초록 ▼

A vehicle with a driving track assembly and a pair of secondary driving and steering assemblies disposed on opposing lateral sides of the track. Each secondary driving and steering structure includes a ground engaging driving and steering structure that is preferably a ground engaging wheel. The dri

A vehicle with a driving track assembly and a pair of secondary driving and steering assemblies disposed on opposing lateral sides of the track. Each secondary driving and steering structure includes a ground engaging driving and steering structure that is preferably a ground engaging wheel. The driving track assembly includes an endless ground engaging track that drives the vehicle. The flanking driving and steering structures also engage the ground and are rotated to impart force to the vehicle. A steering device is operatively connected to the secondary driving and steering assemblies. the steering device control operation of the secondary driving and steering assemblies so as to affect a vehicle steering operation wherein the ground engaging driving and steering structures are operated to turn said vehicle with respect to said vehicle driving and steering direction. Preferably, the force imparted to the vehicle by one of said ground engaging driving and steering structures is greater than the force imparted to the vehicle by the other of the ground engaging driving and steering structures, thereby causing the vehicle to turn with respect to the vehicle driving and steering direction. Preferably, the steering device control is operable to transfer a substantial portion of the load support from the central driving track assembly during straight ahead movement onto the secondary driving and steering assemblies during turning movements.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed:] [1.]1. A vehicle comprising:a main frame;a driving track assembly mounted in supporting relation to said main frame, said driving track assembly including an endless ground engaging track that extends in a vehicle driving direction and a track operating motor constructed and arra

[ What is claimed:] [1.]1. A vehicle comprising:a main frame;a driving track assembly mounted in supporting relation to said main frame, said driving track assembly including an endless ground engaging track that extends in a vehicle driving direction and a track operating motor constructed and arranged to move said track in driving relation to the ground;a pair of secondary driving and steering assemblies mounted on opposing lateral sides of said track assembly in flanking relation, each of said secondary driving and steering assemblies comprising:(i) a vertically movable mounting structure constructed and arranged to be moved in a generally vertical direction relative to said main frame independently of the mounting structure of the other secondary driving and steering assembly,(ii) a ground engaging structure movable in driving and steering relation to the ground mounted on said mounting structure such that movement of said mounting structure in the generally vertical direction moves said ground engaging structure generally vertically relative to said main frame,(iii) a secondary operating motor mounted to said mounting structure for generally vertical movement therewith, said secondary operating motor being constructed and arranged to move said ground engaging structure in driving and steering relation to the ground, and(iv) a power-operated mounting structure mover constructed and arranged to move said mounting structure in the generally vertical direction so as to move said ground engaging structure thereon generally vertically to vary an amount of ground bearing pressure said ground engaging structure applies to the ground;an engine assembly being constructed and arranged to supply power to each of (1) the track operating motor of the track assembly, (2) the secondary operating motors of said secondary driving and steering assemblies, and (3 said mounting structure movers of said secondary driving and steering assemblies;an electronic controller operable to control (1) an amount of power supplied from said engine assembly to said track operating motor, (2) an amount of power supplied from said engine assembly to one of said secondary operating motors, (3) an amount of power supplied from said engine assembly to the other of said secondary operating motors, (4) an amount of power supplied from said engine assembly to one of said mounting structure movers, and (5) an amount of power supplied from said engine assembly to the other of said mounting structure movers;said controller being operable to receive speed signals indicative of a selected speed at which said vehicle is to be driven and responsively control the amount of power supplied from said engine assembly to said track operating motor of said driving track assembly and said secondary operating motors so as to move said vehicle at said selected speed during said vehicle driving operation;a steering input device communicated to said electronic controller, said steering input device being operable to transmit a steering signal to said controller indicative of a selected angle at which said vehicle is to be turned;said controller being operable to process said steering input signal and responsively control (1) the respective amounts of power supplied from said engine assembly to the secondary operating motors so as to affect a vehicle steering operation wherein the movement imparted to said vehicle by one of said ground engaging structures is different than the movement imparted to said vehicle by the other of said ground engaging structures to thereby turn said vehicle at said selected angle, and (2) the respective amounts of power supplied from said engine assembly to said mounting structure movers so as to affect a ground pressure varying operation wherein the ground bearing pressure applied by and the load support carried by said ground engaging structures is increased during the vehicle steering operation to thereby decrease the ground bearing pressure applied by and the load support carried by said track assembly.