Patent classifications
B62D11/006
Adjustable Seat Assembly with Operator Controls for Riding Vehicles
Systems and mechanisms for facilitating concurrent positional adjustments of a seat with one or more steering controllers along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, are disclosed. The embodiments provide a mechanism by which operators of a wide range of body types may comfortably occupy and use vehicles configured with lap bar controls, such as zero-turn radius mowers. In one example, the seat and steering controllers are both mounted on a support structure that is configured to be movable relative to a chassis of the vehicle.
Steering Lever Pivot Assembly for Terrain Working Vehicle
A steering lever pivot assembly may have a two-axis polymer housing pivotally coupled to a terrain working vehicle at opposing bosses and comprising a pair of reciprocal housing portions, a steering lever pivotally coupled to the two-axis polymer housing, the steering lever having a connecting portion for coupling to a first system of the terrain working vehicle, a clasp coupled to the steering lever and the two-axis polymer housing and having a mounting portion for coupling to a first system of the terrain working vehicle, and a pair of bushings that receive one of the opposing bosses therein. In some aspects, the two-axis polymer housing provides a first axis of rotation at the pivotal coupling between the steering lever and the two-axis polymer housing and a second axis of rotation through the opposing bushings, which may be axially aligned.
Lawn Care Vehicle Brake System with Improved Brake Cable Actuation
A riding lawn care vehicle (10) includes first and second drive wheels (32), a steering lever (34), a brake assembly (110), and a mechanical brake linkage assembly (120) including a cable tensioner (250). The brake assembly (110) may be operably coupled to at least one of the first and second drive wheels (32) to enable brakes to be selectively applied to the first and second drive wheels (32) based on a position of the steering lever (34). The cable tensioner (250) may be configured to activate the brake assembly (110) relative to the at least one of the first and second drive wheels (32) in response to the steering lever (34) being moved outwardly to an outboard position. The mechanical linkage assembly (120) may be configured to provide a greater amount of rotation of the cable tensioner (250) than a magnitude of rotation of the steering lever (34) when the steering lever (34) is moved from the inboard position to the outboard position.
Steering bar for lever controlled vehicle
A steering bar for a lever-controlled vehicle provides for single hand operation of the lever-controlled vehicle. For example, the steering bar couples to the control levers for a zero-turn mower, providing safer, easier operation of the mower and making the mower handicap accessible. The steering bar can easily be installed on any dual steering zero turn mower. Steering is easier because turning it controlled by rotating the steering bar either right or left, with control of forward and reverse movements by pushing or pulling the bar. Speed, turning direction, or motion forward or reverse are all controlled by a single bar with a single hand. The steering bar is coupled with a selectively extensible control shaft to accommodate for the differing displacement length between the control levers during turning movements. The steering bar is coupled with the control levers with a ball and socket joint.
STEER BY WIRE WITH MECHANICAL SAFETY BACKUP FOR A TRACK VEHICLE
A hybrid hydro-mechanical/electronic steering system for a track vehicle, where the driver system can simultaneously use hydro-mechanical connections and electronic (steer by wire) connections to steer a track vehicle such as a tank, where safeguards for safety and reliability include seamless transition between electronic to hydro-mechanical control and vice versa, such that the system can be used in a single or double chassis track vehicle and is adaptable for autonomous driving.
Steering Mechanism
A steering lever mechanism for a mower vehicle includes a lever assembly and a base which is fixed to the mower vehicle for mounting the lever assembly to the mower. The lever assembly includes a pivot assembly and a lever portion. The lever portion is pivotably mounted to the pivot assembly for rotation about a longitudinal axis between an inboard position and an outboard position. The pivot assembly is also pivotably mounted to the base for rotation of the pivot bracket portion and the lever portion about a transverse axis between a rear position, an intermediate neutral position and a forward position. A rotation-measuring device is associated with the base and the pivot assembly for measuring the forward and rear rotation of the lever assembly.
Zero turning radius mower steering lever modules
Each zero turning radius mower steering lever module includes a one-piece plastic housing independently mounted on a grass mowing machine frame member. A central passage extends through each housing, and a steering arm bracket may be positioned in the central passage and pivotably mounted on a horizontal pivot axis. A steering arm may be attached to an upper end of the steering arm bracket, and a hydrostatic transmission linkage and a damper linkage attached to a lower end of the bracket.
Combine Harvester
A combine harvester is provided with: a threshing device that performs a threshing process of threshing a crop; a grain tank that stores grain obtained by the threshing process; a grain discharging device that discharges grain to be stored in the grain tank to the outside of the vehicle body; a travel driving device that drives travel of the vehicle body; and an engine that serves as a power source. The combine harvester includes a first relay shaft to which power is transmitted from an output shaft of the engine, and the power of the engine is transmitted from the first relay shaft to the grain discharging device and the travel driving device in a branched manner.
Steering Systems, Steering and Speed Coordination Systems, and Associated Vehicles
In a broad respect, vehicles that are capable of making a low- to zero-radius turn using the independent rotation of drive wheels and by turning the non-driving steerable structure or structures (such as wheels) with a steering input device (in some embodiments, the driving wheels also may be capable of being turned). This may be accomplished using a steering system, a speed control system and an integration device (together, a control system) that are configured to work together to provide correct steering in forward and reverse, and, in some embodiments, to reduce the speed of the outboard drive wheel of the vehicle when it enters an extreme turn under constant speed input. Different systems configured for use in such vehicles are included.
Steering mechanism
A steering lever mechanism for a mower vehicle includes a lever assembly and a base which is fixed to the mower vehicle for mounting the lever assembly to the mower. The lever assembly includes a pivot assembly and a lever portion. The lever portion is pivotably mounted to the pivot assembly for rotation about a longitudinal axis between an inboard position and an outboard position. The pivot assembly is also pivotably mounted to the base for rotation of the pivot bracket portion and the lever portion about a transverse axis between a rear position, an intermediate neutral position and a forward position. A rotation-measuring device is associated with the base and the pivot assembly for measuring the forward and rear rotation of the lever assembly.