Brake-actuating steering and braking control system for tracked vehicles
First Claim
1. A brake-actuating steering and braking control system for a tracked vehicle having right and left side track assemblies, said system comprising:
- a braking control subsystem;
a steering control subsystem;
right and left side brake-actuating subsystems;
each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems including a respective one of right and left side brake mechanisms, each of said right and left side brake mechanisms being coupled to a respective one of said right and left side track assemblies of said tracked vehicle and being constructed and arranged upon actuation to brakingly engage respective right and left side track assemblies;
said braking control subsystem including a brake pedal depressibly displaceable by a user, said braking control subsystem being communicated with each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems such that each of said right and left side brake mechanisms is actuated proportionally to a magnitude of displacement of said brake pedal by said user such that upon actuation, the right and left side track assemblies are one of slowed and stopped according to the displacement magnitude of the brake pedal, thereby slowing or stopping the tracked vehicle according to the magnitude of displacement of said brake pedal;
said steering control subsystem including a steering wheel rotatably displaceable by a user in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, said steering control subsystem being communicated with each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems such that a corresponding one of said right and left side brake mechanisms is actuated proportionally to a magnitude of displacement of said steering wheel by said user such that upon actuation, one of the track assemblies according to the direction of displacement of said steering wheel, is one of slowed and stopped, thereby turning the tracked vehicle in a direction determined by the direction of displacement of said steering wheel within a radius determined by the magnitude of displacement of said steering wheel, a fluid reservoir for storing a volume of fluid;
a hydraulic pump connected to said reservoir for removing fluid therefrom; and
an accumulator control valve, which is connected to and supplied pressurized fluid from said hydraulic pump, said accumulator control valve being constructed and arranged to deliver fluid under pressure to one of said braking control subsystem and said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems, wherein said braking control subsystem includes a fluid accumulator, said fluid accumulator being constructed and arranged to store a volume of fluid under pressure therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A brake-actuating steering and braking control system for a tracked vehicle is provided with a braking control subsystem, a steering control subsystem, and right and left side brake-actuating subsystems. The braking control subsystem includes a brake pedal and is connected to brake mechanisms of each brake-actuating subsystem. A user may depress the brake pedal to apply a braking force to right and left side track assemblies of the tracked vehicle via the brake mechanisms to thereby slow or stop the tracked vehicle. The steering control subsystem includes a steering wheel and is connected to each of the brake mechanisms. The user may rotationally displace the steering wheel, which applies a braking force to the track assembly corresponding to the direction of rotational displacement of the steering wheel via the corresponding brake mechanism to thereby turn the tracked vehicle.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A brake-actuating steering and braking control system for a tracked vehicle having right and left side track assemblies, said system comprising:
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a braking control subsystem;
a steering control subsystem;
right and left side brake-actuating subsystems;
each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems including a respective one of right and left side brake mechanisms, each of said right and left side brake mechanisms being coupled to a respective one of said right and left side track assemblies of said tracked vehicle and being constructed and arranged upon actuation to brakingly engage respective right and left side track assemblies;
said braking control subsystem including a brake pedal depressibly displaceable by a user, said braking control subsystem being communicated with each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems such that each of said right and left side brake mechanisms is actuated proportionally to a magnitude of displacement of said brake pedal by said user such that upon actuation, the right and left side track assemblies are one of slowed and stopped according to the displacement magnitude of the brake pedal, thereby slowing or stopping the tracked vehicle according to the magnitude of displacement of said brake pedal;
said steering control subsystem including a steering wheel rotatably displaceable by a user in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, said steering control subsystem being communicated with each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems such that a corresponding one of said right and left side brake mechanisms is actuated proportionally to a magnitude of displacement of said steering wheel by said user such that upon actuation, one of the track assemblies according to the direction of displacement of said steering wheel, is one of slowed and stopped, thereby turning the tracked vehicle in a direction determined by the direction of displacement of said steering wheel within a radius determined by the magnitude of displacement of said steering wheel, a fluid reservoir for storing a volume of fluid;
a hydraulic pump connected to said reservoir for removing fluid therefrom; and
an accumulator control valve, which is connected to and supplied pressurized fluid from said hydraulic pump, said accumulator control valve being constructed and arranged to deliver fluid under pressure to one of said braking control subsystem and said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems, wherein said braking control subsystem includes a fluid accumulator, said fluid accumulator being constructed and arranged to store a volume of fluid under pressure therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A brake-actuating steering and braking control system for a tracked vehicle having right and left side track assemblies, said system comprising:
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a braking control subsystem;
a steering control subsystem;
right and left side brake-actuating subsystems;
each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems including a respective one of right and left side brake mechanisms, each of said right and left side brake mechanisms being coupled to a respective one of said right and left side track assemblies of said tracked vehicle and being constructed and arranged upon actuation to brakingly engage respective right and left side track assemblies;
said braking control subsystem including a brake pedal depressibly displaceable by a user, said braking control subsystem being communicated with each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems such that each of said right and left side brake mechanisms is actuated proportionally to a magnitude of displacement of said brake pedal by said user such that upon actuation, the right and left side track assemblies are one of slowed and stopped according to the displacement magnitude of the brake pedal, thereby slowing or stopping the tracked vehicle according to the magnitude of displacement of said brake pedal;
said steering control subsystem including a steering wheel rotatably displaceable by a user in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, said steering control subsystem being communicated with each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems such that a corresponding one of said right and left side brake mechanisms is actuated proportionally to a magnitude of displacement of said steering wheel by said user such that upon actuation, one of the track assemblies according to the direction of displacement of said steering wheel, is one of slowed and stopped, thereby turning the tracked vehicle in a direction determined by the direction of displacement of said steering wheel within a radius determined by the magnitude of displacement of said steering wheel, wherein said braking control subsystem includes a voltage varying structure, which is coupled to said brake pedal, said voltage varying structure being capable of delivering electrical power having a voltage corresponding to the displacement magnitude of said brake pedal to each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems, and wherein each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems includes a pressure control valve, said pressure control valves having a voltage actuator, which are connected to said voltage varying structure such that each of said pressure control valves are actuated proportionally to the voltage of the electrical power delivered thereto from the voltage varying structure thereby actuating each of said brake-actuating mechanisms proportionally to the magnitude of displacement of said brake pedal.
