Vehicle with offset extendible axles and independent four-wheel steering control
AssigneeJLG Industries, Inc.
InventorsAndrew J. Bean, Michael J. Blumberg, Richard J. Livdahl, Lex A. Mellott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle includes a chassis supporting two front axle assemblies and two rear axle assemblies. Each of the front and rear axle assemblies includes an extendible and retractable axle supporting an independently steerable wheel and a steering mechanism. The axles of the respective front and rear axle assemblies are offset from each other. By providing independently steerable wheels, the vehicle is operable in a plurality of steering modes including two-wheel steer, crab steer and coordinated steer. A steering angle for each steering wheel is determined according to a steering angle of an inside front wheel on a turn-by-turn basis.
Claims19
A vehicle comprising a chassis supporting two front axle assemblies and two rear axle assemblies, each of the front and rear axle assemblies including an extendible and retractable axle supporting an independently steerable wheel and a steering mechanism,
- wherein the axles of the two front axle assemblies are offset from each other, and wherein the axles of the two rear axle assemblies are offset from each other,
- the vehicle being operable in a plurality of steering modes including two-wheel steer, crab steer and coordinated steer, wherein a steering angle for each steering wheel is determined according to a steering angle of an inside front wheel on a turn-by-turn basis, the inside front wheel changing according to a turning direction.
A vehicle comprising a chassis supporting two front axle assemblies and two rear axle assemblies, each of the front and rear axle assemblies including an extendible and retractable axle supporting an independently steerable wheel and a steering mechanism,
- wherein the axles of the two front axle assemblies are offset from each other, and wherein the axles of the two rear axle assemblies are offset from each other,
- the vehicle being operable in a plurality of steering modes including two-wheel steer, crab steer and coordinated steer, wherein a steering angle for each steering wheel is determined according to a steering angle of an inside front wheel on a turn-by-turn basis, the inside front wheel changing according to a turning direction,
- the vehicle further comprising a left drive pump operatively coupled with the left front and rear steerable wheels and a right drive pump operatively coupled with the right front and rear steerable wheels, the left and right drive pumps independently controlling vehicle speed for respective sides of the vehicle.
A method of controlling vehicle steering and axle position, the vehicle including a chassis supporting two front axle assemblies and two rear axle assemblies, each of the front and rear axle assemblies including an extendible and retractable axle supporting an independently steerable wheel and a steering mechanism, wherein the axles of the two front axle assemblies are offset from each other, and wherein the axles of the two rear axle assemblies are offset from each other, the method comprising:
- selectively operating the vehicle in one of a plurality of steering modes including two-wheel steer, crab steer and coordinated steer;
- and
- determining a steering angle for each steering wheel according to a steering angle of an inside front wheel on a turn-by-turn basis, the inside front wheel changing according to a turning direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.