# US 5,706,907 A · Dual lever clutch actuatable direction controlled drive transmission system

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- Number: US 5,706,907 A
- Document ID: US5706907A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/567,026
- Filed: 1995-12-04
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1995-12-04
- Inventors: Vernon A. Unruh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706907A

## CPC

- B62D 11/08: using brakes or clutches as main steering-effecting means
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A directional drive transmission control system drivingly coupling a rotary output drive source of a powered vehicle with a pair of drive wheels thereof, includes right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys rotatably mounted on and rotatable relative to right and left transverse drive shafts and drivingly connected with the rotary output drive source so as to rotatably drive forward and reverse drive pulleys in opposite directions. The directional drive transmission control system also includes right and left pairs of clutches mounted to the respective right and left transverse drive shafts and a drive direction control mechanism movable from a neutral position in either first or second opposite directions for actuating concurrently first or second ones of the clutches of the right and left pairs thereof to drivingly interengage and cause rotation of the right and left transverse drive shafts with respective forward or reverse drive pulleys of the right and left pairs thereof and thereby rotation and movement of the drive wheels in either forward or reverse directions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drive transmission control system for drivingly coupling a rotary output drive source of a powered vehicle to a pair of rotatable driven elements independently coupled to and rotatable with respective ones of a pair of drive wheels of a powered vehicle, said drive transmission control system comprising:
(a) a pair of right and left independently rotatable transverse drive shafts;
(b) a pair of rotatable drive elements each fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts;
(c) means for drivingly coupling each of said rotatable drive elements with the respective rotatable driven elements;
(d) right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys rotatably mounted on said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and rotatable relative thereto;
(e) drive connection means for drivingly connecting the right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys with the rotary output drive source of the powered vehicle so as to rotatably drive said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of the right and left pairs thereof in first and second opposite rotational directions;
(f) right and left pairs of clutches mounted to said right and left transverse drive shafts adjacent to said respective right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys, each of said clutches being deactuatable such that said clutch drivingly disengages a respective one of said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of said right and left pairs thereof from said respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts, each of said clutches being actuatable such that said clutch drivingly interengages said respective one of said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of said right and left pairs thereof with said respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts; and
(g) drive direction control means movable from a neutral position in a first direction for concurrently actuating first ones of said clutches of said right and left pairs thereof so as to cause rotation of said right and left transverse drive shafts with said respective forward drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof and thereby cause rotation of said rotatable drive elements in said first rotational direction and therewith rotation of said rotatable driven elements and movement of the drive wheels in a forward direction, said drive direction control means being movable from said neutral position in a second direction opposite to said first direction for concurrently actuating second ones of said clutches of said right and left pairs thereof so as to cause rotation of said right and left transverse drive shafts with said respective reverse drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof and thereby cause rotation of said rotatable drive elements in said second rotational direction and therewith rotation of said rotatable driven elements and movement of the drive wheels in a reverse direction;
(h) wherein said right and left pairs of clutches are split sheave clutches each having a first part fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of said right and left pairs thereof and a second part fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts, said drive direction control means actuating each of said respective clutches by tightly frictionally engaging with said respective first and second parts thereof and deactuating each of said respective clutches by tightly frictionally disengaging from said respective first and second parts thereof;
(i) wherein said drive direction control means includes
right and left pairs of idler pulleys, and
right and left pairs of belts respectively extending over said right and left pairs of idler pulleys and coupled over respective ones of said pairs of right and left split sheave clutches.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said means for drivingly coupling each of said rotatable drive elements with a respective one of the rotatable driven elements is a pair of endless flexible members.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said rotatable drive elements are drive sprockets.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 wherein said endless flexible members are endless drive chains.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said drive direction control means includes a pair of right and left control levers each operable independently in one of said first and second directions from said neutral position for actuating and deactuating respective ones of said right and left pairs of clutches and thereby drivingly transmit the rotary motion of selected ones of said forward and reverse drive pulleys to the rotatable driven elements and drive wheels of the vehicle via said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and and right and left rotatable drive elements.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said drive direction control means also includes a pair of right and left control levers each operable independently for moving a respective one of said right and left pairs of idler pulleys relative to said respective split sheave clutches so as to tension selected ones of said belts relative to selected ones of said split sheave clutches and thereby drivingly transmit the rotary motion of selected ones of said forward and reverse drive pulleys to the rotatable driven elements and drive wheels of the vehicle via said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and and right and left rotatable drive elements.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said drive direction control means also includes right and left brackets respectively rotatably mounting said right and left pairs of idler pulleys on opposite end portions of said respective brackets, each of said brackets being pivotally mounted at locations thereon between said respective idler pulleys mounted thereon.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein said drive direction control means also includes a pair of right and left control levers each attached to one of said brackets and operable independently for moving a respective one of said right and left pairs of idler pulleys relative to said respective split sheave clutches so as to tension selected ones of said belts relative to selected ones of said split sheave clutches and thereby drivingly transmit the rotary motion of selected ones of said forward and reverse drive pulleys to the rotatable driven elements and drive wheels of the vehicle via said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and and right and left rotatable drive elements.

### Claim 9

A drive transmission control system for drivingly coupling a rotary output drive source of a powered vehicle to a pair of rotatable driven elements independently coupled to and rotatable with respective ones of a pair of drive wheels of a powered vehicle, said drive transmission control system comprising:
(a) a pair of right and left independently rotatable transverse drive shafts;
(b) a pair of rotatable drive elements each fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts;
(c) means for drivingly coupling each of said rotatable drive elements with the respective rotatable driven elements;
(d) right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys rotatably mounted on said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and rotatable relative thereto;
(e) drive connection means for drivingly connecting the right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys with the rotary output drive source of the powered vehicle so as to rotatably drive said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of the right and left pairs thereof in first and second opposite rotational directions;
(f) right and left pairs of clutches mounted to said right and left transverse drive shafts adjacent to said respective right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys, each of said clutches being deactuatable such that said clutch drivingly disengages a respective one of said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of said right and left pairs thereof from said respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts, each of said clutches being actuatable such that said clutch drivingly interengages said respective one of said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of said right and left pairs thereof with said respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts; and
(g) drive direction control means movable from a neutral position in a first direction for concurrently actuating first ones of said clutches of said right and left pairs thereof so as to cause rotation of said right and left transverse drive shafts with said respective forward drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof and thereby cause rotation of said rotatable drive elements in said first rotational direction and therewith rotation of said rotatable driven elements and movement of the drive wheels in a forward direction, said drive direction control means being movable from said neutral position in a second direction opposite to said first direction for concurrently actuating second ones of said clutches of said right and left pairs thereof so as to cause rotation of said right and left transverse drive shafts with said respective reverse drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof and thereby cause rotation of said rotatable drive elements in said second rotational direction and therewith rotation of said rotatable driven elements and movement of the drive wheels in a reverse direction;
(h) wherein said drive connection means for drivingly connecting said right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys with the rotary output drive source includes a pair of gearboxes each having an input shaft with an input sheave fixed thereon and a pair of output shafts with respective output sheaves fixed thereon, said input sheave of each gearbox being coupled to the rotary output drive source, said output sheaves of each gearbox being coupled to respective ones of said forward and reverse drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof on said respective right and left transverse drive shafts.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9 wherein said input sheave of each of said gearboxs is coupled to the rotary output drive source by an endless flexible member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9 wherein said drive direction control means includes a pair of right and left control levers each operable independently in one of said first and second directions from said neutral position for actuating and deactuating respective ones of said right and left pairs of clutches and thereby drivingly transmit the rotary motion of selected ones of said forward and reverse drive pulleys to the rotatable driven elements and drive wheels of the vehicle via said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and and right and left rotatable drive elements.

### Claim 12

A drive transmission control system for drivingly coupling a rotary output drive source of a powered vehicle to a pair of rotatable driven elements independently coupled to and rotatable with respective ones of a pair of drive wheels of a powered vehicle, said drive transmission control system comprising:
(a) a pair of right and left independently rotatable transverse drive shafts;
(b) a pair of rotatable drive elements each fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts;
(c) means for drivingly coupling each of said rotatable drive elements with the respective rotatable driven elements;
(d) right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys rotatably mounted on said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and rotatable relative thereto;
(e) drive connection means for drivingly connecting the right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys with the rotary output drive source of the powered vehicle so as to rotatably drive said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of the right and left pairs thereof in first and second opposite rotational directions;
(f) right and left pairs of clutches mounted to said right and left transverse drive shafts adjacent to said respective right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys, each of said clutches being deactuatable such that said clutch drivingly disengages a respective one of said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of said right and left pairs thereof from said respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts, each of said clutches being actuatable such that said clutch drivingly interengages said respective one of said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of said right and left pairs thereof with said respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts; and
(g) drive direction control means movable from a neutral position in a first direction for concurrently actuating first ones of said clutches of said right and left pairs thereof so as to cause rotation of said right and left transverse drive shafts with said respective forward drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof and thereby cause rotation of said rotatable drive elements in said first rotational direction and therewith rotation of said rotatable driven elements and movement of the drive wheels in a forward direction, said drive direction control means being movable from said neutral position in a second direction opposite to said first direction for concurrently actuating second ones of said clutches of said right and left pairs thereof so as to cause rotation of said right and left transverse drive shafts with said respective reverse drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof and thereby cause rotation of said rotatable drive elements in said second rotational direction and therewith rotation of said rotatable driven elements and movement of the drive wheels in a reverse direction;
(h) wherein said drive connection means for drivingly connecting said right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys with the rotary output drive source includes an endless flexible member coupled about the rotary output drive source for undergoing movement along a continuous path, and a plurality of idler sheaves rotatably mounted on a corresponding plurality of vertical shafts disposed between the rotary output drive source and said forward and reverse drive pulleys, said idler sheaves being aligned with the respective rotary output drive source and said forward and reverse drive pulleys so as to arrange said continuous path of movement of said endless flexible about said forward and reverse drive pulleys to cause rotation thereof in said first and second opposite rotational directions.

### Claim 13 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13 wherein said drive direction control means includes a pair of right and left control levers each operable independently in one of said first and second directions from said neutral position for actuating and deactuating respective ones of said right and left pairs of clutches and thereby drivingly transmit the rotary motion of selected ones of said forward and reverse drive pulleys to the rotatable driven elements and drive wheels of the vehicle via said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and and right and left rotatable drive elements.

