Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A driving and steering mechanism for a vehicle having a pair of driving wheels includes a steering wheel rotatably mounted to the vehicle and an accelerator foot pedal pivotably mounted to the vehicle. Transmissions associated with the driving wheels include a pivotable control arm for controlling the operation of the transmission, which independently controls the speed and direction of rotation of the associated wheel. The vehicle is turned by causing one wheel to rotate faster than the other wheel. A zero turning radius turn can be effected by causing the driving wheels to rotate in opposite directions. The driving and steering mechanism includes a pair of floating links pivotably connected at one end to a respective transmission control arm. Steering links, associated with the steering wheel, are pivotably connected to a respective floating link distal the connection to the control link. Accelerator links, associated with the accelerator foot pedal, are pivotably connected to a respective floating link at a point between the control arm and steering link pivot points. The floating links operate to integrate outputs from the steering wheel and the accelerator foot pedal into a pair of outputs applied to the pair of control arms, thereby controlling the speed and direction of rotation of a respective driving wheel in response to the prescribed steerage and speed.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim