Steering mechanism
AssigneeClark Equipment Company
InventorMac R. Doolittle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering mechanism for use in a vehicle, such as an industrial truck or the like, in which a two-way power steering actuator cylinder having a piston rod extending from both ends is supported from and above a steering axle by pivot tube and pivot shaft members which enable universal movement of the steering cylinder, the piston rod functioning also as a tie rod which is connected at each opposite end to a modified four-bar steering linkage which is in turn connected to a dirigible wheel. King post assemblies are secured to opposite ends of the steer axle which connect the four-bar linkages to the wheels. Each such linkage includes a steering link extended in length to connect the adjacent end of the actuator piston rod. One end of a guide link of the four-bar linkage is connected to the steering link intermediate the ends thereof.
Claims20
A steering mechanism for wheeled vehicles having right and left steer wheels comprising a modified four-bar steer linkage operatively connected to each said wheel, and tie rod means connected to both said four-bar linkages for actuating said linkages and wheels to steer the vehicle in either direction, each of said linkages comprising an intermediate steering link, a steering arm connected at one end pivotably to said link, pivot means connected rigidly to the opposite end of said steering arm and connected to the adjacent wheel for steering the wheel, a guide link connected at one end pivotably to said intermediate link and a relatively fixed member to which the opposite end of said guide link is pivotably connected, said intermediate link including a rigid extension which extends a predetermined distance inwardly beyond the connection thereto of said guide link, said tie rod means being connected pivotably at each end thereof to an adjacent inner end of the rigid extension of the respective intermediate link.
A steering mechanism for wheeled vehicles having right and left steer wheels comprising a modified four-bar steer linkage operatively connected to each said wheel, and tie rod means connected to both said four-bar linkages for actuating said linkages and wheels to steer the vehicle in either direction, each of said linkages in a straight-ahead steering position comprising an intermediate steering link which extends generally laterally inwardly of the vehicle, a steering arm connected at one end pivotably to an outer end of said steering link, pivot means connected rigidly to the opposite end of said steering arm and connected to the adjacent wheel for steering the wheel, a guide link connected at one end pivotably to said intermediate link inwardly of the connection thereto of said steering arm and a relatively fixed member to which the opposite end of said guide link is pivotably connected, said intermediate link including a rigid extension which extends a predetermined distance inwardly of the vehicle beyond the connection thereto of said guide link, said tie rod means being connected pivotably at each end thereof to an adjacent inner end of the rigid extension of the respective intermediate link.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.