### Claim 14

In a powered vehicle including a chassis, a pair of right and left drive wheels movably supporting said chassis and an engine mounted on said chassis and having a rotary output drive shaft, a drive transmission control system mounted on said chassis for drivingly transmitting and coupling rotary drive motion produced by said rotary output drive shaft of said engine to said right and left drive wheels so as to cause forward and reverse movement of said vehicle and also to cause right and left turning movement thereof, said system comprising:
(a) a pair of right and left rotatable driven elements each coupled to and rotatable with one of said right and left drive wheels;
(b) a pair of right and left transverse drive shafts rotatably mounted independently of one another to said frame;
(c) a pair of right and left rotatable drive elements each fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts;
(d) means for independently drivingly coupling each of said rotatable drive elements with one of said respective rotatable driven elements;
(e) right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys rotatably mounted on said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and rotatable relative thereto;
(f) drive connection means for drivingly connecting said right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys with said rotary output drive shaft of said engine so as to rotatably drive said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of the right and left pairs thereof in first and second opposite rotational directions;
(g) right and left pairs of split sheave clutches mounted to said right and left transverse drive shafts adjacent to said respective right and left pairs of drive pulleys, each of the split sheave clutches having a first part fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of said right and left pairs thereof and a second part fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts; and
(h) drive direction control means movable in a first direction for frictionally engaging concurrently first ones of said split sheave clutches of said right and left pairs thereof so as to cause rotation of said right and left transverse drive shafts with said respective forward drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof and thereby cause rotation of said rotatable drive elements in the first rotational direction and therewith rotation of said rotatable driven elements and movement of said drive wheels in a forward direction, said drive direction control means being movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction for frictionally engaging concurrently second ones of said split sheave clutches of said right and left pairs thereof so as to cause rotation of said right and left transverse drive shafts with said respective reverse drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof and thereby cause rotation of said rotatable drive elements in the second rotational direction and therewith rotation of said rotatable driven elements and movement of the drive wheels in a reverse directional
(i) wherein said drive direction control means includes
right and left pairs of idler pulleys, and
right and left pairs of belts respectively extending over said right and left pairs of idler pulleys and coupled over respective ones of said pairs of right and left split sheave clutches.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The vehicle of claim 14 wherein said means for drivingly coupling each of said rotatable drive elements with a respective one of the rotatable driven elements is a pair of endless flexible members.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said rotatable drive elements are drive sprockets.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vehicle of claim 16 wherein said endless flexible members are endless drive chains.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The vehicle of claim 14 wherein said drive direction control means also includes a pair of right and left control levers each operable independently for moving a respective one of said right and left pairs of idler pulleys relative to said respective split sheave clutches so as to tension selected ones of said belts relative to selected ones of said split sheave clutches and thereby drivingly transmit the rotary motion of selected ones of said forward and reverse drive pulleys to said rotatable driven elements and drive wheels of said vehicle via said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and and right and left rotatable drive elements.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The vehicle of claim 14 wherein said drive direction control means also includes right and left brackets respectively rotatably mounting said right and left pairs of idler pulleys on opposite end portions of said respective brackets, each of said brackets being pivotally mounted to said chassis at locations thereon between said respective idler pulleys mounted thereon.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein said drive direction control means also includes a pair of right and left control levers each attached to one of said brackets and operable independently for moving a respective one of said right and left pairs of idler pulleys relative to said respective split sheave clutches so as to tension selected ones of said belts relative to selected ones of said split sheave clutches and thereby drivingly transmit the rotary motion of selected ones of said forward and reverse drive pulleys to said rotatable driven elements and drive wheels of said vehicle via said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and and right and left rotatable drive elements.

### Claim 21

In a powered vehicle including a chassis, a pair of right and left drive wheels movably supporting said chassis and an engine mounted on said chassis and having a rotary output drive shaft, a drive transmission control system mounted on said chassis for drivingly transmitting and coupling rotary drive motion produced by said rotary output drive shaft of said engine to said right and left drive wheels so as to cause forward and reverse movement of said vehicle and also to cause right and left turning movement thereof, said system comprising:
(a) a pair of right and left rotatable driven elements each coupled to and rotatable with one of said right and left drive wheels;
(b) a pair of right and left transverse drive shafts rotatably mounted independently of one another to said frame;
(c) a pair of right and left rotatable drive elements each fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts;
(d) means for independently drivingly coupling each of said rotatable drive elements with one of said respective rotatable driven elements;
(e) right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys rotatably mounted on said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and rotatable relative thereto;
(f) drive connection means for drivingly connecting said right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys with said rotary output drive shaft of said engine so as to rotatably drive said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of the right and left pairs thereof in first and second opposite rotational directions;
(g) right and left pairs of split sheave clutches mounted to said right and left transverse drive shafts adjacent to said respective right and left pairs of drive pulleys, each of the split sheave clutches having a first part fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of said right and left pairs thereof and a second part fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts; and
(h) drive direction control means movable in a first direction for frictionally engaging concurrently first ones of said split sheave clutches of said right and left pairs thereof so as to cause rotation of said right and left transverse drive shafts with said respective forward drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof and thereby cause rotation of said rotatable drive elements in the first rotational direction and therewith rotation of said rotatable driven elements and movement of said drive wheels in a forward direction, said drive direction control means being movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction for frictionally engaging concurrently second ones of said split sheave clutches of said right and left pairs thereof so as to cause rotation of said right and left transverse drive shafts with said respective reverse drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof and thereby cause rotation of said rotatable drive elements in the second rotational direction and therewith rotation of said rotatable driven elements and movement of the drive wheels in a reverse direction;
(i) wherein said drive connection means for drivingly connecting said right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys with said rotary output drive shaft includes a pair of gearboxes each having an input shaft with an input sheave fixed thereon and a pair of output shafts with respective output sheaves fixed thereon, said input sheave of each gearbox being coupled to said rotary output drive shaft, said output sheaves of each gearbox being coupled to respective ones of said forward and reverse drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof on said respective right and left transverse drive shafts.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The vehicle of claim 21 wherein said input sheave of each of said gearboxes is coupled to said rotary output drive shaft by an endless flexible member.

