AUTOMATIC CARTRIDGE TAPE STEERING SYSTEM FOR MACHINES

• US 3,840,086 A
• Filed: 02/05/1973
• Issued: 10/08/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John P. Burton
• Original Assignee: John P. Burton
• Inventors: Burton, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pekar, John A.
• Application Number:
  US05/329,809
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 180/79.1 46/244D 318/568
• US Class Current: 180/204
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/02 vehicle-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/04 electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear

Abstract

An automatic steering system for machines, such as, lawn mowers, snow blowers, and the like, which automatically steers the machine by control signals recorded on a cartridge tape. The control signals are converted by electrical circuits to mechanical movement of the steering wheels of the machine by an electromechanical steering mechanism coupled thereto. The machine automatically follows a predetermined path controlled by the signals recorded on the cartridge tape, and when its operation is complete, a control signal automatically terminates the machine'"'"''"'"'s operation.

Claims

1. An automatic steering system for machines including steering wheels, drive wheels, and at least one drive motor coupled to the drive wheels comprising:

a tape player mounted on the machine and including a prerecorded cartridge tape having control signals recorded thereon for controlling the operation of the machine;

a steering control circuit coupled to said tape player;

a steering control mechanism coupled to said steering control circuit and responsive thereto and to the steering wheels of the machine for controlling movement thereof, said steering control mechanism comprising at least two solenoids electrically coupled to said steering circuit and mechanically coupled to the steering wheels of the machine, for controlling the position of said steering wheels with respect to the machine, said steering control mechanism including a mechanical linkage coupled to said steering wheels and pivotable about a moveable fulcrum, and wherein said steering mechanism further comprises an additional solenoid, mounted on the machine, and coupled to said moveable fulcrum point of said mechanical linkage for moving said fulcrum point about which said linkage pivots so as to increase and decrease the turning radius of the steering wheels of the machine;

a drive control circuit coupled to said tape player; and

a drive control mechanism coupled to the drive wheels and drive motor of the machine for controlling the directional movement of the drive wheels of the machine.

2. The steering system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a tape recorder, mounted on the machine and coupled to said tape player, and manual control means coupled to said tape player, for generating control signals and controlling the operation of the machine, said control signals generated by said control means being recorded on said cartridge tape by said tape player in sequence.

3. The steering system as recited in claim 1, wherein said drive control mechanism comprises a forward-reverse transmission, coupled to the drive wheels and said drive motor, and a solenoid, electrically coupled to said drive control circuit and mechanically coupled to said transmission, for controlling the directional movement of the machine.

4. The steering system as recited in claim 3, wherein the drive motor is an electric motor, and wherein said machine further comprises an electrical battery, mounted on the machine and coupled to said tape player, for activating said steering and drive control circuits, said solenoids, said transmission, said drive motor and said tape player.

5. The steering system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a cutoff switch, mounted on the machine at the forward end thereof, and electrically coupled to said tape player, for disconnecting said battery from said tape player when said switch is engaged by an object.

6. The steering system as recited in claim 1, further comprising bias springs, coupled to said mechanical linkage, for returning said steering wheels to a straight-ahead position with respect to the machine when said solenoids are de-energized.

7. The steering system as recited in claim 1, wherein said steering mechanism comprises a reversible DC motor mounted on said machine, and having a drive gear mounted on the output shaft thereof, and a moveable transverse steering rod, coupled to the steering wheels of the machine, and including a rack engaging said drive gear, said motor being coupled to said steering circuit and moving said transverse rod for a predetermined duration in a predetermined direction for controlling the turning movement of said steering wheels.

8. The steering system as recited in claim 7, further comprising bias springs, coupled to said rod at one end thereof, and to the machine, for returning the steering wheels of the machine to a straight-ahead position with respect to the machine when said motor is de-energized.