Dual control driving system

• US 4,921,066 A
• Filed: 02/22/1988
• Issued: 05/01/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eldon C. Grumbo, Marsha C. Grumbo
• Original Assignee: Refuse Trucks, Inc.
• Inventors: Conley, Challie
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/158,350
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 180/321, 180/322, 180/325, 74/494
• US Class Current: 180/322
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/22 Alternative steering-control elements, e.g. for teaching purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/34 Double foot controls, e.g. for instruction vehicles

Abstract

An improved dual control driving system is provided for a combustion engine powered vehicle moveable on wheels and having a pair of steering systems, a pair of braking systems and a pair of accelerator systems. The steering systems work in tandem with each other; the braking systems work in tandem with each other. The accelerator systems, however, work independently of each other.

Claims

1. An improved dual control driving system for a vehicle movable on wheels, comprising:

a first steering system for altering the vehicle'"'"'s direction of movement, the first steering system having a first rotating post element operatively engaged to at least one wheel and extending from a floor of said vehicle to a extending from a floor of said vehicle to a dashboard, the first post element being fixed in a cab area of the vehicle to prevent tilting movement of the first post element;

a second steering system dependent upon the first steering system for altering the vehicle'"'"'s direction of movement the second steering system being constructed so as to obviate the need for another post element similar in function and configuration to the first post element;

first means for connecting the first and second steering systems for tandem operation, the first means being off of a floor area of the cab;

means for stationarily fixing the positions of the first steering system and the second steering system in the cab area, including a plurality of support plates;

a first braking system operatively engaged to at least one wheel;

a second braking system dependent upon the first braking system for retarding the vehicle'"'"'s movement, the second system being operatively engaged through the first braking system to those wheel engaged by the first braking system;

second means for connecting the first and second braking systems for tandem operation;

a first accelerator control system for controlling the speed of the vehicle; and

a second acceleration control for controlling the speed of the vehicle independent of the first accelerator control system.

2. The driving system according to claim 1 wherein said first means is located in an open area of said cab.

3. The driving system according to claim 1 wherein said first means is located within a dashboard in said cab.

4. The driving system according to claim 1 wherein said second means is located outside the cab.

5. The driving system according to claim 1 wherein said second means is located inside said cab.

6. An improved dual control driving system in a vehicle movable on wheels and operable by an operator within a cab area of the vehicle, the cab having a driver'"'"'s position, a passenger'"'"'s position and a floor, the driving system being operable from either the driver'"'"'s or passenger'"'"'s position and having at least a pair of dependent steering systems, a pair of dependent braking systems, and a pair of independent accelerator systems, comprising:

a first steering system for altering the vehicle'"'"'s direction of movement, the first steering system having a first steering element inside the cab area and operable from the driver'"'"'s position, a rotatable first post element having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being at the floor of the cab and operatively engaged to at least one wheel, said first steering system including a first support means for supporting the first post element so as to be fixed in the cab to prevent tilting movement and thus maintain its position along only a single first axis, a first adaptor element operatively intermediate the first post element and the first steering element to transfer rotational movement between the first post element and the first steering element;

a second steering system dependent upon the first steering system for altering the vehicle'"'"'s direction of movement, the second system being operatively engaged, through the first steering system and having a second steering element located inside the cab area and operable from the passenger'"'"'s position, the second steering system also including second support means to support the second steering element, the second support means being in one of a first position in the cab and a second position completely within and attached to a dashboard in the cab, the second support means remaining stationarily fixed upon rotation of either the first steering element or the second steering element, and a second adaptor element that transfers rotational movement between the second steering element and the first steering system;

first means for connecting the first and second steering systems for tandem operation, including a first gear box and a second gear box associated with the first and second steering systems, respectively, the first means being located at one of the first position and a second position, the first position being at an exterior underside of said dashboard, the second position being within said dashboard, and a pair of universal joint elements that operatively engage the two gear boxes to each other;

a first braking system operatively engaged to at least one wheel for retarding the vehicle'"'"'s movement and having a first brake activation element disposed within the cab area and operable from the driver'"'"'s position;

a second braking system dependent upon the first braking system for retarding the vehicle'"'"'s movement, the second system being operatively engaged, through the first braking system, to those wheels engaged by the first braking system and having a second brake activation element disposed within the cab area and operable from the passenger'"'"'s position;

second means for connecting the first and second braking systems for tandem operation, the second means being located at one of a first position and a second position, the first position being outside the cab, the second position being inside the cab;

a first accelerator control system for controlling the speed of the vehicle and having a first accelerator activation element disposed within the cab area and operable from the driver'"'"'s position; and

a second accelerator control system operatively engaged to the engine for controlling the speed of the vehicle independent of the first accelerator control system and having a second accelerator activation element disposed within the cab area and operable from the passenger'"'"'s position.

7. The driving system according to claim 6 wherein when the second support means is in the first position, the second support means includes a second post element in an open area of the cab with a lower end thereof adjacent the floor and an upper end thereof adjacent the second steering element.

8. The driving system according to claim 6 wherein when the second support means is in the second position, the support means includes a pair of side brackets with a rod element held therebetween and a plate element supported by the rod element and for holding the second gear box.

9. The driving system according to claim 6 wherein when the first connecting means is in the first position, the first connecting means includes a tie bar fixed to and between the first and second gear boxes, the first gear box being positioned at the upper end of the first post element, the second gear box being positioned at an upper end of a second post element extending underneath the dashboard and down to the floor of the cab.

10. The driving system according to claim 6 wherein when the first connecting means is in the second position, the first connecting means includes a steering shaft element fixed between the universal joints and inside the dashboard.

11. The driving system according to claim 6 wherein the second connecting means includes a brake shaft element operatively supported by a pair of bearing elements and operatively engaged to the first and second brake activation elements.

12. A dual control driving system for a truck having a non-tilting cab, comprising:

a first steering system, including;

a first steering element in the cab;

a first adaptor element engaged to the

first steering element;

a first gear box located within and attached by a first plate to a dashboard in the cab, said first gear box being engaged to the first adaptor element; and

a first post element that extends from a floor of said cab and to said dashboard for operative engagement to said first gear box such that said first post element can rotate while being prevented from tilting;

a first brake activation element in the cab to activate a first braking system;

a second brake activation element in the cab to activate a second braking system that is dependent upon the first braking system for operation;

engaging means for operatively engaging the first braking system with the second braking system, including;

a first bearing element stationarily fixed at the floor of and in the cab;

a second bearing element stationarily fixed at the floor of and in the cab; and

a rotatable member journalled in the bearing elements and engaged to the first and second brake activation elements;

a second steering system, including;

a second steering element in the cab;

a second adaptor element engaged to the second steering element;

a second gear box located within and attached to the dashboard, said second gear box being engaged to the second adaptor element; and

a support means for supporting the second gear box, the support means including a second plate and bracket assembly stationarily fixed to and confined within the dashboard so as to preclude rotation of said support system and also obviate the need for another post element similar in function and configuration to said first post element;

transferring means for transferring movement between the first and second gear boxes, the transferring means being within the dashboard; and

a pair of acceleration systems.