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9. A brake-actuating steering.and braking control system for a tracked vehicle having right and left side track assemblies, said system comprising:
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a braking control subsystem;
a steering control subsystem;
right and left side brake-actuating subsystems;
each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems including a respective one of right and left side brake mechanisms, each of said right and left side brake mechanisms being coupled to a respective one of said right and left side track assemblies of said tracked vehicle and being constructed and arranged upon actuation to brakingly engage respective right and left side track assemblies;
said braking control subsystem including a brake pedal depressibly displaceable by a user, said braking control subsystem being communicated with each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems such that each of said right and left side brake mechanisms is actuated proportionally to a magnitude of displacement of said brake pedal by said user such that upon actuation, the right and left side track assemblies are one of slowed and stopped according to the displacement magnitude of the brake pedal, thereby slowing or stopping the tracked vehicle according to the magnitude of displacement of said brake pedal;
said steering control subsystem including a steering wheel rotatably displaceable by a user in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, said steering control subsystem being communicated with each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems such that a corresponding one of said right and left side brake mechanisms is actuated proportionally to a magnitude of displacement of said steering wheel by said user such that upon actuation, one of the track assemblies according to the direction of displacement of said steering wheel, is one of slowed and stopped, thereby turning the tracked vehicle in a direction determined by the direction of displacement of said steering wheel within a radius determined by the magnitude of displacement of said steering wheel, a fluid reservoir for storing a volume of fluid;
a hydraulic pump connected to said reservoir for removing fluid therefrom; and
an accumulator control valve, which is connected to and supplied pressurized fluid from said hydraulic pump, said accumulator control valve being constructed and arranged to deliver fluid under pressure to one of said braking control subsystem and said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems, wherein said braking control subsystem includes a fluid accumulator, said fluid accumulator being constructed and arranged to store a volume of fluid under pressure therein, wherein each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems includes a pressure control valve, each pressure control valve being communicated with said accumulator control valve and having fluid under pressure supplied therefrom, each of said pressure control valves having a hydraulic actuator, which is constructed and arranged to actuate associated pressure control valves in proportion to an amount of fluid under pressure supplied thereto. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A brake-actuating steering and braking control system for a tracked vehicle having right and left side track assemblies, said system comprising:
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a braking control subsystem;
a steering control subsystem;
right and left side brake-actuating subsystems;
each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems including a respective one of right and left side brake mechanisms, each of said right and left side brake mechanisms being coupled to a respective one of said right and left side track assemblies of said tracked vehicle and being constructed and arranged upon actuation to brakingly engage respective right and left side track assemblies;
said braking control subsystem including a brake pedal depressibly displaceable by a user, said braking control subsystem being communicated with each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems such that each of said right and left side brake mechanisms is actuated proportionally to a magnitude of displacement of said brake pedal by said user such that upon actuation, the right and left side track assemblies are one of slowed and stopped according to the displacement magnitude of the brake pedal, thereby slowing or stopping the tracked vehicle according to the magnitude of displacement of said brake pedal;
said steering control subsystem including a steering wheel rotatably displaceable by a user in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, said steering control subsystem being communicated with each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems such that a corresponding one of said right and left side brake mechanisms is actuated proportionally to a magnitude of displacement of said steering wheel by said user such that upon actuation, one of the track assemblies according to the direction of displacement of said steering wheel, is one of slowed and stopped, thereby turning the tracked vehicle in a direction determined by the direction of displacement of said steering wheel within a radius determined by the magnitude of displacement of said steering wheel, a fluid reservoir for storing a volume of fluid;
a hydraulic pump connected to said reservoir for removing fluid therefrom; and
an accumulator control valve, which is connected to and supplied pressurized fluid from said hydraulic pump, said accumulator control valve being constructed and arranged to deliver fluid under pressure to one of said braking control subsystem and said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems, wherein said braking control subsystem includes a fluid accumulator, said fluid accumulator being constructed and arranged to store a volume of fluid under pressure therein, wherein each of said right and left side brake-actuating subsystems includes a pressure control valve, each pressure control valve being communicated with said accumulator control valve and having fluid under pressure supplied therefrom, each of said pressure control valves having a voltage actuator, which is constructed and arranged to actuate associated pressure control valves in proportion to a voltage of electrical power supplied thereto. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification