Self-propelled vehicle
OwnerJohannes L. Gaasenbeekinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A skid-steerable self-propelled vehicle has a simple differential connected to the engine, and a variable speed drive connected direct across differential-speed elements of the differential. The vehicle can be steered using a device for adjusting the drive ratio of the variable speed drive.
Claims16
A self-propelled vehicle having non-steerable ground reaction members and having a steering and propulsion drive comprising a differential gear having a rotary carrier member rotated by the vehicle engine, at least one planetary gear carried on the carrier member and rotating bodily therewith, two reaction gears meshing with the planetary gear and driving left-hand and right-hand ground reaction members, respectively, a variable-speed traction drive connected between the two reaction gears, comprising a rotatory member coupled to each reaction gear, a body of revolution, one of said body and said rotatory member being of varying diameter along its rotational axis, and means supporting the body in tractional driving engagement with the rotatory members for shifting the position of the body of revolution relative to the rotatory members whereby the tractional drive ratio between the rotatory members can be varied and whereby the vehicle can be steered by adjusting the drive ratio of the variable speed traction drive so as to adjust differentially the speeds of the two reaction gears and of the ground reaction members coupled thereto.
A self-propelled vehicle having non-steerable ground reaction members and having a steering and propulsion drive comprising a bevel differential gear having a rotary carrier member rotated by the vehicle engine, at least one planetary gear carried on the carrier member and rotating bodily therewith, two co-axial reaction gears meshing with the planetary gear and driving left-hand and right-hand ground reaction members, respectively, a variable-speed drive connected between the two reaction gears comprising two spaced rotatory members each coupled to a respective reaction gear, a sphere in engagement between the rotatory members and rotating on an axle which is supported on an annular yoke, said axle and its axis of rotation lying wholly externally of the region between the rotatory members and normally parallel to the axis of the reaction gears, whereby each rotatory member rotates in the same direction, and a rotatable steering control shaft co-incident with and normal to the axle of the sphere for tilting the yoke in a plane co-incident with the axes of the rotatory members, whereby the drive ratio between the rotatory members can be varied and whereby the vehicle can be steered by adjusting the drive ratio of the variable speed drive so as to adjust differentially the speeds of the two reaction gears and of the ground reaction members coupled thereto.
A self-propelled vehicle having non-steerable ground reaction members and having a steering and propulsion drive comprising a differential gear having a rotatory carrier member rotated by the vehicle engine, at least one planetary gear carried on the carrier member and rotating bodily therewith, two reaction gears meshing with the planetary gear and driving left-hand and right hand ground reaction members, respectively, a variable-speed drive connected between the two reaction gears, whereby the vehicle can be steered by adjusting the drive ratio of the variable-speed drive to as to adjust differentially the speeds of the two reaction gears and of the ground reaction members coupled thereto, said variable-speed drive comprising two spaced rotatory members each coupled to a respective reaction gear, a body of revolution having a smoothly curved generatrix and an axis of revolution, and means supporting the body for engagement between the rotatory members and for tilting the axis of the body in a plane co-incident with the axes of the rotatory members, whereby the drive ratio between the rotatory members can be varied, the axis of said body lying wholly externally of the region between the rotatory members, whereby each rotatory member rotates in the same direction, and said body comprising two distinct symmetrical parts each associated with a respective roller member, the two body parts being interconnected by a friction clutch and normally rotating together except when the torque transmitted through the clutch exceeds a predetermined limit causing the clutch to slip.
A self-propelled vehicle having non-steerable ground reaction members and having a steering and propulsion drive comprising a differential gear having a rotary carrier member rotated by the vehicle engine, at least one planetary gear carried on the carrier member and rotating bodily therewith, two reaction gears meshing with the planetary gear and driving left-hand and right-hand ground reaction members, respectively, and a variable speed drive connected between the two reaction gears whereby the vehicle can be steered by adjusting the drive ratio of the variable speed drive so as to adjust differentially the speeds of the two reaction gears and of the ground reaction members coupled thereto, said variable-speed drive comprising a rotatory member coupled to each reaction gear, a body of revolution, one of said body and said rotatory member being of varying diameter along its rotational axis, means supporting the body in driving engagement between the rotatory members and for shifting the position of the body relative to the rotatory members whereby the drive ratio between the rotatory members can be varied, and torque-responsive pressure-applying means co-operating with each rotatory member for responding to torque applied to the rotatory member and increasing the pressure of frictional engagement between the rotatory member and the body of revolution, said torque-responsive means comprising each rotatory member having a main portion and a rim portion in contact with the body and mounted for limited circumferential slipping relative to the main portion, and camming means between the main and rim portions tending to shift the rim portion toward the body when slipping occurs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.