Mechanical Boolean Steering

A method of steering or maintaining a travel path of a vehicle adapted to travel on a track or a guideway, the vehicle having at least one steerable wheel connected to an axle pivotably supported by a support frame, the method comprising the steps of:

• maintaining a vehicle steering system in a neutral position to maintain the travel path of the vehicle in a straight line;
• engaging the vehicle steering system in a first direction to cause the vehicle to turn in a direction corresponding to the first direction;
• and
• engaging the vehicle steering system in a second direction to cause the vehicle to turn in a direction corresponding to the second direction,
• wherein the vehicle steering system comprises:
• a drive shaft having a rotational axis along its length;
• a first substantially semicircular gear element provided on the drive shaft and adapted to engage a first rack;
• and
• a second substantially semicircular gear element provided on the drive shaft and adapted to engage a second rack,
• wherein the first and second substantially semicircular gear elements are offset along the rotational axis of the drive shaft and are located about a common end of the drive shaft such that:
• the first substantially semicircular gear element engages the first rack when the drive shaft is rotated in a first direction;
• the second substantially semicircular gear element engages the second rack when the drive shaft is rotated in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction;
• and
• both first and second substantially semicircular gear elements engage the first and the second rack, respectively, when the drive shaft is in a neutral position.

A vehicle adapted to travel on a track or a guideway, the vehicle comprising:

• at least one steerable tire connected to an axle pivotably supported by a support frame;
• a steering system for steering the vehicle;
• a steering wheel operatively connected to a drive shaft of the steering system;
• and
• at least one wheel operatively connected to the steering system, wherein the steering system further comprises:
• a first substantially semicircular gear element adapted to engage a first rack;
• and
• a second substantially semicircular gear element adapted to engage a second rack,
• wherein the first and the second substantially semicircular gear elements are offset along the rotational axis of the drive shaft and are located about a common end of the drive shaft such that:
• the first substantially semicircular gear element engages the first rack when the drive shaft is rotated in a first direction to steer the first wheel in the first direction;
• the second substantially semicircular gear element engages the second rack when the drive shaft is rotated in a second direction to steer the second wheel in the second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction;
• and
• both the first and the second substantially semicircular gear elements engage the first and the second rack, respectively, when the drive shaft is in a neutral position to maintain the first and second wheels in a neutral position.