US 4,048,862 AGranted

Linkage for controlling two independent power units

AssigneeSperry Rand Corporation

InventorsJoseph C. Hurlburt, Howard R. Brown, Ernest E. Buck

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Abstract

A linkage is provided to simultaneously control two independent hydraulic drive motors for a vehicle, each having a control arm movable between a high speed position and a low speed position. The linkage comprises a control shaft having a pair of spaced-apart cam elements mounted thereon which engage each of the control arms to pivot them in opposite direction as the shaft is rotated. The linkage is also movable in an axial direction which thereby insures that both control arms reach corresponding high or low speed positions. For instance, if one control arm should reach a respective position prior to the time the other control arm reaches its corresponding position, further rotation of the shaft and cam elements therewith also results in axial movement thereof thus insuring that such other control arm reaches its corresponding position.

Claims8

Dependent claims

Linkage for controlling at least two independent power units disposed in a predetermined alignment, said power units having first and second control arms moveable between first and second predetermined positions for changing the operation of said units, said linkage comprising:

a. a shaft disposed substantially parallel to the aligned power units;
b. means for mounting the shaft for rotational and axial movement relative to said power units;
c. drive means for turning said shaft about its longitudinal axis;
and
d. means projecting from said shaft and slideably engaging each of said first and second control arms, said projecting means being skewed relative to the longitudinal axis of said shaft such that upon turning of said shaft in a clockwise direction by said drive means said first and second control arms are moved toward one of said predetermined first and second positions respectively and upon turning of said shaft in a counterclockwise direction said first and second control arms are moved toward the other one of said predetermined first and second positions;
e. should one of said control arms reach one of said predetermined positions prior to the time the other control arm reaches its corresponding predetermined position then upon further turning of said shaft said projecting means slides on said control arm which has reached its predetermined position and thereby forces the shaft to move axially causing the other control arm to reach its predetermined position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.