Steering and driving system
AssigneeTRW Inc.
InventorDonald L. Gilliem
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A first wheel positioned on a first side of a vehicle is driven by a first reversible hydraulic motor. A second wheel positioned on a second side of the vehicle is driven by a second reversible hydraulic motor. A first valve controls the drive direction and speed of operation of the first hydraulic motor. A second valve controls the drive direction and speed of operation of the second hydraulic motor. An actuator shaft is connected with the first and second valves. Linear movement of the actuator shaft along its axis actuates both of the valves in either a forward or a reverse direction. The actuator shaft is also rotatable about its axis. Rotation of the actuator shaft about its axis actuates one of the valves in the forward direction and the other of the valves in the reverse direction.
Claims16
A steering and driving system for a vehicle having a first wheel on a first side of the vehicle and a second wheel on a second side of the vehicle, said system comprising:
- a first reversible hydraulic motor means for driving the first wheel of the vehicle;
- a second reversible hydraulic motor means for driving the second wheel of the vehicle;
- first valve means for controlling the direction and speed of operation of said first reversible hydraulic motor means;
- second valve means for controlling the direction and speed of operation of said second reversible hydraulic motor means;
- an actuator shaft;
- force transmitting means for moving said actuator shaft along its axis and for rotating said actuator shaft about its axis;
- and
- connector means for connecting said actuator shaft with said first and second valve means;
- said connector means being operable by said actuator shaft to actuate said first and second valve means to vary the operating speed of said first and second reversible hydraulic motor means upon movement of said actuator shaft along its axis during operation of said first and second reversible hydraulic motor means in forward and reverse directions;
- said connector means being operable by said actuator shaft to actuate said first and second valve means to increase the operating speed of said first reversible hydraulic motor means and decrease the operating speed of said second reversible hydraulic motor means upon rotation of said actuator shaft in a first direction about its axis and to actuate said first and second valve means to decrease the operating speed of said first reversible hydraulic motor means and to increase the operating speed of said second reversible hydraulic motor means upon rotation of said actuator shaft in a second direction about its axis.
A system for steering and driving a vehicle having a first vehicle driving member on a first side of the vehicle and a second vehicle driving member on a second side of the vehicle, said system comprising:
- first hydraulic motor means for driving the first vehicle driving member;
- second hydraulic motor means for driving the second vehicle driving member;
- and
- control means for controlling the speed of operation of said first and second hydraulic motor means, said control means including
- an actuator shaft,
- means for supporting said actuator shaft for linear movement and for rotational movement,
- means for (a) linearly moving said actuator shaft to simultaneously increase the speed of operation of said first and second hydraulic motor means, and (b) rotating said actuator shaft to vary the speed of operation of one of said hydraulic motor means relative to the speed of operation of the other hydraulic motor means,
- first valve means for controlling a rate of fluid flow from a source to said first hydraulic motor means, said first valve means including a first valve member which is movable along a first linear path away from a first initial position to increase the rate of fluid flow to said first hydraulic motor means and is movable along eh first linear path toward the first initial position to decrease the rate of fluid flow to said first hydraulic motor means;
- second valve means for controlling a rate of fluid flow from the source to said second hydraulic motor means, said second valve means including a second valve member which is movable along a second linear path away from a second initial position to increase the rate of fluid flow to said second hydraulic motor means and is movable along the second linear path toward the second initial position to decrease the rate of fluid flow to said second hydraulic motor means;
- and
- force transmitting means interconnecting said actuator shaft and said first and second valve members for moving said first and second valve members along the first and second linear paths in response to linear movement of said actuator shaft, said force transmitting means including means for moving at least one of said first and second valve members along the first or second linear path in response to rotation of said actuator shaft.
A system for steering and driving a vehicle having a first vehicle driving member on a first side of the vehicle and a second vehicle driving member on a second side of the vehicle, said system comprising:
- first hydraulic motor means for driving the first vehicle driving member;
- second hydraulic motor means for driving the second vehicle driving member;
- and
- control means for controlling the speed of operation of said first and second hydraulic motor means, said control means including
- an actuator shaft,
- means for supporting said actuator shaft for linear movement along an axis and rotational movement about the axis,
- first and second valve means for variably directing hydraulic fluid flow from a fluid source toward said first and second motor means, respectively, to cause operating speed changes in said first and second hydraulic motor means,
- connection means for transmitting force from said actuator shaft to said first and second valve means including first, second and third portions, said first portion being attached to said first valve means, said second portion being attached to said second valve means, said third portion being attached to said actuator shaft, said third portion moving linearly upon linear movement of said actuator shaft and rotationally about the axis with said actuator shaft upon rotational movement of said actuator shaft, said first, second and third portions each have engaging surface means for moving said first and second portions in first operational directions upon movement of said actuator shaft in a first linear direction, for moving said first portion in its first operational direction and moving said second portion in a second operational direction upon movement of said actuator shaft in a first rotational direction and for moving said first portion in a second operational direction and moving said second portion in its first operational direction upon movement of said actuator shaft in a second rotational direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.