Abstract: A servo-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system has a helical-toothed rack and a helical-toothed pinion cooperating therewith. On the transmission of forces between the pinion and the rack, a torque relative to the longitudinal axis of the rack acts on the rack. The resulting rotation of the rack is utilized to control the servomotor via a lever arrangement.

Abstract: In many instances it has been a recent trend to incorporate the use of electronic controls into various machine functions to reduce the fatigue of an operator. When incorporated into the steering functions of a machine, the electronic controls often do not provide an operator with an "automotive" feel and thus do not work as well in some machine applications as they do in others. The present invention incorporates a mechanical feedback through the steering controls to provide the operator with a feel similar to that of an automotive environment. In addition, the steering controls operate in a manner which provides a variable ratio of steering wheel rotation to steering control valve actuation depending upon the articulation angle of the machine. In so doing, the function of the steering controls will vary with and enhance the operation of each specific mode of machine operation.

Abstract: An improved riding lawn mower includes a vehicle frame having a front end, a rear end, and a rear motor deck that is secured to the rear end of the frame. A drive motor is mounted above the motor deck while a rear wheel assembly engaged with the motor, is connected to the bottom of the rear motor deck. The mower also includes a front wheel assembly connected to the front end of the vehicle frame. A vehicle body and driver's seat are attached to vehicle frame. A steering column is cooperatively connected at its lower end to the front wheel assembly and includes at its upper end, a steering wheel positioned within reach of the operator seated on the mower. A steering mechanism is linked between the lower end of the steering column and the front wheel assembly. The steering mechanism is positioned above the front wheels of the mower and turns the front wheels asynchronously so that the lawn mower can be driven along an arc path having a radius approximately half the length of the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A multi-axial hand-operated helicopter control includes a pivotal arm which may freely pivot in two planes relative to a base member with collective and rudder control rods attached at the base of the pivoting arm member for translating motion along one plane into collective control and motion along another plane into rudder control. A rotatable throttle control mounts at an end of the arm member and a throttle shaft extends through the arm member attaching to a constant velocity joint for translating rotational movement of the throttle control into rotational movement of a base throttle rod. The pivotal arm member is mounted to a base member via a universal joint, with the constant velocity joint placed at the center of the universal joint, achieving high torque rotation.

Abstract: A steering compensator has a shaft with a first shaft section offset from a central shaft section. A second shaft section of the shaft is offset from the first and central shaft sections. A first drive member is rotatably attached to the first shaft section and a second drive member is rotatably attached to the second shaft section. A central member is rotatably attached to the central shaft section between the first and second drive members. A pivotal link interconnects the first and second drive members through the central member to allow relative angular displacement between the first and second drive members. The steering compensator provides steering angle correction in conventional steering. A crab-conventional camera dolly steering shift mechanism has shift plates and sprockets aligned on a shaft. An electronic shifter automatically shifts between crab and conventional steering modes.

Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle including a fixed body secured to the body of the vehicle, a fixed shaft rotatably supported by the fixed bracket, a movable bracket connected for relative axial movement to the fixed bracket, a movable shaft rotatably supported by the movable bracket and connected to the shaft so as to be axially movable relative to the fixed shaft and rotatable as one unit with the fixed shaft, a driving mechanism disposed on the fixed bracket and connected to move the movable bracket and the movable shaft axially relative to both the fixed bracket and the fixed shaft, and a control mechanism for controlling the level of the frictional force acting between the fixed bracket and the movable bracket.

Abstract: The steering device consists in a first hub to support the wheel, an internal second hub rotatably and coaxially supporting the first, a steering pivot accommodated internally of the second hub, on which the wheel can be swung from side to side, and an axle pivot, perpendicular to the steering pivot and suspended from the frame on quadrilateral linkages, which is able to rise and fall while remaining fixed in relation to the wheel; the inner hub is controlled by a lever that projects clear of the first hub and is hinged by its projecting end to a control rod, the rod in turn is connected by way of a mechanical linkage with the handlebars of the machine.

Abstract: A motion transmitting remote control assembly (10) is of the type for transmitting forces in curved path by a flexible motion transmitting core element (18). The assembly (10) comprises a first actuator (12) and a second actuator (14). The first actuator (12) is disposed adjacent the output (35) and comprises a first drive member (24), a first handle (32) and a clutch (36) all coaxial about the first input shaft (30). The clutch (36) comprises a pin (38) which coacts with two slots (37) in the first drive member (24). A spring (42) biases the pin (38) into the two slots (37) so the pin (38) will engage the two slots (37) when they are aligned.

Abstract: A tractor includes: (a) a one piece frame having opposite ends defined by respective members adapted for receiving ballast with the rear member including a hitch located below any mounted ballast, (b) a dual screen filtering arrangement located upstream of a radiator and an engine combustion air inlet, (c) an implement lift system including a main spring lift assist which is locked out when the implement is lowered and an auxiliary lift assist for increasing the lift assist for front-mounted implements but is mounted so as to join the main lifts assist to produce a near constant lift force during lifting the implement while producing a minimal lift force when the implement is completely lowered (d) short and long effective lengths of a steering pitman arm may be selected, for respectively minimizing steering effort or maximizing responsiveness, by respectively connecting a mounting point closest to or a mounting point farthest from a pivot axis of the arm to a drag link, (e) a steering wheel is tiltable toget

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system for an automotive vehicle includes a linkage drivingly connected at its front end to a front wheel steering mechanism, and a connecting mechanism assembled in combination with a rear wheel steering mechanism to drivingly connect the linkage to a pair of operation rods of the rear wheel steering mechanism in such a manner that the operation rods are axially displaced in response to movement of the linkage to steer a pair of dirigible rear road wheels. The connecting mechanism is designed to control the steering angle and direction of the rear road wheels relative to those of a pair of dirigible front road wheels without causing any change in the alignment of the rear road wheels.

Abstract: An all-direction-changing mechanism and a driving power transmission mechanism combined together comprising a plurality of connecting rods radially extending from a connecting center, direction-changing cranks on the outer ends of the connecting rod controlling the direction of wheels mounted on the cranks, the ends of the connecting rods being connected with said direction-changing cranks by direction-changing crank pins, the connecting center being a center crank fastened to a steering mechanism mounted on a revolving vehicle body so that when the steering wheel is turned around for changing the vehicle's running direction, the connecting rods are also moved in parallel to one another, and as a result the vehicle body and all the wheels also change direction in the same angle.

Abstract: In a vehicle in which a front swing frame is suspended vertically swingably from the front of a body frame and in which right and left side front wheels are journaled to both right and left sides of the swing frame in a steerable manner, a steering apparatus is coupled to a steering handle for steering operation of the front wheels, having a steering linkage and a steering shaft coupled to the steering handle as well as to the steering linkage through a lower steering joint, the center of the lower steering joint being disposed on a longitudinal axis of pivot shafts which support the swing frame on the body frame.

Abstract: To fasten the control chain on a drive unit of a controllable drive wheel of an industrial vehicle, a housing part is provided on the top thereof with holes which are arranged in a circle. A chain holder is placed into one of the holes, which chain holder is engaged with both the endmost bolt of one end link and also a tensioning mechanism which in turn is engaged with a further endmost bolt of another end link. Various alternate constructions are provided for the design of the chain holder and the tensioning mechanism.

Abstract: A transmission for muscle-operated vehicles or appliances for converting forward and backward movements into rotational movement having a constant direction of rotation by means of two freewheeling devices which are driven alternately in opposite directions and act on a shaft in identical directions, wherein at least one additional freewheeling device is driven at the same time, though it operates in the opposite direction, a clutch mechanism either permitting the freewheeling devices to act in the same direction on the shaft for forward motion, or permitting the freewheeling devices to act in opposite directions on the shaft for reverse motion, or permitting none of the freewheeling devices to act on the shaft during idling.

Abstract: A vehicular steering system including a steering wheel, a front wheel steering mechanism for steering a front wheel according to steering amounts of the steering wheel, and a rear wheel steering mechanism for steering a rear wheel according to such steering amounts in the same direction as that of the front wheel when such steering amounts are relatively small and in a direction opposite to the steering direction of the front wheel when such steering amounts are relatively large. The rear wheel steering mechanism includes a crank member connected to the steering wheel, a movable member connected to the crank member, a restriction mechanism for restraining the movable member and permitting the latter to perform only restricted movements along a predetermined pattern, and an output mechanism interconnecting the movable member and the rear wheel for effecting the steering of the rear wheel according to components of motion in a predetermined direction of such restricted movements.

Abstract: A steering wheel mechanism which provides a driver with absolute confirmation of the direction of the orientation of the front wheels by a differential gear reduction mechanism which provides for a reduced amount of rotation of a buffer pad in comparison to the rotation of a steering wheel in which the buffer pad is located. The buffer pad contains display and switching groups which, because of the limited rotation, are easily accessible for purposes for control and ease of reading by the driver.

Abstract: A steering mechanism for a use in a conveying and hoisting wheel vehicle having at least one steered vehicle wheel, comprises: a steering shaft; a first wheel rotatably driven by the steering shaft; a second wheel pivoting and steering the steered vehicle wheel and having a center axis of rotation extending on the equatorial plane of the steered vehicle wheel; torque transmitting means passed between the first and second wheels, the torque transmitting means having a travelling path having a meeting point at which the torque transmitting means is brought into tangential engagement with the second wheel and a parting point at which the torque transmitting means is brought out of engagement with the second wheel, the travelling path having a semi-circular turning portion at which the torque transmitting means is engaged with the circumferential section of the second wheel.

Abstract: An adjustable turning ratio rotary positioning mechanism has rotary drive and driven members coupled by a flexible drive band, such as a sprocket chain, with oppositely movable runs between the members which are laterally displaceable during rotation of the drive member in such a way as to selectively provide the positioning mechanisms with different predetermined turning ratios, i.e., the turning angle(s) of the driven member(s) per unit turning angle of the drive member. A camera dolly steering mechanism embodying a rotary positioning mechanism according to the invention actuated by a single cam on the dolly steering shaft for selectively steering the dolly in round, crab, and conventional steering modes.

Abstract: In a steering device having an expansion and contraction-durable, flexible inner wire of a control cable, one end of which is fastened to an outer peripheral surface of a disc drive member rotatably mounted in a casing, the inner wire is fitted into an annular groove provided in the periphery of the drive member, and in a gap between the periphery of the drive member and the inner surface of the casing there is placed a series of bearings located or pivoted by a prescribed length of a flexible separator and having an engaging means capable of engaging with the inner wire or the drive member only in the direction of winding the inner wire. As a result of this construction, the steering device can be lightly operated regardless of the direction of rotation of a steering wheel.

Abstract: A steering gear of the type comprising a pulley rotatable by means of a steering wheel, and a member to be steered by wire ropes extending from the pulley, is arranged to provide a restoring moment. The rotatable pulley is formed with two adjoining grooves having a width corresponding to the cross-sectional dimension of the respective wire ropes, and a depth permitting at least two turns of wire rope to be wound thereinto. The restoring moment is obtained in that when steering movements are effected the run of the wire rope being wound onto the pulley and extending tangentially thereof will be situated at an effective radial distance from the center of the pulley greater than that of the corresponding run of the wire rope being unwound from the pulley.

Abstract: A ship's steering unit comprising a housing, a cable wheel mounted within the housing, a shaft with a pinion thereon in driving engagement with the cable wheel, and a one-piece body which serves as a bearing support for the shaft, the shaft having a shroud portion providing a member for mounting the unit to a support surface, which when the unit is orientated with its housing lowermost is spaced below the upper region of the shaft and the bearing support therefor.

Abstract: A motion transmitting unit comprising a housing, a cable wheel mounted within the housing, a shaft with a pinion thereon in driving engagement with the cable wheel, and a onepiece body which serves as a bearing support for the shaft, the shaft having a shroud portion providing a member for mounting the unit to a support surface, which when the unit is orientated with its housing lowermost is spaced below the upper region of the shaft and the bearing support therefor.