Steer/brake system

A steering system for a vehicle having tracks configured to be steered under control of an operator by slowing at least one track on one side of the vehicle relative at least one track on another side of the vehicle comprising:

• (a) an operator control;
• (b) a braking system for each side of the vehicle comprising a master cylinder to operate a brake mechanism comprising a caliper and disc for braking a track under operation of the operator control;
• (c) an interface comprising a compliant element between the braking system and the operator control configured to provide for operation of the braking system for steering under operator control in (1) a first phase where the interface is engaged before the master cylinder has engaged the caliper and disc of the brake mechanism;
• (2) a second phase where the interface is at least partially engaged and force is applied through the interface to the master cylinder to engage the caliper with the disc of the brake mechanism to provide modulation for the operator control;
• (3) a third phase where the interface is fully engaged and force is applied directly to the master cylinder to engage the caliper with the disc of the brake mechanism;
• wherein the master cylinder for the braking system for each side of the vehicle comprises a dual-input master cylinder;
• wherein the compliant element of the interface is configured to provide modulation for the operator control;
• wherein the compliant element of the interface comprises a spring mechanism between the operator control and the master cylinder configured to provide modulation for the operator control for the second phase of operation;
• wherein the braking system is configured to facilitate steering of the vehicle through the operator control and interface by braking of at least one track on one side of the vehicle by the braking mechanism through the interface.

A steering system for a vehicle configured to be steered under control of an operator by slowing at one side of the vehicle relative to another side of the vehicle comprising:

• (a) an operator control;
• (b) a braking system for each side of the vehicle comprising a master cylinder to operate a brake mechanism comprising a caliper and disc for braking under operation of the operator control;
• (c) an interface comprising a compliant element between the braking system and the operator control configured to provide for operation of the braking system for steering under operator control in (1) a first phase where the interface is engaged before the master cylinder has engaged the caliper and disc of the brake mechanism;
• (2) a second phase where the interface is at least partially engaged and force is applied through the interface to the master cylinder to engage the caliper with the disc of the brake mechanism to provide modulation for the operator control;
• (3) a third phase where the interface is fully engaged and force is applied directly to the master cylinder to engage the caliper with the disc of the brake mechanism;
• wherein the master cylinder for the braking system for each side of the vehicle comprises a dual-input master cylinder;
• wherein the compliant element of the interface is configured to provide modulation for the operator control;
• wherein the compliant element of the interface comprises a mechanism between the operator control and the caliper and disc configured to provide modulation for the operator control for the second phase of operation;
• wherein the braking system is configured to facilitate steering of the vehicle through the operator control and interface by braking of one side of the vehicle by the braking mechanism through the interface;
• wherein the mechanism of the compliant element of the interface comprises at least one of (1) a spring between the operator control and the master cylinder;
• (2) a spring mechanism;
• (3) a spring mechanism between the operator control and the master cylinder;
• (4) a coil spring mechanism between the operator control and the master cylinder;
• (5) a torsion spring between the operator control and the master cylinder;
• (6) a torsion bar between the operator control and the master cylinder;
• (7) a steer arm between the operator control and the master cylinder;
• (8) a leaf spring between the operator control and the master cylinder;
• (9) a set of flexible master cylinder mounts;
• (10) an elastomeric member between the operator control and the master cylinder;
• (11) a set of disc springs between the operator control and the master cylinder;
• (12) a wave spring between the operator control and the master cylinder;
• (13) a set of coil springs;
• (14) a dual spring mechanism;
• (15) a mechanism between the operator control and the master cylinder configured to at least partially act on a pushrod for a piston assembly of the braking system;
• (16) a spring mechanism between the operator control and the master cylinder configured to at least partially act on a pushrod for a piston assembly of the braking system.