US3848690A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle steering control system
Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1971-08-02
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1991-08-02
Abstract
Abstract A steering system for a land vehicle wherein the right and left side are supported by independent supporting means, e.g. wheels or track units, embodying variable speed driving circuits capable of driving the right and left side supporting means of the machine at different speeds, a speed control for controlling the right and left variable driving means in the same direction by equal amounts to regulate in unison the speeds of the right and left side of the machine and a steering control, either manual or automatic, for relatively operating the right and left variable speed driving means to vary the speeds between the right and left side of the machine to effect steering.
Inventors
- 👤 R Hawkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:53
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/38; F16H61/40; F16H61/44; F16H61/456; B; B62; B62D; B62D11/00; B62D11/02; B62D11/06; B62D11/10; B62D11/14; B62D11/18; B62D11/183; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S60/00; Y10S60/911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A system to control the steering of a vehicle having right and left propelling means capable of being driven at different speeds, the system comprising: right variable speed driving means adapted to drive the right propelling means; left variable speed driving means adapted to drive the left propelling means; a source of direct current potential having first and second terminals; a speed control potentiometer having a resistive element connected between said first and second terminals and having a wiper arm; first connecting means connecting said wiper arm to the right variable speed driving means; second connecting means connecting said wiper arm to the left variable speed driving means; manual steering control means connected to said first and second connecting means to relatively adjust the power to the right and left variable speed driving means; and automatic steering control means comprising sensing means responsive to a preset reference for automatically controlling the steering of the vehicle, said automatic steering control means connected in parallel with said manual steering means to relatively adjust the power to the right and left variable speed driving means, wherein said speed control means controls the right and left variable speed driving means in unison to affect speed control and said manual and automatic steering control means controls the right and left variable speed driving means relative to one another to affect steering control.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
227 words
A system to control the steering of a vehicle having right and left propelling means capable of being driven at different speeds, the system comprising: right variable speed driving means adapted to drive the right propelling means; left variable speed driving means adapted to drive the left propelling means; a source of direct current potential having first and second terminals; a speed control potentiometer having a resistive element connected between said first and second terminals and having a wiper arm; first connecting means connecting said wiper arm to the right variable speed driving means; second connecting means connecting said wiper arm to the left variable speed driving means; manual steering control means connected to said first and second connecting means to relatively adjust the power to the right and left variable speed driving means; and automatic steering control means comprising sensing means responsive to a preset reference for automatically controlling the steering of the vehicle, said automatic steering control means connected in parallel with said manual steering means to relatively adjust the power to the right and left variable speed driving means, wherein said speed control means controls the right and left variable speed driving means in unison to affect speed control and said manual and automatic steering control means controls the right and left variable speed driving means relative to one another to affect steering control.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said manual steering control means comprises a steering potentiometer having a resistance portion connected from said first to said second connecting means and a wiper arm connected between said resistance portion of said steering potentiometer and said second terminal wherein said automatic steering control means is connected in parallel with said resistance portioN of said steering potentiometer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said right and left variable speed driving means each comprise: speed adjustment means adapted to adjust the speed of its associated propelling means; feedback means adapted to be responsive to the speed of its associated propelling means; and, amplifier means having a first input connected to its associated connecting means and a second input connected to its associated feedback means and having an output connected to its associated speed adjusting means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
286 words
A system to control the steering of a vehicle having right and left propelling means capable of being driven at different speeds, this system comprising: variable speed driving means adapted to drive the right propelling means; left variable speed driving means adapted to drive the left propelling means; a source of power; speed control means connected to said source of power; first connecting means connecting the speed control means to the right variable speed driving means; second connecting means connecting the speed control means to the left variable speed driving means; manual steering control means connected to said first and second connecting means to relatively adjust the power to the right and left variable speed driving means; and automatic steering control means comprising sensing means responsive to a preset reference for automatically controlling the steering of a vehicle, said automatic steering control means connected in parallel with said manual steering means to relatively adjust the power to the right and left variable speed driving means, wherein each of said right and left variable speed driving means comprises speed adjusting means adapted to control the speed of its respective propelling means; speed sensing means adapted to be responsive to the speed of its respective propelling means; and, comparator means having a first input connected to its respective connecting means and a second input connected to its respective speed sensing means and having an output connected to its respective speed adjusting means, and wherein said speed control means controls the right and left variable speed driving means in unison to affect speed control and said manual and automatic steering control means controls the right and left variable speed driving means relative to one another to affect steering control.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
286 words
A system to control the steering of a vehicle having right and left propelling means capable of being driven at different speeds, this system comprising: variable speed driving means adapted to drive the right propelling means; left variable speed driving means adapted to drive the left propelling means; a source of power; speed control means connected to said source of power; first connecting means connecting the speed control means to the right variable speed driving means; second connecting means connecting the speed control means to the left variable speed driving means; manual steering control means connected to said first and second connecting means to relatively adjust the power to the right and left variable speed driving means; and automatic steering control means comprising sensing means responsive to a preset reference for automatically controlling the steering of a vehicle, said automatic steering control means connected in parallel with said manual steering means to relatively adjust the power to the right and left variable speed driving means, wherein each of said right and left variable speed driving means comprises speed adjusting means adapted to control the speed of its respective propelling means; speed sensing means adapted to be responsive to the speed of its respective propelling means; and, comparator means having a first input connected to its respective connecting means and a second input connected to its respective speed sensing means and having an output connected to its respective speed adjusting means, and wherein said speed control means controls the right and left variable speed driving means in unison to affect speed control and said manual and automatic steering control means controls the right and left variable speed driving means relative to one another to affect steering control.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system according to claim 4 wherein the speed sensing means comprises a pulse pick up unit and a frequency to direct current converter connected between said pick up unit and its respective comparator.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
219 words
A system to control the steering of a vehicle having right and left propelling means capable of being driven at different speeds, said system comprising: right variable speed driving means adapted to drive the right propelling means and having an input terminal; left variable speed driving means adapted to drive the left propelling means and having an input terminal; a source of direct current power having first and second terminals; speed control potentiometer means having a resistive element connected between said first and second terminals and having a wiper arm; first resistance means connecting said wiper arm to said input terminal of said right variable speed driving means; second resistance means connecting said wiper arm to said input terminal of said left variable speed driving means; and, steering potentiometer means having a resistive element one side of which connected to the input terminal of said right variable speed driving means and the other side of which connected to the input terminal of said left variable speed driving means and further having a wiper arm connected between said resistive element and said second terminal, wherein adjustment of said speed potentiometer adjusts the right and left variable speed driving means in unison and adjustment of said steering potentiometer adjusts said right and left variable speed driving means oppositely to one another.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
219 words
A system to control the steering of a vehicle having right and left propelling means capable of being driven at different speeds, said system comprising: right variable speed driving means adapted to drive the right propelling means and having an input terminal; left variable speed driving means adapted to drive the left propelling means and having an input terminal; a source of direct current power having first and second terminals; speed control potentiometer means having a resistive element connected between said first and second terminals and having a wiper arm; first resistance means connecting said wiper arm to said input terminal of said right variable speed driving means; second resistance means connecting said wiper arm to said input terminal of said left variable speed driving means; and, steering potentiometer means having a resistive element one side of which connected to the input terminal of said right variable speed driving means and the other side of which connected to the input terminal of said left variable speed driving means and further having a wiper arm connected between said resistive element and said second terminal, wherein adjustment of said speed potentiometer adjusts the right and left variable speed driving means in unison and adjustment of said steering potentiometer adjusts said right and left variable speed driving means oppositely to one another.
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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) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |