公开(公告)号：US06725954B1

公开(公告)日：2004-04-27

申请号：US10402575

申请日：2003-03-28

申请人： James C. Keane ,  Brian C. Doklovic

发明人： James C. Keane ,  Brian C. Doklovic

IPC分类号： B62D1108

CPC分类号： B62D11/12 ,  B62D11/183 ,  F16H39/14

摘要： An apparatus and method for steering a vehicle with zero turning radius capability includes a movable steering handle, first and second CVT devices for independently driving first and second drive wheels, respectively, a transmission control device, and first and second biased guide members. The transmission control device interconnects the steering handle and the first and second CVT devices, and includes a mixing lever for controlling operations of the first and second CVT devices. Movement of the steering handle in a first steering direction causes the first guide member to move the mixing lever in a first actuating direction, and movement of the steering handle in a second steering direction causes the second guide member to move the mixing lever in a second actuating direction. The mixing lever can be positioned so as to cause the first and second CVT devices to drive the drive wheels in a manner permitting the vehicle to be steered at a zero turn radius in response to movement of the steering handle in a selected steering direction.

摘要翻译： 用于转向具有零转弯半径能力的车辆的装置和方法包括可移动转向手柄，分别独立地驱动第一和第二驱动轮的第一和第二CVT装置，变速器控制装置以及第一和第二偏置引导构件。 传动控制装置将转向手柄与第一和第二CVT装置相互连接，并包括用于控制第一和第二CVT装置的操作的混合杆。 转向手柄在第一转向方向上的移动使得第一引导构件沿第一致动方向移动混合杆，并且转向手柄在第二转向方向上的运动使得第二引导构件在第二转向方向上移动混合杆 致动方向。 混合杆可以被定位成使得第一和第二CVT装置以允许车辆在选定的转向方向上响应于转向手柄的移动而以零转弯半径的方式驱动驱动轮。