All-wheel steering mechanism for a cleaning vehicle
First Claim
1. A cleaning vehicle for movement over a surface to be cleaned comprising:
- a first wheel mounted to said vehicle for rotation about a first rotational axis and for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis;
a second wheel mounted to said vehicle for rotation about a second rotational axis and for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis;
drive means mounted to said vehicle and operatively connected to said first and second wheels for providing rotation of said first and second wheels respectively about said first and second rotational axes and thereby propelling said vehicle;
a third wheel mounted rearwardly of said first and second wheels to said vehicle for rotation about a third rotational axis and for pivotal movement about a third pivot axis;
scrubbing means attached to said vehicle for cleaning the surface, said scrubbing means located rearwardly of said first and second wheels; and
a steering mechanism for selectively and conjointly pivoting said first, second and third wheels respectively about said first, second and third pivot axes, said steering mechanism including a pivot arm pivotally attached to said vehicle for pivotal movement about a fourth pivot axis, a first steering linkage operatively connecting said pivot arm to said first wheel, a second steering linkage operatively connecting said pivot arm to said second wheel, and a third steering linkage operatively connecting said pivot arm to said third wheel, whereby pivotal movement of said pivot arm causes conjoint pivotal movement of said first, second and third wheels respectively about said first, second and third pivot axes.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cleaning vehicle including an all-wheel steering mechanism. First, second and third wheels are mounted to the vehicle for rotation about respective first, second and third rotational axes and for pivotal movement about respective first, second and third pivot axes. The first and second wheels are located transversely across from one another and are both driven by a drive mechanism. The steering mechanism includes a pivot arm pivotally attached to the vehicle. A first steering linkage operatively connects the pivot arm to the first wheel, a second steering linkage operatively connects the pivot arm to the second wheel, and a third steering linkage operatively connects the pivot arm to the third wheel. Pivotal movement of the pivot arm causes conjoint pivotal movement of the first and second wheels in a first pivotal direction and pivotal movement of the third wheel in a second opposite pivotal direction.
51 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A cleaning vehicle for movement over a surface to be cleaned comprising:
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a first wheel mounted to said vehicle for rotation about a first rotational axis and for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis; a second wheel mounted to said vehicle for rotation about a second rotational axis and for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis; drive means mounted to said vehicle and operatively connected to said first and second wheels for providing rotation of said first and second wheels respectively about said first and second rotational axes and thereby propelling said vehicle; a third wheel mounted rearwardly of said first and second wheels to said vehicle for rotation about a third rotational axis and for pivotal movement about a third pivot axis; scrubbing means attached to said vehicle for cleaning the surface, said scrubbing means located rearwardly of said first and second wheels; and a steering mechanism for selectively and conjointly pivoting said first, second and third wheels respectively about said first, second and third pivot axes, said steering mechanism including a pivot arm pivotally attached to said vehicle for pivotal movement about a fourth pivot axis, a first steering linkage operatively connecting said pivot arm to said first wheel, a second steering linkage operatively connecting said pivot arm to said second wheel, and a third steering linkage operatively connecting said pivot arm to said third wheel, whereby pivotal movement of said pivot arm causes conjoint pivotal movement of said first, second and third wheels respectively about said first, second and third pivot axes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A cleaning vehicle for movement over a surface to be cleaned comprising:
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a first wheel mounted to said vehicle for rotation about a first rotational axis and for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis; a second wheel mounted to said vehicle for rotation about a second rotational axis and for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis; drive means mounted to said vehicle and operatively connected to said first and second wheels for providing rotation of said first and second wheels respectively about said first and second rotational axes and thereby propelling said vehicle; a third wheel mounted rearwardly of said first and second wheels to said vehicle for rotation about a third rotational axis and for pivotal movement about a third pivot axis; and a steering mechanism for selectively and conjointly pivoting said first, second and third wheels respectively about said first, second and third pivot axes, said steering mechanism including a pivot arm pivotally attached to said vehicle for pivotal movement about a fourth pivot axis, a first steering linkage operatively connecting said pivot arm to said first wheel, said first steering linkage being pivotally connected to said pivot arm for pivotal movement therebetween, a second steering linkage operatively connecting said pivot arm to said second wheel, said second steering linkage being pivotally connected to said pivot arm for pivotal movement therebetween, and a third steering linkage operatively connecting said pivot arm to said third wheel, said third steering linkage being pivotally connected to said pivot arm for pivotal movement therebetween, a cylinder having a selectively extendable and retractable ram connected to said pivot arm for selectively pivoting said pivot arm about said fourth pivot axis, and a manually operated pump operatively connected to said cylinder for selectively extending or retracting said ram of said cylinder, whereby the selective extension of said ram causes said pivot arm to pivot about said fourth pivot axis in a first pivotal direction and the selective retraction of said ram causes said pivot arm to pivot about said fourth pivot axis in a second pivotal direction. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification