With Remote Position Steering Patents (Class 280/774)
  • Patent number: 8151668
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a movable column member supporting a steering wheel at a rear end of the movable column member and rotatably supported about a column swinging point provided at a front part of the movable column member relative to a vehicle body, a fixing bracket supported at an upper portion of the fixing bracket to the vehicle body and including first and second retaining portions that face each other and support the movable column member therebetween, first and second pressing mechanisms facing each other so as to press and support the movable column in a slidable manner, a first pivot axis disposed at a lower side of the fixing bracket, a second pivot axis disposed at a lower side of the movable column member, and a drive mechanism driven so as to adjust a distance between the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Morito Oshita, Masakazu Ozawa
  • Patent number: 7815220
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle comprising an intermediate assembly which is slideably disposed within a lower assembly so that the intermediate assembly may be moved between an extended and a retracted position. Further, the steering column assembly contains an upper assembly which is pivotally coupled to one end of the intermediate assembly so as to permit the upper assembly to move about a pivot point. The upper assembly further contains a locking assembly which is interconnected between the lower assembly, the intermediate assembly and the upper assembly so that the lower, intermediate and upper assemblies may be locked relative to each other in a selected position when the locking assembly is placed and retained in a first position and permitted to move when said locking assembly is placed and retained in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Douglas Autotech Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Demmon, David Gruza
  • Patent number: 7793951
    Abstract: A steering mechanism for a model vehicle is provided, having one or more steering actuators, a steering control arm pivotally mounted for rotation relative to a model vehicle chassis, the steering control arm being coupled directly to at least two tie rods, each tie rod controlling the steering of at least one wheel of a vehicle, and each of the one or more steering actuators coupled to the steering control arm to rotate the control arm relative to the vehicle chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Traxxas LP
    Inventors: Brent Whitfield Byers, Seralaathan Hariharesan
  • Publication number: 20090183396
    Abstract: A trencher has two wheels equidistant on either side of the arbor, and a third steerable wheel at the front of the trencher in line with the arbor. Speed of the arbor, forward motion of the trencher and the direction of motion are determined by motors controlled by an onboard control system. The onboard control system is controlled by a remote control, which may be a simple manual wireless controller or a programmable computer. With a programmable computer, the trencher can be pre-programmed to dig along a pre-selected path, e.g., a logo, flower or other design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: For the Edge, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Emmett Dean, Seongtae Kim, Parmanand Jagnandan, Christopher Reginald Singh, Peter Jans Gillespie, Nick A. Schottler, Katrina Alexis Faucett, Christopher Thomas Weyandt
  • Patent number: 7314103
    Abstract: A re-locatable operator station device designed to be used to control walk-behind or stationary machinery and to be repositioned by an operator while maintaining a constant orientation with respect to the machinery. This means that the X and Y axis of the operating station remains the same as the X and Y axis of the vehicle. Such re-locatable operator station is being suitable for use on machinery such as pallet trucks, long load transporters, aircraft engine handling devices, scissors lifts, and other industrial machinery, especially omni or multi-directional machinery or vehicles, as well as with fixed machines in applications places where the operator cannot or does not remain in a single location or is better served at another location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Airtrax, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Edward Fenelli, Donald B. Harris, Robert Alan Mullowney
  • Patent number: 7171026
    Abstract: A steering device, a method for authenticating a driver, and a vehicle are disclosed. The steering device is equipped with an identification information acquisition unit. When a driver takes a position for operating the steering device, namely, a home position to the steering device, the identification information acquisition unit acquires a venous pattern of the driver as identification information. The steering device then outputs the identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Shinada, Kiyoaki Takiguchi, Koichi Maeyama
  • Patent number: 6811172
    Abstract: A vehicle such as a bicycle or tricycle having a front steering assembly and a remote, rear steering assembly. The front steering assembly has a steering sleeve with a rotatable front shaft within the sleeve that is connected to the front wheel. The rear steering assembly has a rear shaft rotatably mounted in a steering sleeve and both of the shafts has a steering device such as handlebars accessible to users. The shafts are coupled together to rotate in tandem by means of a substantially flexible coupling, such as a chain operatively connected between sprockets mounted to each of the shafts. Turning either of the handlebars thus turns the front wheel to steer the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Yenson LLC
    Inventor: Sylvester Yen
  • Publication number: 20030197361
    Abstract: A wheeled vehicle includes a front driven shaft mounted to and rotatable relative to a front frame portion, a front wheel body mounted to rotate with the front driven shaft, a rear driving shaft mounted to and rotatable relative to a rear frame portion and having an upper driving end to be operated manually, and a force transmitting mechanism including front and rear rotary members which are respectively coupled to the front driven and rear driving shafts, and a transmitting member connected to the front and rear rotary members so as to transmit rotational movement of the rear rotary member, which is initiated manually by the rear driving shaft, to drive the front rotary member and the front driven shaft to rotate, thereby resulting in a swiveling movement of the front wheel body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: Tse-Tsung Chang
  • Patent number: 5957497
    Abstract: A device for steering a wheel assembly in a riding mower has a steering sprocket nonrotatably connected to a rotatable steering column and a transmission chain which is flexible in the plane of the steering sprocket and extends over the steering sprocket and forms, on both sides of the steering sprocket, a rectilinear chain run. Two deflecting wheels arranged on both sides of the steering sprocket are positioned in a deflecting wheel plane turned around the respective chain run lines relative to the plane of the steering sprocket. Each of two transmission chains, which extend over the respective deflecting wheels between the free end of the respective chain runs and the wheel assembly, is, between the steering sprocket and the respective deflecting wheels, coupled by way of a link element to the chain, which is flexible in the plane of the steering sprocket, so as to form a straight line with the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Stiga AB
    Inventors: Soren Johansson, Erland Wikner
  • Patent number: 4756552
    Abstract: A vehicle having a steering system controlled by either of a pair of steering wheels also includes first and second steering wheel shafts means, each carrying one of the steering wheels. A wheel steering mechanism is mechanically connected to the first and second steering wheel shafts means. In accordance with this invention, a third shaft is attached at one end to the first steering wheel shafts means. The third shaft means is connected at its other end without intermediate, intervening gears to a gear for rotationally interconnecting the third shaft, the second steering wheel shaft, and the wheel steering mechanism. This structure can eliminate an expensive 90 degree gear box when compared with prior art designs, for significant cost savings while providing equivalent or superior function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Elgin Sweeper Company
    Inventors: Mario J. Martinez, Roy F. Engelbrecht
  • Patent number: 4621972
    Abstract: A silo mover apparatus comprising a main frame that is movable across the ground on a plurality of support wheels, and which has a subframe pivotallymounted thereon adjacent one end. The subframe can be raised about the pivot to a substantially vertical position through the use of hydraulic cylinders, stabilized in position adjacent to a silo to be moved, clamped to the silo by straps, after the silo has been suitably reinforced, and then the silo can be lifted and tilted downwardly with the subframe to rest on the main frame for transport to a new location. At the new location the silo is then raised by raising the subframe about its pivot, to place the silo onto the desired platform, after which the members that clamp the silo and subframe together are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Inventor: Walter D. Grotte
  • Patent number: 4527656
    Abstract: A rear loading refuse pickup truck is modified to include auxiliary controls operable from a platform near the rear of the truck so that a single operator can both load refuse into the truck and effect unidirectional truck operation at limited speeds between relatively close refuse pickup sites. The auxiliary controls include directional steering, transmission shifting limited between neutral and reverse, and limited accelerator actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Inventor: Glenn C. Walbridge
  • Patent number: 4449420
    Abstract: A steering apparatus comprising an operating unit having an operating pulley rotated by a steering wheel, a steering unit having a steering pulley rotated by two inner cables so as to steer a rudder means through a steering screw rotated by the steering pulley and a steering pipe moved by the steering screw, and substantially two pull cables having the two inner cables connecting the operating unit and the steering unit, whereby the rudder is operated by the steering wheel without the influence of waves, and further the steering apparatus can be constructed by combination of the plural operating units and the plural steering units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Nippon Cable System Inc.
    Inventor: Masanao Baba
  • Patent number: 4262618
    Abstract: A remote control steering attachment for a steering wheel wherein a driving motor is releasably attached to the steering wheel by means of a cross member adjustably bolted to the steering wheel. A clutch is interposed between the driving motor and the steering wheel so that the steering wheel can be operated when the unit is declutched and the driving motor is not being used. A remote control is used for controlling the driving motor and thus turning the steering wheel from a location distant from the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Inventor: William P. VanDerZee
  • Patent number: 4147227
    Abstract: Apparatus removably mounted on a standard model agricultural tractor of a type used principally for pulling various implements and for hauling, and to which agricultural implements cannot usually be advantageously mounted at the front of the tractor, the apparatus including a second steering device at and facing the rear and at a side of the tractor which is linked to the tractor's regular steering device. A seat for the driver may be pivoted 180.degree. to one side for constituting a driver's seat when controlling the second steering device or two seats facing in opposite directions may be provided. A second set of pedals, such as a clutch, accelerator, and brake project from the deck of the attachment in the vicinity of the second steering device and are mechanically linked to the regular control pedals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1979
    Inventor: Cornelis van der Lely