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Brake-actuating steering and braking control system for tracked vehicles

  • US 6,527,070 B2
  • Filed: 01/23/2001
  • Issued: 03/04/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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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:

  • 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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