Control linkage for hydrostatically powered drive and steering system or the like

Claim 2

In a bidirectional control arrangement having a pair of individually operative pedals pivoted on a housing and an output member linearly reciprocable between a neutral position and two opposite extreme positions, in combination with an actuator mechanism for transmitting movement of said pedals to movement of said output member, said actuator mechanism comprising a crossshaft, a pair of levers keyed to said cross-shaft and extending generally in opposite directions from said cross-shaft, one of said levers being connected to one of said foot pedals and the other of said levers being pivotally connected to a link, a sleeve concentrically mounted on said cross-shaft and having first ans second radially extending levers connected thereto, the first of said levers being connected to the other of said foot pedals, the second of said levers extending from the same side of the sleeve as said first lever and being pivotally connected to a link, a balance lever pivotally connected at one end to the link on the other lever on the cross-shaft and connected at the other end to the link on the second lever on said sleeve, a crank pivotally mounted on the housing and having one lever connected to the midpoint of the balance lever and having another lever connected to the output member whereby downward movement of either pedal will pivot the balance lever and move the output member toward one of the extreme positions.

Claim 3

In the bidirectional control arrangement of claim 1 wherein a link is pivotally connected between the lever on the cross-shaft and the pedal, said link having means for adjusting the length of said link for varying the height of the pedal above a platform on the housing, and a second link is pivotally connected between the second lever on the sleeve and the pedal, said second link having means for adjusting the length of said link for varying the height of the other pedal above the platform on the housing.

Claim 4

In the bidirectional control arrangement of claim 1 wherein means are provided for urging both pedals in the up position.

Claim 5

In the bidirectional control arrangement of claim 1 wherein a spring means urges said pair of levers and said cross-shaft in a counterclockwise direction with one of said levers being urged against a stop with the associated pedal urged in the up position, and said sleeve has a third lever projecting outwardly therefrom and being connected to a second spring means for urging said sleeve and said associated three levers in a counterclockwise direction with one of said levers being urged against a stop with the associated pedal urged in the up position.

Claim 6

In the bidirectional control arrangement of claim 4 wherein said stops are adjustable.

Claim 7

In a bidirectional control arrangement having a housing, a pair of individually operative pedals pivoted on said housing, an output member linearly reciprocable between an opposite pair of extreme positions, in combination with an actuator mechanism for transmitting pivotal movement of each of said pedals to linear movement of said output member, said actuator mechanism comprising a first bell crank pivotally mounted on said housing and having a pair of levers extending in opposite directions with one of said levers connected to one of said pedals and the other of said levers being pivotally connected to a link, means for urging said pedal in an up position, a second bell crank pivotally mounted concentrically on said first bell crank and having first and second radialy extending levers connected thereto, the first of said levers being connected to the other of said foot pedals, the second of said levers extending from the same side of the bell crank as said first lever and being pivotally connected to a link, means for urging said other foot pedal in an up position, a balance lever pivotally connected at one end to the link on the other lever on the first bell crank and connected at the other end to the link on the second lever on said second bell crank, means pivotally mounted on the housing and having one portion connected to the midpoint of the balance lever and having another portion connected to the output member whereby downward movement of either pedal will pivot the associated bell crank and the balance lever to move the output member toward one of the extreme positions.

Claim 8

In a bidirectional control arrangement having a housing, a pair of individually operative pedals pivoted on said housing, an output member linearly reciprocable between an opposite pair of extreme positions, in combination with an actuator mechanism for transmitting pivotal movement of each of said pedals to linear movement of said output member, said actuator mechanism comprising a first bell crank pivotally mounted on said housing and having a pair of levers extending in opposite directions with one of said levers connected to one of said pedals and the other of said levers being pivotally connected to a link, means for urging said pedal in an up position, a second bell crank pivotally mounted concentrically on said first bell crank and having first and second radialy extending levers connected thereto, the first of said levers being connected to the other of said foot pedals, the second of said levers extending from the same side of the bell crank as said first lever and being pivotally connected to a link, means for urging said other foot pedal in an up position, a balance lever pivotally connected at one end to the link on the other lever on the first bell crank and connected at the other end to the link on the second lever on said second bell crank, means pivotally mounted on the housing and having one portion connected to the midpoint of the balance lever and having another portion connected to the output member whereby downward movement of either pedal will pivot the associated bell crank and the balance lever to move the output member toward one of the extreme positions.

Claim 9

In the bidirectional control arrangement of claim 6 wherein said means for urging said pedal in an up position is a spring means which urges one of the levers on the first bell crank against an adjustable stop and wherein said means for urging said other pedal in an up position is a spring means which urges one of the levers of the second bell crank against an adjustable stop.

Claim 10

In the bidirectional control arrangement of claim 6 wherein means are provided between the levers on the first and second bell cranks and the two pedals which means are adjustable for varying the distance between the levers on said first and second bell cranks and said two pedals.

Claim 11

An actuator mechanism for a bidirectional control comprising a housing, a pair of individually operative pedals pivoted on said housing, an output member linearly reciprocable between at least two positions, a first bell crank means being pivotally mounted on said housing and being connected to one of said pedals, a second bell crank means being concentrically mounted relative to said first bell crank means and being connected to the other of said pedals, a lever carried by said first bell crank means and projecting in a direction opposite to the portion of the first bell crank means connected to said one pedal, a lever carried by said second bell crank means and projecting in the sAme direction as the portion of the second bell crank means connected to said other pedal, a first link connected to the lever carried by said first bell crank means, a second link connected to the lever carried by said second bell crank means, a balance lever pivotally connected at each end to the first and second links on the levers of the first and second bell crank means, a crank member pivotally mounted on the housing and having one lever connected to the midpoint of the balance lever and having another lever connected to the output member whereby downward movement of either pedal will pivot the bell crank means associated with said pedal to pivot the balance lever about the pivotal connection between said balance lever and the link carried by the other bell crank means to pivot the crank member and move the output member in one direction.

Claim 12

An actuator mechanism for a bidirectional control comprising a housing, a pair of individually operative pedals pivoted on said housing, an output member linearly reciprocable between at least two positions, a first bell crank means being pivotally mounted on said housing and being connected to one of said pedals, a second bell crank means being concentrically mounted relative to said first bell crank means and being connected to the other of said pedals, a lever carried by said first bell crank means and projecting in a direction opposite to the portion of the first bell crank means connected to said one pedal, a lever carried by said second bell crank means and projecting in the sAme direction as the portion of the second bell crank means connected to said other pedal, a first link connected to the lever carried by said first bell crank means, a second link connected to the lever carried by said second bell crank means, a balance lever pivotally connected at each end to the first and second links on the levers of the first and second bell crank means, a crank member pivotally mounted on the housing and having one lever connected to the midpoint of the balance lever and having another lever connected to the output member whereby downward movement of either pedal will pivot the bell crank means associated with said pedal to pivot the balance lever about the pivotal connection between said balance lever and the link carried by the other bell crank means to pivot the crank member and move the output member in one direction.

Claim 13

The actuator mechanism for a bidirectional control as claimed in claim 9 wherein means are provided for urging both bell cranks in a counterclockwise direction against adjustable stops with said pedals held in an up position.