STEERING SYSTEM FOR TOOL-CARRYING VEHICLE

• US 3,792,745 A
• Filed: 03/10/1972
• Issued: 02/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rexworks, Inc. (Giuffre Bros. Cranes, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomas I. Files
• Inventors: Files, Thomas I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Application Number:
  US05/233,468
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 180/9.44,9.46,46,79.2C,79.2R,6H 280/91X,95
• US Class Current: 180/9.46
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/20 Endless-track steering having pivoted bogie carrying track B62D11/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle includes a frame and four individual traction carriages. A vertical post and a horizontally extending leg connect each carriage and a corner of the frame. The legs are pivotally connected to the frame for horizontal adjustment and each post is telescopic. Power means for steering the carriages and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'feedback'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' controls coordinate the parallel positioning of the carriages as required.

Claims

1. In a machine comprising a ground engaging tool and a vehicle having a frame to which the tool is attached, said vehicle further including individually powered, dirigible ground engaging traction units, a telescopic post supported by each unit, and bearings connecting said posts and said frame for the support of the frame, said posts being of adjustable length for the support of the frame and tool at the desired elevation, slope and attitude;

each post comprising at least two interfitting square tubes and a powered extensible column connecting the upper end of the outer tube and the lower end of the inner tube and operable therein to adjust the effective length of the post, the inner tube being vertically slidable but rotationally fixed with respect to the outer tube and the lower projecting end of the inner tube being connected to and supported by the respective traction unit, each of said bearings including an outer ring and a collar turnable therein, each collar being fixed to the lower end of an outer tube and each ring being connected to a corner of the frame, and power means carried by the frame and connected to the outer tube to rotate the entire post and thereby effect the dirigible adjustment of the respective traction unit.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the tubes of each post are square and are arranged so that two diagonally opposite corners are located forwardly and rearwardly with reference to the tractive effort transmitted from the traction unit to the frame through the interfitting posts whereby the lower forward sides and the upper rear sides of the inner post bear against the corresponding inner areas of the outer post and turning of the collar and outer post directly turns the inner post and traction unit without any apparent lost motion while the machine is in operation.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes horizontally extending legs, one end of each leg being fitted with an outer ring, and vertical pins interconnecting the other end of each such leg and the frame for the lateral adjustment of the legs whereby said traction units are laterally adjustable as well as dirigible.

4. A steering System for the two forward laterally spaced individually power ground engaging traction units of a vehicle including an extensible vertical telescopic post supported by each traction unit, a rigid horizontally extending leg supported at one end thereof by each telescopic post, a bracket carried by the other end of each leg and including a vertical pivot for lateral adjustment of the one end of the leg, a rigid tool-carrying frame, and means attaching each such bracket to said frame for the support of said frame and the tool carried thereby;

the improvement wherein each entire post is turnable in the respective leg and includes a steering arm and a power operated extensible rod which connects the end of the arm and the bracket such that the arm, leg, bracket and rod form a parallelogram and each carriage and leg may be laterally adjusted without altering the steering of the vehicle.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means attaching each bracket to the frame allows each bracket to be readily detached from the frame as for transport of the vehicle, each such bracket, leg, post, traction unit and rod being adapted to remain assembled for such transport.

6. The steering system of claim 4 which further includes separate control means directly controlling each of said extensible rods and an interconnecting linkage, one control means being operable in direct response to a required change of direction of the vehicle and the other control means being operated by said connecting linkage and responsive to a change in the relative positions of the two traction units.

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein each post comprises at least two interfitting square tubes and a powered extensible column connecting the upper end of the outer tube and the lower end of the inner tube and operable therein to adjust the effective length of the post, the inner tube being vertically slidable but rotationally fixed with respect to the outer tube and the lower projecting end of the inner tube being connected to and supported by the respective traction unit, said one end of each leg including a bearing in which the respective outer tube is turnable, and the respective steering arms being connected to the lower ends of the outer tubes to rotate each entire post and thereby effect the dirigible adjustment of the respective traction units.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the tubes of each post are square and are arranged so that two diagonally opposite corners are located forwardly and rearwardly with reference to the tractive effort transmitted from the traction unit to the frame through the interfitting posts.

9. A steering system for the two forward ground engaging mobile units of a vehicle of the type including a tool carrying frame and horizontally extending legs, one end of each leg being supported by a mobile unit and pivotally connected thereto to allow the unit to be directionally turned about a vertical axis for such steering, the other end of each leg being pivotally connected to the frame for adjustment about a vertical axis to allow each mobile unit to be selectively positioned laterally respecting the tool, separate power means for turning each of said mobile units, control means responsive to a signal indicated by a required change of direction of the vehicle and connected to and controlling one only of said power means to turn the corresponding one mobile unit only, and follower means responsive to the turning of said one mobile unit and connected to and controlling the other power means to turn the other mobile unit and maintain the parallel relationship of the two mobile units.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the last named means includes a linkage comprising a control arm associated and turning with each mobile unit on its steering axis, a bell crank turnable on the adjustment axis of each leg, a rod connecting each arm and an arm of the corresponding bell crank, and a cross-rod connecting the other corresponding arms of the bell crank, said means being Directly responsive to a change in the effective length of said linkage, the effective length of said arms being equal so that the effective length of the linkage is unaffected by any selected adjustment of said legs.

11. A steering system for two dirigible mobile support units of a vehicle, each of said mobile units have separately functioning power operated means to turn the respective units to the left and right, said power means together having four control inputs, guidance control means having separate directional outputs providing separate signals for directing the left and right turns of the vehicle, said directional outputs being connected to two only of said four control inputs, a mechanical linkage connecting the two mobile units and including sensing means having separate signal outputs, said sensing means being responsive to changes in the effective length of the linkage so as to provide no output signal while the mobile units are parallel, a first output signal when one unit is turned leftward of the other unit and a second output signal when one unit is turned rightward of the other unit, said separate outputs being connected only to the third and fourth control inputs of said power means.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the several control inputs and the directional and signal outputs are electrical and are connected by conductors.