The universal wheel includes a base member, a connection member, a wheel member, a first driving element, and a second driving element. The connection member has a first end fixed to a top side of the base member. The wheel member is rotatably joined to the base member. The first driving element is configured on the base member for rotating the base member laterally within 360 degrees. The second driving element is for rotating the wheel member. The universal wheel can be turned 360 degrees when standing in place, and can be moved forward, laterally, slantwise, rotationally, or in a combination of these operations.

An automatic steering system and method for an articulated work vehicle having a front wheel steering system supported by front wheels at a front frame and a rear frame supported by rear wheels rotatably coupled to the front frame at an articulator. A controller operatively connected to the front wheel steering system and to the articulator adjusts wheels of the front wheel steering system along a path and moves the articulator to direct the rear frame in response to a steering signal. The steering signal directs the vehicle in a minimum turn radius mode or a controlled traffic control mode. In the minimum turn radius mode, the rear wheels do not follow the tracks of the front wheels when making a turn. In the controlled traffic mode the rear wheels follow in same tracks as the front wheels.

The invention relates to an articulated vehicle comprising a front and a rear vehicle unit, and at least one further vehicle unit connected to said rear vehicle unit, comprising a front vertical steering link arranged substantially centrally of the front vehicle unit, where said front vertical steering link is configured for pivotal attachment to a fixed load-carrying frame connecting said front and rear vehicle units, where said at least one further vehicle unit is configured for attachment to a further fixed load-carrying frame, where said further fixed load-carrying frame is releasably connectable to said fixed load-carrying frame for said connection, such that a train of vehicle units is formed connected to a load-carrying frame unit comprising said fixed load-carrying frame and said further fixed load-carrying frame.

The simultaneous maneuvering system includes a base, a plurality of wheel assemblies including at least one wheel rotatably mounted to the base, a plurality of steering rotors rotatably mounted to the base and the wheel assemblies, and a drive assembly having a drive frame coupled to each of the rotors. Operation of the drive assembly causes simultaneous rotation of the rotors and, thereby, positions the wheel of each corresponding wheel assembly in a desired direction.

The present disclosure relates to a system and a method of controlling the movement of a tracked mobile mining machine having one or more articulated vehicle units. The control system works by taking input from manual or automated input means, the input serving as a set operating value for at least one driving parameter. The controller generates control signals, which are sent to regulating means that actuate the motor of the mobile mining machine. Using sensors on the machine, actual values of the driving parameter are measured in real-time and fed to the controller for comparison with the original set values. Any difference in the values is compensated for when the controller sends control signals to the regulating means causing readjustment of the driving parameter of the mining machine. The control system is applicable to crawler-driven powered vehicle units to ensure synchronous crawler movement for both linear and non-linear paths.

An apparatus for transporting a load is described, including: a body including a part or portion for engaging with or connecting to a load to be transported; a ground-engaging device supporting the body, the ground-engaging device for effecting movement of the body over a surface; a transmitter module; a receiver module; and a controller for communicating with the transmitter and receiver modules and the ground engaging device and for receiving status signals from components and/or devices of the apparatus, wherein the controller is capable of conducting a check as to the status of the components and/or devices of the apparatus, and after completing said check to provide an “apparatus operative” or “apparatus non-operative” signal to the transmitter module, wherein the transmitter module is configured to transmit the “apparatus operative” or “apparatus non-operative” signal, and wherein the receiver module is configured to receive from a first predetermined, or designated, other such apparatus its respective “apparatus operative” or “apparatus non-operative” signals.

A steering system (10) for a vehicle wheel (12) has a wheel carrier (14) for mounting a steered wheel (12), the wheel carrier (14) being rotatably mounted with respect to the vehicle about a steering axis to allow the wheel (12) to be steered. A hydraulic cylinder (20) has a piston therein and a rigid connecting rod assembly (22) extending from the piston out of the cylinder (20). The rigid connecting rod assembly (22) comprises a first section (22) adapted to reciprocate into and out of the cylinder (20) and a second section (26) rigidly extending from the first section (22) to a pivot point connection (50) where it is pivotally connected to the wheel carrier (14) at an offset from the steering axis. The hydraulic cylinder (20) is pivotally mounted on the vehicle such that it is prevented from translational movement relative to the vehicle but capable of changing its orientation with respect to the vehicle. Due to the rigid connecting rod assembly (22) and the pivot connection to the wheel carrier (14), as well as the pivotal mounting of the cylinder (20) on the vehicle, lateral strains on the seals of the hydraulic cylinder (20) are avoided.

A wheel steering system includes a steering device arranged on a steerable wheel, a signal execution device and a steering angle control device. The steering device includes a wheel support rotatably connected to a chassis by a slewing bearing, a bottom of the wheel support is rotatably connected to two ends of a rotary shaft of the steerable wheel, and the wheel support is configured to drive the steerable wheel to turn by 360 degrees through the slewing bearing. The signal execution device is configured to control an angle of rotation of the steerable wheel driven by the slewing bearing. The steering angle control device includes a plurality of reciprocating switch rotors, and the plurality of switch rotors are configured to send electrical signals of steering angles to the signal execution device.

An apparatus for transporting a load is described, including: a body including a part or portion for engaging with or connecting to a load to be transported; a ground-engaging device supporting the body, the ground-engaging device for effecting movement of the body over a surface; a transmitter module; a receiver module; and a controller for communicating with the transmitter and receiver modules and the ground engaging device and for receiving status signals from components and/or devices of the apparatus, wherein the controller is capable of conducting a check as to the status of the components and/or devices of the apparatus, and after completing said check to provide an “apparatus operative” or “apparatus non-operative” signal to the transmitter module, wherein the transmitter module is configured to transmit the “apparatus operative” or “apparatus non-operative” signal to a receiver module of one or more other apparatus and to its own receiver module.

The multiple maneuvering systems for various applications includes several embodiments of wheeled, multiple maneuvering systems including multiple parallel maneuvering systems (MPMS). Each MPMS includes two or more parallel maneuvering units (PMUs) attached to one another by a connecting structure. Each PMU includes two or more powered or non-powered wheels, with the wheels being maintained parallel to one another by a steering mechanism. The steering mechanism may include gears, belt and pulley, chain and sprocket, or a rigid linkage. The connecting structure may be rigid, linearly adjustable, rotatable adjustable or both linearly and rotatable adjustable. The adjustable connecting structures allow for relative movement between the PMUs, while maintaining a load support surface(s) of the MPMSs.