US 6,672,411 B1Granted

Control mechanism for a zero turning radius vehicle

AssigneeMurray, Inc.

InventorBradley J. Mouser

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Abstract

A control mechanism for a dual transmission vehicle is disclosed. First and second overlaying plates are provided, the first plate having a profiled slot which communicates with parallel slots in the second plate. The slots in the first and second plates are oriented in the direction of rectilinear movement of their respective plate. The first plate is controlled to move in a direction normal to the direction in which the second plate is controlled to move. A pair of rods connects the plates to the transmissions. Each rod has a first end joined to its respective transmission and a second end projecting through the profiled slot in the first plate and through a respective one of the parallel slots in the second plate. Dependent on the relative position of the plates, wheels connected to the transmission are driven at the same or different speeds.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A control mechanism for a vehicle having dual transmissions for operating respective drive wheels, said mechanism comprising:

a control element for displacing a first plate rectilinearly in a first direction, said plate having a profiled slot formed therein, said slot having a major axis extending in the direction of rectilinear displacement of the first plate;
an additional control element for displacing a second plate rectilinearly in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the first plate, said first and second plates being positioned in an overlaying relationship, the second plate being provided with a pair of parallel slots extending in the direction of rectilinear displacement of the second plate and positioned in communication with the slot in said first plate;
and
a pair of connecting rods extending between said second plate and the transmissions, said rods each having a first end connected to a respective transmission and a protrusion at its opposite end projecting through a respective slot in the second plate and the profiled slot in the first plate.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.