Camera dolly

A method of steering a camera dolly comprising the steps of:

• placing the dolly operator's hands on a steering bar on the dolly;
• selecting conventional steering mode by turning the steering bar, with the operator's hands continuously remaining on the steering bar;
• selecting crab steering mode by turning the steering bar, with the operator's hands continuously remaining on the steering bar;
• and
• selecting round steering mode by turning the steering bar, with the operator's hands continuously remaining on the steering bar.

A steering unit for a camera dolly, comprising:

• a steering transmission;
• a differential;
• pulleys on the steering transmission, and on the differential;
• and
• belts at least indirectly connecting the steering transmission to the differential, the pulleys and belts forming a corrective steering system, a crab steering system, and a round steering system.

A steering system for a camera dolly comprising:

• a rear transmission having first, second, third, and fourth pulleys supported on a first axle;
• a front transmission having a first ,second and third pulleys supported on a shift rod;
• a differential having a top, center and bottom pulleys axially displaceable from each other;
• a rear transmission distributor and a front transmission distributor, each having top, center and bottom pulleys;
• a first belt connecting the top pulley of the rear transmission to the top pulley of the rear transmission distributor;
• a second belt connecting the second pulley of the rear transmission to the center pulley of the differential;
• a third belt connecting the third pulley on the rear transmission to the center pulley on the rear transmission distributor;
• a fourth belt connecting the fourth pulley on the rear transmission to a lower axle pulley on an axle;
• a fifth belt connecting the top pulley of the differential to an upper axle pulley on the axle;
• a sixth belt connecting the lower pulley on the differential to the middle pulley on the front distributor;
• a seventh belt connecting the top pulley on the front transmission to the top pulley on the front transmission distributor;
• and
• an eight belt connecting the lower pulley on the front transmission distributor to the lower pulley on the front transmission.

A camera dolly, comprising:

• a steering transmission;
• a differential;
• pulleys on the steering transmission, and on the differential;
• and
• belts at least indirectly connecting the steering transmission to the differential, the pulleys and belts forming a first steering system and a second steering system;
• and
• a servo assist system including one or more motors mechanically linked to at least one of the first and second steering systems.

A camera dolly, comprising:

• a chassis;
• first, second, third and fourth wheel units attached to the chassis and rotatable relative to the chassis about a vertical axes;
• steering system means for providing corrective, crab and round steering mode operation to the wheel units;
• and
• a steering handle on the chassis connected with the steering system means, for steering the camera dolly and for shifting the steering system means into the corrective, crab and round steering modes.

A camera dolly, comprising:

• a steering transmission
• a differential;
• pulleys on the steering transmission, and on the differential;
• and
• belts at least indirectly connecting the steering transmission to the differential, the pulleys and belts forming a first steering system and a second steering system;
• and
• servo assist means for providing power assist to at least one of the first and second steering systems.

A camera dolly, comprising:

• a steering transmission;
• a differential;
• sprockets on the steering transmission, and on the differential;
• and
• chains at least indirectly connecting the steering transmission to the differential, the sprockets and chains forming a first steering system and a second steering system;
• and
• a servo assist system including one or more motors mechanically linked to at least one of the first and second steering systems.