Vehicle having auxiliary steering system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
a vehicle steering system, at least a portion of the vehicle steering system mounted to the frame, the vehicle steering system including a rotatable steering column;
wheels coupled to the steering column and configured to turn in response to a rotation of the steering column; and
an auxiliary steering system configured to rotate the steering column during remote vehicle operation, the auxiliary steering system including a direct hydraulic drive motor directly coupled to the steering column, wherein the direct hydraulic drive motor includes a rotor mounted to a drive shaft, a plurality of vanes operatively coupled to the rotor, a seal plate mounted about the rotor, and a plurality of rotational seal members that cooperate with the seal plate and the plurality of vanes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile material placer with an auxiliary steering system having a direct hydraulic drive mechanism. The mobile material placer includes a body, a material hopper coupled to the body and configured to receive and store material, a feeder conveyor coupled to the body, and a placer conveyor pivotally coupled to the body. The auxiliary steering system includes a direct hydraulic drive mechanism coupled to the steering column and which causes the steering column to rotate bidirectionally in response to fluid flow from a hydraulic pump.
165 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a frame; a vehicle steering system, at least a portion of the vehicle steering system mounted to the frame, the vehicle steering system including a rotatable steering column; wheels coupled to the steering column and configured to turn in response to a rotation of the steering column; and an auxiliary steering system configured to rotate the steering column during remote vehicle operation, the auxiliary steering system including a direct hydraulic drive motor directly coupled to the steering column, wherein the direct hydraulic drive motor includes a rotor mounted to a drive shaft, a plurality of vanes operatively coupled to the rotor, a seal plate mounted about the rotor, and a plurality of rotational seal members that cooperate with the seal plate and the plurality of vanes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 19)
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9. A mobile material placer comprising:
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a body; a material hopper coupled to the body and configured to receive and store material; a feeder conveyor coupled to the body and configured to receive material stored by the material hopper; a placer conveyor coupled pivotably to the body, the placer conveyor including an in-feed end and a discharge end;
the in-feed end of the placer conveyor is alignable with a discharge end of the feeder conveyor;an auxiliary steering system including a direct hydraulic drive motor directly coupled to a steering column of the mobile material placer, the auxiliary steering system configured to cause rotation of the steering column, wherein the direct hydraulic drive motor includes a rotor mounted to a drive shaft, a plurality of vanes operatively coupled to the rotor, a seal plate mounted about the rotor, and a plurality of rotational seal members that cooperate with the seal plate and the plurality of vanes; and an auxiliary drive mechanism configured to cause the mobile material placer to move forward and backward. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 20, 22)
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13. A vehicle comprising:
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an auxiliary steering system including a direct hydraulic drive motor directly coupled to a steering column of the vehicle, wherein the direct hydraulic drive motor includes a rotor mounted to a drive shaft, a plurality of vanes operatively coupled to the rotor, a seal plate mounted about the rotor, and a plurality of rotational seal members that cooperate with the seal plate and the plurality of vanes; an auxiliary drive mechanism; and a manual mode that enables an operator to; (i) steer the vehicle by turning a steering wheel connected to the steering column, and (ii) move the vehicle forwards and backwards by operating an accelerator, and a remote mode that enables the operator to; (i) steer the vehicle via remote operation of the auxiliary steering system, and (ii) move the vehicle forwards and backwards via remote operation of the auxiliary drive mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21)
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Specification