US3884320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-driven machine, with differential steering
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-07-30
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1993-07-30
Abstract
Abstract The chassis of the machine has an irregular H shape in plan and has two parallel longitudinal members whose rear ends are connected to the differential of the rear wheels and whose front ends are fixed to a centre hollow cross-member. Two hollow lateral branches are connected to the cross-member to form a yoke which extends over the whole of the width of the machine and within which yoke may be secured working equipment. The essential parts of the steering mechanism are contained inside the crossmember and the branches and are so arranged as to permit a differential orientation of the steering wheels so that, in the extreme steering position, the machine has a turning circle radius equal to the track of the vehicle wheels.
Inventors
- 👤 Leveau Raymond Louis Auguste
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:44
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D49/00; B62D49/06; B62D49/0607
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
357 words
A self-driven machine, in particular for agricultural use, comprising: a chassis, a rear set of wheels, a differential for the rear set of wheels, an engine unit in the vicinity of of the rear set of wheels and differential, a pair of front steering wheels, a chassis element secured to the chassis and defining at the front end of the machine a yoke having a cross-member extending substantially throughout the width of the machine and two branches extending forwardly from and pivotably mounted on the cross-member, the branches respectively supporting the two steering wheels, means for angularly setting the branches relative to the cross-member, and a steering mechanism operatively connected to the steering wheels for orienting the steering wheels in the desired direction and mainly disposed within the cross-member and the branches whereby the yoke defines a space completely free in the front of the machine for receiving working equipment, said steering mechanism comprising a steering control means, a drive element responsive to the control means, an orienting device combined with each of the two steering wheels for changing the orientation of the corresponding wheel relative to a longitudinal axis of the machine transmission means, and a differential system, the drive element being operatively connected to each of the two orienting devices through the transmission means and to at least one of the orienting devices through the differential system, the differential system being operative to render the orientations imparted to the two steering wheels by the drive element through the transmission means and orienting devices different in that, in respect of orientations of the steering wheels other than those in which they are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine when the control means for steering the machine is in a neutral position, each wheel is oriented in a direction which is, in plan, tangent to an arc of a circle whose centre coincides with the centre of the turning circle of the machine said differential system including means for modifying the effect of the differential system in accordance with different locations of the wheels resulting from different angular settings of the branches of the yoke.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
357 words
A self-driven machine, in particular for agricultural use, comprising: a chassis, a rear set of wheels, a differential for the rear set of wheels, an engine unit in the vicinity of of the rear set of wheels and differential, a pair of front steering wheels, a chassis element secured to the chassis and defining at the front end of the machine a yoke having a cross-member extending substantially throughout the width of the machine and two branches extending forwardly from and pivotably mounted on the cross-member, the branches respectively supporting the two steering wheels, means for angularly setting the branches relative to the cross-member, and a steering mechanism operatively connected to the steering wheels for orienting the steering wheels in the desired direction and mainly disposed within the cross-member and the branches whereby the yoke defines a space completely free in the front of the machine for receiving working equipment, said steering mechanism comprising a steering control means, a drive element responsive to the control means, an orienting device combined with each of the two steering wheels for changing the orientation of the corresponding wheel relative to a longitudinal axis of the machine transmission means, and a differential system, the drive element being operatively connected to each of the two orienting devices through the transmission means and to at least one of the orienting devices through the differential system, the differential system being operative to render the orientations imparted to the two steering wheels by the drive element through the transmission means and orienting devices different in that, in respect of orientations of the steering wheels other than those in which they are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine when the control means for steering the machine is in a neutral position, each wheel is oriented in a direction which is, in plan, tangent to an arc of a circle whose centre coincides with the centre of the turning circle of the machine said differential system including means for modifying the effect of the differential system in accordance with different locations of the wheels resulting from different angular settings of the branches of the yoke.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 1, wherein the branches of the yoke are pivotable relative to the cross-member independently of each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The machine of claim 1, wherein said differential system includes an electronic computer for rendering the orientations of the steering wheels different and said modifying means comprise means for changing the program of the computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The machine of claim 1, wherein said orienting devices include means for enabling the wheels to be put parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in said neutral position of said steering control means, when modifying the angular setting of the corresponding branch of the yoke.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
278 words
A self-driven machine, in particular for agricultural use, comprising: a chassis, a rear set of wheels, a differential for the rear set of wheels, an engine unit in the vicinity of the rear set of wheels and differential, a pair of front steering wheels, a chassis element secured to the chassis and defining at the front end of the machine a yoke having a cross-member extending substantially throughout the width of the machine and two branches extending forwardly from the cross-member, the branches respectively supporting the two steering wheels, and a steering mechanism operatively connected to the steering wheels for orienTing the steering wheels in the desired direction and mainly disposed within the cross-member and the branches whereby the yoke defines a space completely free in the front of the machine for receiving working equipment, the steering mechanism being capable of achieving orientation of the steering wheels and comprising a drive element mounted in the cross-member, a differential system, transmission means and an orienting device combined with each steering wheel, the drive element being operatively connected to each orienting device through the differential system and the transmission means, the differential system comprising at least one connecting means pivoted to the drive element and connected to one of the transmission means and comprising a roller, a fixed guide means in which guide means the roller is guidedly engaged, the guide means having a profile which is such that the guide means is capable of imparting to the connecting means an angular displacement about its pivotal connection to the drive element which causes the transmission means to travel a distance different to the distance that the drive element travels through.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
278 words
A self-driven machine, in particular for agricultural use, comprising: a chassis, a rear set of wheels, a differential for the rear set of wheels, an engine unit in the vicinity of the rear set of wheels and differential, a pair of front steering wheels, a chassis element secured to the chassis and defining at the front end of the machine a yoke having a cross-member extending substantially throughout the width of the machine and two branches extending forwardly from the cross-member, the branches respectively supporting the two steering wheels, and a steering mechanism operatively connected to the steering wheels for orienTing the steering wheels in the desired direction and mainly disposed within the cross-member and the branches whereby the yoke defines a space completely free in the front of the machine for receiving working equipment, the steering mechanism being capable of achieving orientation of the steering wheels and comprising a drive element mounted in the cross-member, a differential system, transmission means and an orienting device combined with each steering wheel, the drive element being operatively connected to each orienting device through the differential system and the transmission means, the differential system comprising at least one connecting means pivoted to the drive element and connected to one of the transmission means and comprising a roller, a fixed guide means in which guide means the roller is guidedly engaged, the guide means having a profile which is such that the guide means is capable of imparting to the connecting means an angular displacement about its pivotal connection to the drive element which causes the transmission means to travel a distance different to the distance that the drive element travels through.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 5, wherein the transmission means comprise flexible cables movable within flexible sheaths.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 5, wherein the drive element comprises a moving part of a double-acting cylinder device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 5, comprising two of said connecting means respectively connected to the two transmission means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 5, wherein the guide means is formed in a detachable plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The machine of claim 5, wherein a single connecting means is employed and is directly connected at two points disposed on each side of the pivotal connection of the connecting means to the drive element to the respective transmission means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine of claim 10, wherein the two points of connection to the transmission means and the guided roller are located at corners of a triangle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
84 words
The machine of claim 5, comprising two guide means and two corresponding connecting means each of which connecting means comprises an arm, a roller carried at an end portion of the arm and engaged with the associated guide means, another end portion of the arm being pivoted to the drive element and defining teeth, and a rack slidable in a direction parallel to the drive element and connected to an adjacent end of the corresponding transmission means, the teeth being engaged with the rack.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The machine of claim 12, wherein the drive element comprises a moving part of a double-acting cylinder device and each rack is guided in slideways integral with the cylinder device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The machine in claim 5, wherein each orienting device comprises a control cylinder device and a directional valve associated with the control cylinder device and having a slide to which a corresponding end of the transmission means is connected, the directional valve controlling the control cylinder device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
The machine of claim 14, wherein the control cylinder device has a moving part, and there are provided a rack integral with the moving part, a pinion, a pivot, an arm, a steering wheel stub-axle carried by the arm, the arm being secured to the pivot and the pinion being integral with the pivot and meshing with the rack.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
258 words
A self-driven machine, in particular for agricultural use, comprising: a chassis, a rear set of wheels, a differential for the rear set of wheels, an engine unit in the vicinity of the rear set of wheels and differential, a pair of front steering wheels, a chassis element secured to the chassis and defining at the front end of the machine a yoke having a cross-member extending substantially throughout the width of the machne and two branches extending forwardly from the cross-member, the branches respectively supporting the two steering wheels, and a steering mechanism operatively connected to the steering wheels for orienting the steering wheels in the desired direction and mainly disposed within The cross-member and the branches whereby the yoke defines s space completely free in the front of the machine for receiving working equipment, said steering mechanism comprising, associated with each of said steering road wheels, an electronic servo connected to a wheel orientation detector and actuating an electromagnetic directional valve controlling an orienting device, the electronic servo associated with one of said steering road wheels being further connected to a pulse generator mechanically coupled to the steering column of the machine, a computer being provided for receiving information relative to the orientation of said one steering road wheel and for supplying to the electronic servo associated with the other steering road wheel on the basis of a predetermined program, instructions relative to the orientation to be given to said other wheel as a function of information relative to the orientation of said one steering road wheel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
258 words
A self-driven machine, in particular for agricultural use, comprising: a chassis, a rear set of wheels, a differential for the rear set of wheels, an engine unit in the vicinity of the rear set of wheels and differential, a pair of front steering wheels, a chassis element secured to the chassis and defining at the front end of the machine a yoke having a cross-member extending substantially throughout the width of the machne and two branches extending forwardly from the cross-member, the branches respectively supporting the two steering wheels, and a steering mechanism operatively connected to the steering wheels for orienting the steering wheels in the desired direction and mainly disposed within The cross-member and the branches whereby the yoke defines s space completely free in the front of the machine for receiving working equipment, said steering mechanism comprising, associated with each of said steering road wheels, an electronic servo connected to a wheel orientation detector and actuating an electromagnetic directional valve controlling an orienting device, the electronic servo associated with one of said steering road wheels being further connected to a pulse generator mechanically coupled to the steering column of the machine, a computer being provided for receiving information relative to the orientation of said one steering road wheel and for supplying to the electronic servo associated with the other steering road wheel on the basis of a predetermined program, instructions relative to the orientation to be given to said other wheel as a function of information relative to the orientation of said one steering road wheel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 16, wherein each orienting device comprises a control cylinder device controlled by said electromagnetic directional valve.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
The machine of claim 17, wherein the control cylinder device has a moving part, and there are provided a rack integral with the moving part, a pinion, a pivot, an arm, a steering wheel stub-axle carried by the arm, the arm being secured to the pivot and the pinion being integral with the pivot and meshing with the rack.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |