Steering apparatus providing variable steering ratios
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorJustin M. Wireman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Steering apparatus having variable steering ratios are disclosed herein. An apparatus disclosed herein includes a steering drum to rotate about a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction different than the first direction. The steering drum has a shape to provide a varying steering ratio when the steering drum is rotated.
Claims19
An apparatus comprising a steering drum to rotate about a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction different than the first direction, the steering drum having an elliptically shaped cross-section which defines varying distances between the longitudinal axis of the steering drum and an outer surface of the steering drum having a groove to receive a cable.
An apparatus comprising:
- a steering drum to rotate about a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction different than the first direction, the steering drum having a shape to provide a varying steering ratio when the steering drum is rotated, wherein an outer surface of the steering drum defines a groove or track;
- and
- a first cable and a second cable, the first cable having a first end attached to a first coupling opening adjacent the outer surface and a first portion wound about the outer surface within a first portion of the groove or track, the second cable having a first end attached to a second coupling opening adjacent the outer surface and a first portion wound about the outer surface within a second portion of the groove or track.
A variable steering ratio apparatus comprising:
- a body having an oblong shaped cross-section and a central opening to receive a shaft;
- a controller movable along a rotational travel path to cause the body to rotate along an angular range about a central axis defined by the central opening;
- and
- a cable to couple to the controller and the body, a portion of the cable wrapped around at least a portion of the outer surface of the body, the oblong shaped cross-section of the body defining a radius that varies between the central axis and a portion of the cable positioned in a substantially tangential orientation relative to the outer surface as the body rotates, the varying radius to cause a change in ratio between the rotational travel path of the controller and the angular range of the body to provide at least a first steering ratio and a second steering ratio, the first steering ratio being different than the second steering ratio.
An apparatus comprising:
- means for steering, the means for steering to rotate about a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction different than the first direction, the means for steering having means for providing a varying steering ratio when the means for steering is rotated, the means for providing a varying steering ratio having an oblong shaped cross-section;
- means for controlling the means for steering, the means for controlling to cause the means for steering to rotate about the longitudinal axis in the first direction when the means for controlling is moved along a first travel path;
- and
- means for operatively coupling the means for steering and the means for controlling, the means for operatively coupling wrapped at least partially around the means for steering.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.