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US 4,372,407 AGranted
Independent steering and propulsion system for off road vehicle
AssigneeOwens-Illinois, Inc.
InventorBruce J. McColl
Life of this patent
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AssigneeOwens-Illinois, Inc.
InventorBruce J. McColl
Estimating the term…
A method of moving a high mobility wheeled vehicle for transporting long loads, such as trimmed tree trunks or whole trees, over roadless terrain. The vehicle has front and rear quad wheel assemblies pivotally connected to a centrally disposed elongated bed frame so as to permit lateral rotation of these assemblies about a roll axis disposed below and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed frame. The quad wheel assembly incorporates a unique mounting for each of the wheels of the assembly which provides for individually controlled motors for driving each wheel, individually controlled brakes, and individually controlled, power actuated extensible links for steering each wheel. Sensors are provided on each wheel assembly which generate signals proportional to the rotational velocity and direction of the wheel and proportional to the turning angle of each wheel. A microprocessor receives all such signals and compares same with a desired turning angle and rotational velocity of the wheels in accordance with one of a plurality of modes of operation of the vehicle selected by the operator, and generates appropriate control signals to the individually controlled wheels to adjust the turning motion and the rotational velocity to that required to effect the desired movement of the vehicle. The described vehicle is operated according to any selected one of a plurality of distinct movement patterns.
The method of moving a multi-wheeled roadless terrain vehicle of the type having at least two quadwheel supporting assemblages, means for driving each wheel, an individual steering means for turning each wheel about a radius on the order of three feet, and an individual brake for each wheel, under terrain conditions wherein movements of the vehicle by wheel traction is impossible, comprising the steps of:
The method of moving a multi-wheeled roadless terrain vehicle of the type having at least two quadwheel supporting assemblages, means for driving each wheel, an individual steering means for turning each wheel about a radius on the order of three feet, and an individual brake for each wheel, under terrain conditions wherein movements of the vehicle by wheel traction is impossible, comprising the steps of:
The method of laterally moving a multi-wheeled vehicle of the type having at least two quadwheel supporting assemblages with an individual drive motor for each wheel, an individual steering means for turning each wheel about a radius on the order of three feet, and an individual brake for each wheel, comprising the steps of:
The method of laterally moving a milti-wheeled vehicle of the type having at least two quadwheel supporting assemblages with an individual reversible traction motor for each wheel, and an individual steering means for turning each wheel about a radius on the order of three feet, comprising the steps of:
The method of skew steering a multi-wheeled vehicle of the type having at least two quadwheel supporting assemblages with an individual steering actuator for turning each wheel between fixed angularly limited positions, and a microprocessor for controlling the steering position of each wheel as a function of the position of a selected master wheel, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.