Adjusting arrangement for steerable transport assembly for self-propelled construction vehicle
First Claim
1. A self-propelled construction vehicle having a frame supported on a steerable transport assembly, the steerable transport assembly comprising a ground engaging structure depending from a steering mechanism movable within a defined range relative to a generally vertical steering axis, the steering mechanism comprising an upstanding post integrally coupled to the ground engaging structure for unitary rotation thereof about the steering axis and a steering control assembly comprising a collar assembly coupled to the post and an actuator mounted to the frame and coupled to the collar assembly for driving rotation of the collar assembly and the post selectively in opposite rotational directions, the collar assembly comprising a driving collar element integrally coupled to the actuator and a driven collar element integrally coupled to the post the driving collar element having two coupling locations angularly spaced from one another and the driven collar element having a coupling location adapted for affixation selectively to either of the coupling locations of the driving collar element, the driven collar element being affixable to the driving collar element selectively in a first disposition relative to the driving collar element for orienting the post and the ground engaging the structure for steering the vehicle in a first transport direction and in a second disposition relative to the driving collar element for orienting the post and the ground engaging structure angularly spaced from the first disposition for steering the vehicle in a second transport direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved arrangement for adjusting crawler-type transport assemblies in a self-propelled construction vehicle between two differing “home” positions. The crawler transport assembly comprises a steering mechanism including a collar assembly operated via an actuator mounted to the frame of the apparatus for driving steering rotation of the transport assembly via the collar assembly. The collar assembly comprises a driving element integrally coupled to the actuator and a driven element integrally coupled to the transport assembly. The driven element can be affixed to the driving element selectively in two differing dispositions corresponding to the two “home” positions of the transport assembly.
99 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A self-propelled construction vehicle having a frame supported on a steerable transport assembly, the steerable transport assembly comprising a ground engaging structure depending from a steering mechanism movable within a defined range relative to a generally vertical steering axis, the steering mechanism comprising an upstanding post integrally coupled to the ground engaging structure for unitary rotation thereof about the steering axis and a steering control assembly comprising a collar assembly coupled to the post and an actuator mounted to the frame and coupled to the collar assembly for driving rotation of the collar assembly and the post selectively in opposite rotational directions, the collar assembly comprising a driving collar element integrally coupled to the actuator and a driven collar element integrally coupled to the post the driving collar element having two coupling locations angularly spaced from one another and the driven collar element having a coupling location adapted for affixation selectively to either of the coupling locations of the driving collar element, the driven collar element being affixable to the driving collar element selectively in a first disposition relative to the driving collar element for orienting the post and the ground engaging the structure for steering the vehicle in a first transport direction and in a second disposition relative to the driving collar element for orienting the post and the ground engaging structure angularly spaced from the first disposition for steering the vehicle in a second transport direction.
- 9. A self-propelled construction vehicle having a frame supported on a steerable transport means, the steerable transport means comprising a ground engaging means depending from a steering means movable within a defined range relative to a generally vertical steering axis, the steering means comprising an upstanding post integrally coupled to the ground engaging means for unitary rotation thereof about the steering axis and a steering control means comprising a collar means coupled to the post and an actuator means mounted to the frame and coupled to the collar means for driving rotation of the collar means and the post selectively in opposite rotational directions, the collar means comprising a driving means integrally coupled to the actuator means and a driven means integrally coupled to the post, the driving means having two coupling locations angularly spaced from one another and the driven means having a coupling location adapted for affixation selectively to either of the coupling locations of the driving means, the driven means being affixable to the driving means selectively in a first disposition relative to the driving means for orienting the post and the ground engaging means for steering the vehicle in a first transport direction and in a second disposition at relative to the driving means for orienting the post and the ground engaging means angularly spaced from the first disposition for steering the vehicle in a second transport direction.
Specification