Apparatus and method for steering a vehicle with zero turning radius capability

A steering control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

• (a) a movable steering handle;
• (b) first and second CVT devices for independently driving first and second drive wheels, respectively;
• (c) a guide plate communicating with the steering handle and pivotable thereby, the guide plate comprising a guide groove defining an aperture, the aperture comprising a narrow end area, a wide end area, a wide medial area adjacent to the wide end area, and a tapering area between the narrow area and the medial wide area, the guide groove including first and second groove edges;
• and
• (d) a mixing lever extending through the aperture and selectively positionable in each area of the guide plate aperture, the mixing lever connected to the first and second CVT devices for controlling respective operations thereof, wherein movement of the steering handle in a first steering direction causes the first groove edge to move the mixing lever in a first actuating direction, and movement of the steering handle in a second steering direction causes the second groove edge to move the mixing lever in a second actuating direction.

A vehicle with transmission-controlled steering, comprising:

• (a) a movable steering handle;
• (b) first and second drive wheels;
• (c) first and second CVT devices for independently driving the first and second drive wheels, respectively;
• (d) a transmission control device interconnecting the steering handle and the first and second CVT devices, and comprising a mixing lever for controlling operations of the first and second CVT devices;
• and
• (e) first and second guide members disposed on opposite sides of the mixing lever, wherein movement of the steering handle in a first steering direction causes the first guide member to move the mixing lever in a first actuating direction, and movement of the steering handle in a second steering direction causes the second guide member to move the mixing lever in a second actuating direction.

A vehicle with transmission-controlled steering, comprising:

• (a) a movable steering handle;
• (b) first and second drive wheels;
• (c) first and second CVT devices for independently driving the first and second drive wheels, respectively;
• (d) a guide plate communicating with the steering handle and pivotable thereby, the guide plate comprising a guide groove defining an aperture, the aperture comprising a narrow end area, a wide end area, a wide medial area adjacent to the wide end area, and a tapering area between the narrow area and the medial wide area, the guide groove including first and second groove edges;
• and
• (e) a mixing lever extending through the aperture and selectively positionable in each area of the guide plate aperture, the mixing lever connected to the first and second CVT devices for controlling respective operations thereof, wherein movement of the steering handle in a first steering direction causes the first groove edge to move the mixing lever in a first actuating direction and movement of the steering handle in a second steering direction causes the second groove edge to move the mixing lever in a second actuating direction.