Dual control driving system

An improved dual control driving system in a combustive engine powered vehicle movable on wheels and operable by an operator within a non-tilting cab or operating area of the vehicle, the non-tilting cab having a driver's position, a passenger's position and a floor, the system being operable from either the driver's or passenger's position and having at least a pair of dependent steering systems, a pair of dependent braking systems, and a pair of independent accelerator systems, the improvement comprising:

• a first steering system for altering the vehicle's direction of movement, the system having a first steering element inside the cab area, the first steering element being operable from the driver's position, a rotatable first post element having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being at the floor of the cab, with the lower end operatively engaged to at least one wheel, the first post element being so fixed in the cab to prevent tilting movement and thus maintain its position along only a single first axis, a sleeve element fixed to the upper end of the first post element and capable of transferring rotational movement of the first post element about the first axis, a first adaptor element operatively engaged to the sleeve element and to the first steering element to transfer rotational movement from the first post element to the first steering element;
• a second steering system dependent upon the first steering system for altering the vehicle's direction of movement, the second system being operatively engaged, through the first steering system, to those wheels engaged by the first steering system and having a second steering element located inside the cab area and operable from the passenger's position, a second post element inside of the cab area with a lower end adjacent the floor and an upper end adjacent the second steering element, the second post element remaining stationarily fixed about a second axis upon rotation of either the first steering element or the second steering element, a second adaptor element that operatively holds the second steering element to the second post element and transfers rotational movement from the second steering element to the first steering system;
• means for connecting the first and second steering systems for tandem operation, including a first gear box and a second gear box associated with the first and second steering systems, respectively, and a tie bar fixed between the two gear boxes, the first gear box being stationarily fixed to the tie bar and positioned at the upper end of the first post element intermediate the first adaptor element and the sleeve element, the second gear box being stationarily fixed to the tie bar and positioned at the upper end of the second post element intermediate such upper end and the second adaptor element, a steering shaft element extending between the first gear box and the second gear box, and a pair of universal joint elements that operatively engage the two gear boxes to each other;
• a first braking system operatively engaged to at least one wheel for retarding the vehicle's movement and having a first brake activation element disposed within the cab area and operable from the driver's position;
• a second braking system dependent upon the first braking system for retarding the vehicle's movement, the second system being operatively engaged, through the first braking system, to those wheels engaged by the first braking system and having a second brake activation element disposed within the cab area and operable from the passenger's position;
• means for connecting the first and second braking systems for tandem operation, the means being disposed outside of the cab area and having a pair of bearing elements, a rotatable brake shaft element having two ends that are journalled in the bearing elements, a first brake lever fixed to one end of the brake shaft element and the first brake activation element, a second brake lever fixed to the other end of the brake shaft element and the second brake activation element, and a linkage element from the first brake lever for operative engagement to at least one wheel;
• a first accelerator control system operatively engaged to the motor for controlling the power produced from the engine and having a first accelerator activation element disposed within the cab area and operable from the driver's position;
• and
• a second accelerator control system operatively engaged to the engine for controlling the power produced from the engine independent of the first accelerator control system and having a second accelerator activation element disposed within the cab area and operable from the passenger's position.

A dual control driving system for a truck having a non-tilting cab, comprising:

• a first steering system, including:
• a first steering element in the cab;
• a first adaptor element having a first post member thereon and engaged to the first steering element;
• a first gear box having at least two gear shaft members, the first gear box being located substantially above a floor of the cab, a first gear shaft member being fixed in the first adaptor element;
• a sleeve element fixed on a second gear shaft member;
• a rotatable first post member having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being located substantially above the floor of the cab and having a post member therein that engages the sleeve member, the lower end being located at the floor of the cab;
• and
• a first support plate at the upper end of the first post element and stationarily fixed to the first gear box and the cab;
• a second steering system, including:
• a second steering element in the cab;
• a second adaptor element having a second post member thereon and engaged to the second steering element;
• a second gear box having at least two gear shaft members, the second gear box being located at a height above the floor of the cab substantially equal to the first gear box, a third gear shaft member of the second gear box fixed to the second adaptor element;
• a second post member having and upper end and a lower end, the second post member being fixed in the cab to prevent rotation of it, the upper end of the second post member being located at a height above the floor of the cab substantially equal to the upper end of the first post member;
• a second support plate stationarily fixed to the second gear box and the second post member;
• and
• a third support plate fixed at the lower end of the second post member and the cab;
• means for transferring steering movement, including:
• a pair of universal joint elements fixed intermediate the first and the second gear boxes;
• and
• a shaft element intermediate the universal joint elements;
• a first brake activation element in the cab to independently activate a first braking system;
• a second brake activation element in the cab to activate a second braking system that is dependent upon the first braking system for operation;
• means for operatively engaging the first braking system with the second braking system, including:
• a first brake lever in an engine compartment of the truck and engaged to the second brake activation element;
• a first bearing element fixed in the engine compartment and engaged to the first brake lever;
• a second bearing element fixed in the engine compartment;
• a brake shaft journalled between the first and the second bearing elements;
• a second brake lever in the engine compartment and fixed to the second bearing element;
• and
• a linkage element fixed to the second brake lever;
• and
• a pair of acceleration systems.