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US 2021/0276618 A1Published application
Vector steering for tracked vehicle
AssigneeHowe & Howe Inc.
InventorsMichael Howe, Geoffrey Howe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A technique for steering a tracked vehicle includes controllably deforming at least a portion of a vehicle's track into a curved shape, causing the vehicle to follow a curve-shaped path as it drives. As the vehicle naturally tends to follow a curved path defined by the track's curvature, steering is accomplished with greatly reduced skidding against the ground.
Claims20
A tracked vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle body;
- a set of wheels coupled to the vehicle body and including a steerable wheel configured to turn left and right relative to the vehicle body;
- and
- a deformable track that surrounds the set of wheels and engages the steerable wheel, the deformable track configured to deform into a curved shape in response to the steerable wheel turning left or right.
1 more element
A tracked vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle body;
- a first set of wheels coupled to the vehicle body and including a first steerable wheel configured to turn left and right relative to the vehicle body;
- a second set of wheels coupled to the vehicle body and including a second steerable wheel configured to turn left and right relative to the vehicle body;
- a first deformable track that surrounds the first set of wheels and engages the first steerable wheel;
- and
- a second deformable track that surrounds the second set of wheels and engages the second steerable wheel,
- wherein the first deformable track is configured to deform into a first curved shape in response to the first steerable wheel turning left or right, and
- wherein the second deformable track is configured to deform into a second curved shape in response to the second steerable wheel turning left or right, the second curved shape having a different turning radius than the first curved shape.
5 more elements
A method of steering a tracked vehicle that includes—
- a vehicle body,
- a first set of wheels coupled to the vehicle body and including a first steerable wheel configured to turn left and right relative to the vehicle body, and
- a second set of wheels coupled to the vehicle body and including a second steerable wheel configured to turn left and right relative to the vehicle body,
- the method comprising:
- providing a first deformable track that surrounds the first set of wheels and engages the first steerable wheel;
- providing a second deformable track that surrounds the second set of wheels and engages the second steerable wheel;
- and
- in response to turning the first steerable wheel and the second steerable wheel, the first deformable track and the second deformable track respectively deforming into first and second curved shapes that arc left or right.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.