehicle having directing means for governing the angular direction of steerable wheels upon which the vehicle travels, torque transfer means for transferring steering torque to the directing means, a first manually operable steering control means, located within the tilt cab, of the type including a lower modified steering shaft, connected to the torque transfer means by a universal joint for generating said steering torque, the improvement comprising a second manually operable steering control means within the tilt cab positionally displaCed from the first control means, of the type including a steering shaft housing fixedly attached to the cab, a second steering shaft constrained by the shaft housing to axial rotation, and a manually operable steering handle fixedly attached to the steering shaft, for alternatively generating said steering torque, a rod, adapted to be extended, operably interconnecting the first and second control means for transferring steering torque from the second control means to the first control means, a first worm and worm-wheel gear means, encompassing said lower steering shaft, connected to the lower steering shaft by a keyed collar and set screw, and connected to the rod by a keyed, slidable, and universally jointed means for allowing skew motion while restricting axial rotation of the first gear means relative to the rod, for transferring steering torque generated at the second control means from the rod to the lower steering shaft, a second worm and worm-wheel gear means, connected to the rod by a keyed, slidable, and universally jointed means for allowing skew motion while restricting axial rotation of the rod relative to the second gear means, connected to said second steering shaft by a keyed collar and set screw, for transferring steering torque generated at the second control means from the second steering shaft to the rod, a first and second holding means each aligning the first and second gear means respectively for ensuring the correct intermeshing of the associated gear means while protecting the gear means from foreign matter, the second holding means being fixedly attached to the cab, and an attachment means, interconnecting the first holding means and the tilt cab, comprising a plate fixedly attached to the first holding means, a pin securely mounted on the plate extending away from the first holding means and a stand fixedly attached to the tilt cab having edges defining a slot into which the pin is slidably and pivotally engaged, for restricting the first holding means from any rotation due to steering torque while slidably and pivotally attaching the first holding means to the tilt cab thereby permitting the cab to be tilted.

Claim 7

In a tilt cab vehicle having directing means for governing the angular direction of steerable wheels upon which the vehicle travels, torque transfer means for transferring steering torque to the directing means, a first manually operable steering control means, located within the tilt cab, of the type including a lower modified steering shaft, connected to the torque transfer means by a universal joint for generating said steering torque, the improvement comprising a second manually operable steering control means within the tilt cab positionally displaCed from the first control means, of the type including a steering shaft housing fixedly attached to the cab, a second steering shaft constrained by the shaft housing to axial rotation, and a manually operable steering handle fixedly attached to the steering shaft, for alternatively generating said steering torque, a rod, adapted to be extended, operably interconnecting the first and second control means for transferring steering torque from the second control means to the first control means, a first worm and worm-wheel gear means, encompassing said lower steering shaft, connected to the lower steering shaft by a keyed collar and set screw, and connected to the rod by a keyed, slidable, and universally jointed means for allowing skew motion while restricting axial rotation of the first gear means relative to the rod, for transferring steering torque generated at the second control means from the rod to the lower steering shaft, a second worm and worm-wheel gear means, connected to the rod by a keyed, slidable, and universally jointed means for allowing skew motion while restricting axial rotation of the rod relative to the second gear means, connected to said second steering shaft by a keyed collar and set screw, for transferring steering torque generated at the second control means from the second steering shaft to the rod, a first and second holding means each aligning the first and second gear means respectively for ensuring the correct intermeshing of the associated gear means while protecting the gear means from foreign matter, the second holding means being fixedly attached to the cab, and an attachment means, interconnecting the first holding means and the tilt cab, comprising a plate fixedly attached to the first holding means, a pin securely mounted on the plate extending away from the first holding means and a stand fixedly attached to the tilt cab having edges defining a slot into which the pin is slidably and pivotally engaged, for restricting the first holding means from any rotation due to steering torque while slidably and pivotally attaching the first holding means to the tilt cab thereby permitting the cab to be tilted.