Tiltable steering mechanism for an off-highway implement
First Claim
1. A tilting steering system for an off-highway implement comprising:
- an operator station defined by a floor;
a steering column extending above said floor and having a generally horizontal pivot axis about which said steering column pivots to an infinite number of generally vertical tilt positions, said steering column having a steering wheel arranged toward an upper end thereof; and
a locking mechanism positioned substantially underneath the floor of the operator station and operably associated with said steering column for locking said steering column in said infinite number of tilt positions;
said locking mechanism including a pivot arm operably connected to the steering column and extending beneath said floor.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tiltable steering system for an off-highway implement including a steering column having a steering wheel connected toward an upper end thereof. A tilting mechanism for the steering column defines a generally horizontal pivot about which the steering column moves. The tilting mechanism further includes a gas spring mechanism connected to the steering column for allowing the steering column to pivotally move through a relatively wide range of positions and thereafter be locked in a selected tilted position. A second tilting mechanism is provided between the steering column and the steering wheel for allowing the steering wheel to be adjusted and secured in a tilted position independently of the selected tilted position of the steering column. To further promote ergonomic positioning of the steering wheel, the steering column of the present invention is elevationally adjustable as through telescoping casings which define the steering column. A locking mechanism secures the casings in adjusted relation to each other thereby allowing the elevational position of the steering wheel to be adjusted as desired by the operator.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A tilting steering system for an off-highway implement comprising:
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an operator station defined by a floor; a steering column extending above said floor and having a generally horizontal pivot axis about which said steering column pivots to an infinite number of generally vertical tilt positions, said steering column having a steering wheel arranged toward an upper end thereof; and a locking mechanism positioned substantially underneath the floor of the operator station and operably associated with said steering column for locking said steering column in said infinite number of tilt positions; said locking mechanism including a pivot arm operably connected to the steering column and extending beneath said floor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A tilting steering system for an off-highway implement including an operator station defined by a floor, said steering mechanism comprising:
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a steering column extending above said floor and adapted to pivot to a plurality of generally vertical tilt positions about a generally horizontal pivot rod, said pivot rod being offset from a longitudinal centerline of the steering column, and said steering column having a steering wheel arranged toward an upper end thereof; a locking mechanism including a pivot arm extending generally radially from the pivot rod and beneath said floor, a gas spring mechanism positioned beneath said floor and attached to the pivot arm for releasably holding the steering column in said selected tilted position, and a spring biased actuating mechanism for operating said gas spring mechanism thereby allowing the steering column to be vertically moved to a selected tilt position; and an actuator having an upper portion extending above said floor and a lower portion extending below said floor for operably engaging said actuating mechanism.
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11. A triple articulated steering system for an off highway implement having an enclosed compartment including a front window and a floor, said steering system comprising:
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a steering column extending upwardly from the floor of the compartment and defining a generally horizontal first pivot axis about which said steering column is vertically tiltable to a selectable vertical steering column position, said steering column including a lower sleeve and an upper sleeve telescopingly received relative to each other and movable to a selectable steering column elevational position; a steering wheel arranged toward an upper end of the steering column, said steering wheel adapted to pivot about a second pivot axis extending generally parallel to the first pivot axis into a selectable steering wheel tilted position relative to the steering column; and said steering wheel tilted position, steering column tilted position, and steering column elevational position being independently adjustable, whereby two of said positions remain locked while the third of said positions is adjusted to a desired selectable position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A steering system for an off highway implement comprising:
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a steering column extending upwardly from the floor of the compartment and defining a generally horizontal first pivot axis about which said steering column is vertically tiltable to a selectable vertical steering column position; a first locking mechanism for releasably holding the steering column in an adjusted vertical tilt position; a steering wheel arranged toward an upper end of the steering column, said steering wheel adapted to pivot about a second pivot axis extending generally parallel to the first pivot axis into a selectable steering wheel tilted position relative to the steering column; and a second locking mechanism for releasably holding the steering wheel in an adjusted tilted position relative to the steering column, said second locking mechanism being operable independently of said first locking mechanism to thereby allow independent adjustment of said steering column vertical tilted position and said steering wheel tilted position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification