Abstract: An axle housing assembly for a vehicle is provided. The axle housing assembly for a vehicle includes a first axle housing, a second axle housing spaced apart from the first axle housing in a front-rear direction, an upper connector and a lower connector. The upper connector defines a front end connected to the first axle housing and a rear end connected to the second axle housing, and the lower connector is disposed below the upper connector and defines a front end connected the first axle housing and a rear end connected to the second axle housing. A vehicle including the axle housing assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A tractor mower with an enhanced turning radius comprising steerable left and right front wheels; left and right rear wheels; an engine for providing power to drive said rear wheels; an independent rear braking system capable of applying a braking force to said left and right rear wheels independently of one another; and a steering system coupled to said front steerable wheels and said independent rear braking system. The steering and braking systems may be configured such that when the tractor mower is steered in a first direction the front wheels are turned to the right and a braking force is applied on the right rear wheel. Alternatively, when the tractor mower is steered in a second direction the front wheels are turned to the left and a braking force is applied on the left rear wheel.

Abstract: The present invention is a device which can be used to provide rotation motion to a driving wheel by the application of lateral motion by the user. It consists of axial track plate having a plurality of track paths with said guide paths having a plurality of slope sections. Additionally the caliper element can enable movement of a wheelchair's wheel from a first position to a second position. The caliper element is responsive to slope sections such that the slope sections can engage or disengage the caliper element. The caliper element's broad face is parallel to the track plate's broad face. The broad face is perpendicularly connected to each other via cylindrical pegs along the guide paths. The caliper element has a mating surface enabled to rotate a sprocket which is concentrically connected to a wheel hub where wheel rotates at the same angular velocity as the sprocket while the sprocket is in the engaged mode.

Abstract: A powered wheel chair device comprises a motorized undercarriage and a support seat for supporting a wheelchair occupant. At least one support arm is located adjacent the seat. A controller is mounted on the arm, the controller including a joystick unit within reach of the occupant. The joystick is in communication with the motorized undercarriage for driving the undercarriage. The joystick includes an upstanding post with a collar, the collar having a periphery with a number of abutment regions located therealong. A number of actuators are provided, each movable from a storage position distal to the corresponding abutment region and a deployed position adjacent the corresponding abutment region. Each actuator is responsive to an obstacle detecting sensor near a corresponding peripheral region of the undercarriage.

Abstract: A riding work vehicle includes right and left wheels, at least one caster wheel, and a working machine. The lawnmower vehicle further includes traveling motor, steering motor, a traveling system clutch, and a steering system clutch. The traveling system clutch is configured to disable transmission of the rotational force from an axle of the caster wheel to the traveling motor in a state where the traveling motor is deactivated. The steering system clutch is configured to disable transmission of the rotational force from a steering shaft for the caster wheel to the steering motor in a state where the steering motor is deactivated.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating autonomic control mode commands to an autonomic control system in a vehicle to execute an autonomic vehicle maneuver in response to an operator command includes a control module signally connected to the autonomic control system and an input device. The input device is manipulated by an operator to transition among operator command positions and configured to generate signal outputs monitored by the control module indicating the operator command positions including a neutral position, a detent position and an extended detent position. The input device further includes a reset state corresponding to the neutral position and monitored by the control module, an initiation state corresponding to the extended detent position and monitored by the control module, and a command state corresponding to the detent position and monitored by the control module.

Abstract: A method and system are described for calibrating speed controls for a vehicle having a pair of drive means on opposite sides of the vehicle driven by independent speed controls and where relative speed of the drive means is used to direct the vehicle. In one aspect, angular motion of the vehicle is detected using at least one of a gyroscopic angular sensor and a pair of accelerometers to determine a rate of yaw; a speed control output for controlling the relative speed is adjusted so that the rate of yaw is lower than a threshold when speed control inputs for controlling the relative speed are equal; and one or more speed control adjustment parameters are determined and stored for use during operation for controlling the relative speed of the drive means. A microcontroller may be used to receive sensor outputs (e.g. from the gyroscope and/or accelerometers) and speed control inputs and to determine the speed control adjustment.

Abstract: A crawler tractor comprises steering mechanisms (44) (45) for rotating a machine body by causing right and left crawler belts (9) to move differentially. The tractor is characterized in that the steering mechanism (44) is connected to a drive system located behind a reverser mechanism (21) that moves the machine body forward and back. Even when the machine body movement direction is changed from forward to back, the direction of the steering wheel (18) and the direction of the rotation of the machine body are kept the same, so that a reversed steering phenomenon is prevented from occurring, and an appropriate operation in forward or back movement is enabled with a simple structure that does not require an additional mechanism such as a reverse-steering preventions mechanism.

Abstract: An implement drive arrangement for a wheel axle assembly pivotally connected to a housing. A drive element is supported on the axle for rotation with the wheel generally about the wheel axis. The housing rotatably supports a driven element for rotation about an axis generally fixed in relation to the housing. A free-floating connecting element is rotatably supported between the drive element and the driven element to facilitate relatively unimpeded pivoting of the axle and wheel relative to the housing. The connecting element has two degrees of freedom offset at 90° to one another and aligned radially relative to the axis of rotation to accommodate axle pivoting while assuring smooth transfer of power from the wheel to the driven element as the angular relationship changes between the axle and housing with movement of the wheel over irregular ground surfaces.

Abstract: A crawler tractor comprises steering mechanisms (44) (45) for rotating a machine body by causing right and left crawler belts (9) to move differentially. The tractor is characterized in that the steering mechanism (44) is connected to a drive system located behind a reverser mechanism (21) that moves the machine body forward and back. Even when the machine body movement direction is changed from forward to back, the direction of the steering wheel (18) and the direction of the rotation of the machine body are kept the same, so that a reversed steering phenomenon is prevented from occurring, and an appropriate operation in forward or back movement is enabled with a simple structure that does not require an additional mechanism such as a reverse-steering preventions mechanism.

Abstract: An electric steering apparatus, particularly suited for floor transport vehicles, comprises a housing, a steering motor operably connected to a reduction gear stage wherein the reduction gear stage is operably connected to rotating bearing assembly coupled in a torque-proof manner to a steerable running wheel. Precise steering motion with continuous control capability is provided by translating the drive motor output through the reduction gear stage to the rotating bearing assembly. Finer and more precise steering motion than that afforded by conventional hydraulically actuated steering units is thus provided. Steering motion is also advantageously continuously controllable through rotation angle sensors integral to the rotating bearing assembly. A three stage planetary reduction gear systems coupled to a rotating bearing assembly advantageously transfers large torques, so that large loads may be accommodated while maintaining fine steering control.

Abstract: A suspension and a drive assembly is provided for forward and rear wheels disposed on first and second longitudinally spaced axles of a skid steer loader. The suspension includes a central bearing support and leading and trailing arms that are independently, pivotally mounted to the central bearing support and which support the forward and rear wheels. The drive assembly includes gear housings coupled to the leading and trailing arms and a motor having a housing coupled to one of the gear housings. The motor's output shaft drives a gear arrangement in one of the gear housings that in turn drives a driven axle shaft supporting one of the forward and rear wheels. A driven shaft is coupled to the output shaft through a universal joint and drives another gear arrangement in the other gear housing that in turn drives another driven axle shaft supporting the other wheel.

Abstract: A active steering apparatus includes a housing, an input shaft, an output shaft, and an electrical motor. The electric motor has a stator fixed to the housing and a rotor. A first gear set interconnects the input shaft and the output shaft and includes a sun gear fixed to an end of the input shaft, a ring gear fixed to the output shaft, and a plurality of planet gears positioned between and interconnecting the ring gear and the sun gear. A second gear set is mounted onto the rotor and interconnects the ring gear and the housing such that rotation of the rotor relative to the housing imparts movement of the ring gear relative to the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a steering operation device, a pair of running-driving wheels, which differentially drive when the steering operation device is manipulated, a pair of steerable running wheels interlocking with the steering operation device, and a steering mechanism interposed between the steering operation device and the pair of running-driving wheels. The steering mechanism includes a pair of drive gears interlocking with the steering operation device and a pair of follower gears interlocking with the respective steerable running wheels. The drive gears mesh with the respective follower gears so as to control lateral turning of the respective steerable running wheels. A gear radius of the drive gear may be greater than that of the follower gear meshing with it. A gear ratio between the mutually meshing drive and follower gears may be variable.

Abstract: A mobile cultural machine including right and left traction members, a transmission, and a main speed change device operable to transmit, at any speed ratio, a driving force from an engine through the transmission to the traction members so that they are driven at any traveling speed. A steerage and a steering devise operate cause the steerage to differentiate the traveling speeds between traction members. The traveling speeds are reduced in response to the extent to which the steering device is operated, so that a machine running straight may smoothly be controlled to enter a spinning turn at the end of a row.

Abstract: A mobile cultural machine including right and left traction members, a transmission, and a main speed change device operable to transmit, at any speed ratio, a driving force from an engine through the transmission to the traction members so that they are driven at any traveling speed. A steerage and a steering device operate to cause the steerage to differentiate the traveling speeds between traction members. The traveling speeds are reduced in response to the extent to which the steering device is operated, so that a machine running straight may smoothly be controlled to enter a spinning turn at the end of a row.

Abstract: a mobile cultural machine including right and left traction members, a transmission, and a main speed change device operable to transmit, at any speed ratio, a driving force from an engine through the transmission to the traction members so that they are driven at any traveling speed. A steerage and a steering devise operate cause the steerage to differentiate the traveling speeds between traction members. The traveling speeds are reduced in response to the extent to which the steering device is operated, so that a machine running straight may smoothly be controlled to enter a spinning turn at the end of a row.