### Claim 23

In a powered vehicle including a chassis, a pair of right and left drive wheels movably supporting said chassis and an engine mounted on said chassis and having a rotary output drive shaft, a drive transmission control system mounted on said chassis for drivingly transmitting and coupling rotary drive motion produced by said rotary output drive shaft of said engine to said right and left drive wheels so as to cause forward and reverse movement of said vehicle and also to cause right and left turning movement thereof, said system comprising:
(a) a pair of right and left rotatable driven elements each coupled to and rotatable with one of said right and left drive wheels;
(b) a pair of right and left transverse drive shafts rotatably mounted independently of one another to said frame;
(c) a pair of right and left rotatable drive elements each fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts;
(d) means for independently drivingly coupling each of said rotatable drive elements with one of said respective rotatable driven elements;
(e) right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys rotatably mounted on said respective right and left transverse drive shafts and rotatable relative thereto;
(f) drive connection means for drivingly connecting said right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys with said rotary output drive shaft of said engine so as to rotatably drive said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of the right and left pairs thereof in first and second opposite rotational directions;
(g) right and left pairs of split sheave clutches mounted to said right and left transverse drive shafts adjacent to said respective right and left pairs of drive pulleys, each of the split sheave clutches having a first part fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said forward and reverse drive pulleys of each of said right and left pairs thereof and a second part fixed on and rotatable with a respective one of said right and left transverse drive shafts; and
(h) drive direction control means movable in a first direction for frictionally engaging concurrently first ones of said split sheave clutches of said right and left pairs thereof so as to cause rotation of said right and left transverse drive shafts with said respective forward drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof and thereby cause rotation of said rotatable drive elements in the first rotational direction and therewith rotation of said rotatable driven elements and movement of said drive wheels in a forward direction, said drive direction control means being movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction for frictionally engaging concurrently second ones of said split sheave clutches of said right and left pairs thereof so as to cause rotation of said right and left transverse drive shafts with said respective reverse drive pulleys of said right and left pairs thereof and thereby cause rotation of said rotatable drive elements in the second rotational direction and therewith rotation of said rotatable driven elements and movement of the drive wheels in a reverse direction;
(i) wherein said drive connection means for drivingly connecting said right and left pairs of forward and reverse drive pulleys with the rotary output drive source includes an endless flexible member coupled about the rotary output drive source for undergoing movement along a continuous path, and a plurality of idler sheaves rotatably mounted on a corresponding plurality of vertical shafts mounted on said chassis and disposed between the rotary output drive source and said forward and reverse drive pulleys, said idler pulleys being aligned with the respective rotary output drive source and said forward and reverse drive pulleys so as to arrange said continuous path of movement of said endless flexible about said forward and reverse drive pulleys to cause rotation thereof in said first and second opposite rotational directions.