Steering system for a zero-turn radius vehicle
First Claim
1. A cam mechanism for use with a cable steering apparatus, comprising:
- first and second cams having a common axis of rotation, each of the first and second cams comprising;
a first portion having a first radius;
a second portion having a second radius greater than the first radius; and
a transition portion located between the first portion and the second portion;
wherein the transition portion of the first cam is generally located 180 degrees opposite the transition portion of the second cam with respect to the common axis of rotation; and
first, second and third spacing disks each having a radius greater than the radius of the second portion of the first and second cams, the first spacing disk mounted to the first cam and located above the first cam relative to the ground, the second spacing disk mounted to the first cam and second cam and located below the first cam and above the second cam relative to the ground, and the third spacing disk mounted to the second cam and located below the second cam relative to the ground.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steering apparatus for a zero-turn radius vehicle using a steering mechanism coupled to a first set of wheel assemblies by a plurality of cables. User input to the steering mechanism causes the cables to turn the first set of wheel assemblies about a vertical axis. Specifically, the cables link the steering mechanism to cam mechanisms that are attached to each wheel assembly. The design of the cam mechanism, which preferably includes two cams of varying radii, enables the two wheel assemblies to rotate about their vertical axes at varied degrees of rotation and greater than ninety degrees from the forward facing position, thereby resulting in zero-turn radius capability.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A cam mechanism for use with a cable steering apparatus, comprising:
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first and second cams having a common axis of rotation, each of the first and second cams comprising; a first portion having a first radius; a second portion having a second radius greater than the first radius; and a transition portion located between the first portion and the second portion; wherein the transition portion of the first cam is generally located 180 degrees opposite the transition portion of the second cam with respect to the common axis of rotation; and first, second and third spacing disks each having a radius greater than the radius of the second portion of the first and second cams, the first spacing disk mounted to the first cam and located above the first cam relative to the ground, the second spacing disk mounted to the first cam and second cam and located below the first cam and above the second cam relative to the ground, and the third spacing disk mounted to the second cam and located below the second cam relative to the ground. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle comprising:
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first and second wheel assemblies, the first and second wheel assemblies each comprising a wheel and a cam mechanism, the cam mechanisms of the first and second wheel assemblies each comprising; first and second cams having a common axis of rotation, each of the first and second cams comprising; a first portion having a first radius; a second portion having a second radius greater than the first radius; and a transition portion located between the first portion and the second portion; wherein the transition portion of the first cam is generally located 180 degrees opposite the transition portion of the second cam with respect to the common axis of rotation; and first, second and third spacing disks each having a radius greater than the radius of the second portion of the first and second cams, the first spacing disk mounted to the first cam and located above the first cam relative to the ground, the second spacing disk mounted to the first cam and second cam and located below the first cam and above the second cam relative to the ground, and the third spacing disk mounted to the second cam and located below the second cam relative to the ground; and a steering shaft rotatably disposed on the vehicle and connected to the first and second wheel assemblies via a plurality of cables, wherein rotation of the steering shaft causes the wheels of the first and second wheel assemblies to be steered. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A cam mechanism for use with a cable steering apparatus, comprising:
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a first cam comprising; a first portion having a first radius and an axis of rotation; a second portion having a second radius greater than the first radius; a transition portion located between the first portion and the second portion; and a perimeter surface generally parallel to the axis of rotation, for receiving a first cable; a second cam sharing the same axis of rotation as the first cam, the second cam comprising; a first portion having a third radius; a second portion having a fourth radius greater than the third radius; a transition portion located between the first portion and the second portion; and a perimeter surface generally parallel to the axis of rotation, for receiving a second cable; wherein the transition portion of the first cam is generally located 180 degrees opposite the transition portion of the second cam with respect to the common axis of rotation; a first surface generally perpendicular to the common axis of rotation and adjacent the first cam, wherein the first surface extends radially beyond the perimeter surface of the first cam, thereby positioning part of the first cable on the perimeter surface of the first cam; a second surface generally perpendicular to the common axis of rotation, adjacent the first cam and opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface extends radially beyond the perimeter surface of the first cam, thereby positioning part of the first cable on the perimeter surface of the first cam; a third surface generally perpendicular to the common axis of rotation and adjacent the second cam, wherein the third surface extends radially beyond the perimeter surface of the second cam, thereby positioning part of the second cable on the perimeter surface of the second cam; and a fourth surface generally perpendicular to the common axis of rotation, adjacent the second cam and opposite the third surface, wherein the fourth surface extends radially beyond the perimeter surface of the second cam, thereby positioning part of the second cable on the perimeter surface of the second cam. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A vehicle comprising:
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first and second wheel assemblies, each of the first and second wheel assemblies comprising a wheel and a cam mechanism, each cam mechanism of the first and second wheel assemblies comprising; a first cam comprising; a first portion having a first radius and an axis of rotation; a second portion having a second radius greater than the first radius; a transition portion located between the first portion and the second portion; and a perimeter surface generally parallel to the axis of rotation, for receiving a first cable; a second cam sharing the same axis of rotation as the first cam, the second cam comprising; a first portion having a third radius; a second portion having a fourth radius greater than the third radius; a transition portion located between the first portion and the second portion; and a perimeter surface generally parallel to the axis of rotation, for receiving a second cable; wherein the transition portion of the first cam is generally located 180 degrees opposite the transition portion of the second cam with respect to the common axis of rotation; a first surface generally perpendicular to the common axis of rotation and adjacent the first cam, wherein the first surface extends radially beyond the perimeter surface of the first cam, thereby positioning part of the first cable on the perimeter surface of the first cam; a second surface generally perpendicular to the common axis of rotation, adjacent the first cam and opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface extends radially beyond the perimeter surface of the first cam, thereby positioning part of the first cable on the perimeter surface of the first cam; a third surface generally perpendicular to the common axis of rotation and adjacent the second cam, wherein the third surface extends radially beyond the perimeter surface of the second cam, thereby positioning part of the second cable on the perimeter surface of the second cam; and a fourth surface generally perpendicular to the common axis of rotation, adjacent the second cam and opposite the third surface, wherein the fourth surface extends radially beyond the perimeter surface of the second cam, thereby positioning part of the second cable on the perimeter surface of the second cam; and a steering shaft rotatably disposed on the vehicle and connected to the first and second wheel assemblies via a plurality of cables, wherein rotation of the steering shaft causes the wheels of the first and second wheel assemblies to be steered. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification