Robot driver

• US 5,172,589 A
• Filed: 08/02/1991
• Issued: 12/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Georg Witt
• Original Assignee: Georg Witt
• Inventors: Witt, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): MYRACLE, JERRY
• Application Number:
  US07/721,573
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 73/132, 73/116, 73/117, 901/1, 901/9, 901/44, 901/45, 901/46, 901/50, 74/469, 180/316
• US Class Current: 73/132
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/00 Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or refitting of vehicles vehicles adapted to carry a workshop for servicing or maintenance B60P3/14; servicing rail locomotives B61K
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/223 Devices for pressurising brake systems acting on pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/207 Steering angle of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/00 Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/0074 Details, e.g. roller construction, vehicle restraining devices

Abstract

A robot driver for a motor vehicle, which has a central casing (4) to be mounted in the passenger compartment (1) and actuating elements (5) for pedals (6) and, if appropriate, gear lever, can be mounted in the passenger compartment in a stable and uncomplicated way and without the risk of damage in that the casing is supported on the seating surface and back rest surface (8,9) of the driver'"'"'s seat (2) and is connected to a rod (17) which is held on a steering wheel frame (19) mounted on the steering wheel (3) and is flush with the center of the steering column (18).

Claims

1. Robot driver for a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment, the robot driver comprising:

a central casing being mounted in the passenger compartment;

actuation element operatively connected to pedals of the motor vehicle;

a driver'"'"'s seat having a seating surface and a back rest surface, the central casing being supported on the seating and back rest surfaces;

a steering wheel frame being mounted to a steering wheel of the motor vehicle;

a rod being connected to the central casing and to the steering wheel frame such that it is flush with the center of a steering column of the motor vehicle.

2. Robot driver according to claim 1, wherein the rod (17) has a plurality of connection points at different distances from the steering wheel plane for connecting the rod to the central casing.

3. Robot driver according to claim 2, in which the rod (17) has a free end having a multiplicity of passage holes (16) and further comprising a connection pin (15) passing through one of said plurality of holes and a connection linkage (12, 13, 14) which couples the pin to the central casing (4).

4. Robot driver according to claim 3, further comprising adjustable clamping devices (21) for mounting and centering the steering wheel frame (19) on the top and laterally on the steering wheel (3).

5. Robot driver according to claim 3, in which the steering wheel frame (19) has a plate (20) which crosses the steering column (18), the plate having a receptacle (22) for receiving the rod (17).

6. Robot driver according to claim 3, in which the connection linkage (12,13,14) is mounted on both sides on the central casing (4), spans the top of the casing in the form of a link (12) and has in its center a connecting element (14) for connection to the rod (17).

7. Robot driver according to claim 3, further comprising a rigid L-shaped seating frame (7) which is mounted on the driver'"'"'s seat (2) and supports the central casing (4).

8. Robot driver according to claim 2, further comprising adjustable clamping devices (21) for mounting and centering the steering wheel frame (19) on the top and laterally on the steering wheel (3).

9. Robot driver according to claim 2, in which the steering wheel frame (19) has plate (20) which crosses the steering column (18), the plate having a receptacle (22) for receiving the rod (17).

10. Robot driver according to claim 2, further comprising a connection linkage which is mounted on both sides on the central casing (4), and wherein the connection linkage spans the top of the central casing in the form of a link (12), and has in its center a connecting element (14) for connection to the rod (17).

11. Robot driver according to claim 2, further comprising a rigid L-shaped seating frame (7) which is mounted on the driver'"'"'s seat (2) and supports the central casing (4).

12. Robot driver according to claim 1, further comprising adjustable clamping devices (21) for mounting and centering the steering wheel frame (19) on the top and laterally on the steering wheel (3).

13. Robot driver according to claim 12, in which the steering wheel frame (19) has a plate (20) which crosses the steering column (18), a plate having a receptacle (22) for receiving the rod (17).

14. Robot driver according to claim 12, further comprising a connection linkage (12,13,14) which is mounted on both sides on the central casing (4), and wherein the connection linkage spans the top of the central casing in the form of a link (12), and has in its center a connecting element (14) for connection to the rod (17).

15. Robot driver according to claim 12, further comprising a rigid L-shaped seating frame (7) which is mounted on the driver'"'"'s seat (2) and supports the central casing (4).

16. Robot driver according to claim 1, in which the steering wheel frame (19) has plate (20) which crosses the steering column (18), the plate having a receptacle (22) for receiving the rod (17).

17. Robot driver according to claim 16 further comprising a bayonet closure (23,24) for arresting the rod (17) in the receptacle (22).

18. Robot driver according to claim 17, further comprising a connection linkage (12,13,14) which is mounted on both sides on the central casing (4), and wherein the connection linkage spans the top of the central casing in the form of a link (12), and has in its center a connecting element (14) for connection to the rod (17).

19. Robot driver according to claim 17, further comprising a rigid L-shaped seating frame (7) which is mounted on the driver'"'"'s seat (2) and supports the central casing (4).

20. Robot driver according to claim 16, further comprising a connection linkage (12,13,14) which is mounted on both sides on the central casing (4), and wherein the connection linkage spans the top of the central casing in the form of a link (12), and has in its center a connecting element (14) for connection to the rod (17).

21. Robot driver according to claim 16, further comprising a rigid L-shaped seating frame (7) which is mounted on the driver'"'"'s seat (2) and supports the central casing (4).

22. Robot driver according to claim 1, further comprising a connection linkage (12, 13, 14) which is mounted on both sides on the central casing (4), and wherein the connection linkage spans the top of the central casing in the form of a link (12), and has in its center a connecting element (14) for connection to the rod (17).

23. Robot driver according to claim 22, further comprising a rigid L-shaped seating frame (7) which is mounted on the driver'"'"'s seat (2) and supports the central casing (4).

24. Robot driver according to claim 1, further comprising a rigid L-shaped seating frame (7) which is mounted on the driver'"'"'s seat (2) and supports the central casing (4).

25. Robot driver according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the actuation elements is operatively connected to a gear lever of the motor vehicle.