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US 2014/0260764 A1Published application
Steering apparatus providing variable steering ratios
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorJustin M. Wireman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Steering apparatus having variable steering ratios are disclosed herein. An apparatus disclosed herein includes a steering drum to rotate about a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction different than the first direction. The steering drum has a shape to provide a varying steering ratio when the steering drum is rotated.
Claims22
An apparatus comprising:
- a steering drum to rotate about a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction different than the first direction, the steering drum having a shape to provide a varying steering ratio when the steering drum is rotated.
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a first range of the varying steering ratio yields a lower steering sensitivity than a second range of the varying steering ratio.
A variable steering ratio apparatus comprising:
- a body having an oblong-shaped outer surface and a central opening to receive a shaft;
- a controller movable along a rotational travel path to cause the body to rotate along an angular range about a central axis defined by the central opening;
- and
- a cable to couple to the controller and the body, a portion of the cable positioned around at least a portion of the outer surface of the body, the oblong shaped outer surface defining a radius that varies between the central axis and a portion of the cable positioned in a substantially tangential orientation relative to the outer surface as the body rotates, the varying radius to cause a change in ratio between the rotational travel path of the controller and the angular range of the body to provide at least a first steering ratio and a second steering ratio, the first steering ratio being different than the second steering ratio.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- means for steering, the means for steering to rotate about a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction different than the first direction, the means for steering having means for providing a varying steering ratio when the means for steering is rotated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.