Provided is an off-road robot, including a front side portion, a rear side portion and a middle portion. The front side portion includes a front vehicle frame, a front wheel and a first driving system; the front wheels and the first driving system are disposed at the front vehicle frame; and the first driving system drives the front wheels. The rear side portion includes a rear vehicle frame, a rear wheel and a second driving system; the rear wheel and the second driving system are disposed at the rear vehicle frame; and the second driving system drives the rear wheels. The middle portion includes a first frame and a second frame; the first frame and the second frame are detachably connected; the front vehicle frame is connected with the first frame; and the rear vehicle frame is connected with the second frame.

A floating bearing for a steering gear of a motor vehicle includes a rotary bearing having an inner bearing ring for receiving a screw pinion shaft of the steering gear, and an outer bearing ring built into a bearing sleeve. The bearing sleeve interacts with a guiding element, which interacts with a holding element, such that the bearing sleeve moves relative to the holding element in a first direction oriented radially to the longitudinal axis of the bearing sleeve when the screw pinion shaft is not loaded with torque, and relative movement is prevented when the screw pinion shaft is loaded with torque by moving the bearing sleeve in relation to the holding element in a second direction that is oriented radially to the longitudinal axis and perpendicularly to the first direction, whereby the guiding element is tilted in a guiding opening of the holding element or the bearing sleeve.

The invention relates to a bevel gear box for use as part of the steering mechanism of a commercial vehicle. The invention may be suited to use where the controlled axles of the vehicle are located below the passenger compartment. The bevel gear box may comprise box housing, which in turn houses two separate bevel gear barrel assemblies. The exemplified bevel gear barrel assemblies each comprise a bevel gear, the bevel gear further comprising a gear head incorporating teeth and a gear shaft—4. Shaft housing surrounds a circumference of gear shaft 4. To enable the bevel gear to rotate within the shaft housing, bearings may be placed between surfaces of the bevel gear and the shaft housing. The face of the gear head may comprise a gear head recess for location of a center dowel therein.

The invention relates to a bevel gear box for use as part of the steering mechanism of a commercial vehicle. The invention may be suited to use where the controlled axles of the vehicle are located below the passenger compartment. The bevel gear box may comprise box housing, which in turn houses two separate bevel gear barrel assemblies. The exemplified bevel gear barrel assemblies each comprise a bevel gear, the bevel gear further comprising a gear head incorporating teeth and a gear shaft—4. Shaft housing surrounds a circumference of gear shaft 4. To enable the bevel gear to rotate within the shaft housing, bearings may be placed between surfaces of the bevel gear and the shaft housing. The face of the gear head may comprise a gear head recess for location of a center dowel therein.

A leading-edge steering system is provided for a front suspension of an off-road vehicle. The leading-edge steering system is comprised of a spindle assembly that supports a drive axle assembly to conduct torque from a transaxle to a front wheel. A first rod-end joint pivotally couples an upper suspension arm and the spindle assembly, and a second rod-end joint pivotally couples a lower suspension arm and the spindle assembly. A steering rod-end joint pivotally couples a first end of a steering rod with a leading-edge portion of the spindle assembly. A steering gear is coupled with a second end of the steering rod and configured to move the steering rod, such that the spindle assembly rotates with respect to the upper and lower suspension arms. The leading-edge portion is configured to exert primarily tensile forces on the steering rod during travel over rough terrain.

A leading-edge steering system is provided for a front suspension of an off-road vehicle. The leading-edge steering system is comprised of a spindle assembly that supports a drive axle assembly to conduct torque from a transaxle to a front wheel. A first rod-end joint pivotally couples an upper suspension arm and the spindle assembly, and a second rod-end joint pivotally couples a lower suspension arm and the spindle assembly. A steering rod-end joint pivotally couples a first end of a steering rod with a leading-edge portion of the spindle assembly. A steering gear is coupled with a second end of the steering rod and configured to move the steering rod, such that the spindle assembly rotates with respect to the upper and lower suspension arms. The leading-edge portion is configured to exert primarily tensile forces on the steering rod during travel over rough terrain.

An improved steering shaft assembly is provided. The steering shaft assembly further includes an output shaft that is rotatable with respect to the input shaft. The output shaft includes a rotary valve portion and a longitudinal portion. The steering shaft assembly further includes a torsion bar coupled to the input shaft and coupled to the output shaft distal from the input shaft. The steering shaft assembly further includes a mid-coupler extending around about the longitudinal portion of the output shaft and adapted to cooperate with the rotary valve portion of the output shaft. The steering shaft assembly further includes a screw mechanism extending about the longitudinal portion of the output shaft and adapted to cooperate with the mid-coupler. The screw mechanism is adapted to move laterally relative to the output shaft to maintain transfer of power from between output shaft and the screw mechanism despite misalignments therebetween.

An improved steering shaft assembly is provided. The steering shaft assembly further includes an output shaft that is rotatable with respect to the input shaft. The output shaft includes a rotary valve portion and a longitudinal portion. The steering shaft assembly further includes a torsion bar coupled to the input shaft and coupled to the output shaft distal from the input shaft. The steering shaft assembly further includes a mid-coupler extending around about the longitudinal portion of the output shaft and adapted to cooperate with the rotary valve portion of the output shaft. The steering shaft assembly further includes a screw mechanism extending about the longitudinal portion of the output shaft and adapted to cooperate with the mid-coupler. The screw mechanism is adapted to move laterally relative to the output shaft to maintain transfer of power from between output shaft and the screw mechanism despite misalignments therebetween.

Power assisted steering systems provide a gear reduction of approximately 25:1 between a steering wheel and a steering mechanism and approximately 625:1 between an electric motor and a steering mechanism. The system is back-driveable from the steering mechanism. In one embodiment, the gear reduction is provided primarily by three planetary gear sets, with the remainder provided by axis transfer gearing. In another embodiment, the gear reduction is provided primarily by a cycloidal gear set, with the remainder provided by axis transfer gearing.

Power assisted steering systems provide a gear reduction of approximately 25:1 between a steering wheel and a steering mechanism and approximately 625:1 between an electric motor and a steering mechanism. The system is back-driveable from the steering mechanism. In one embodiment, the gear reduction is provided primarily by three planetary gear sets, with the remainder provided by axis transfer gearing. In another embodiment, the gear reduction is provided primarily by a cycloidal gear set, with the remainder provided by axis transfer gearing.