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A transmission control device which receives steering inputs and speed inputs, and produces an input for a steer transmission and an input for a drive transmission in order to control the direction and speed of a vehicle. The transmission control device, coupled to a steering assembly, coordinates t

A transmission control device which receives steering inputs and speed inputs, and produces an input for a steer transmission and an input for a drive transmission in order to control the direction and speed of a vehicle. The transmission control device, coupled to a steering assembly, coordinates the steering inputs with the speed inputs. The steering assembly which includes an elongated force transmitter operatively coupled to a steering device. The force transmitter, which is operatively coupled to a plurality of front wheels, has a fore-aft path of movement for pivoting the front wheels clockwise or counterclockwise. The present invention enhances the user's control and maneuverability of vehicles.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for providing input to a drive transmission and a steer transmission of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:a drive input receiver; a steer input receiver; a drive transmission input device; a steer transmission input device; and a converter operatively coupled to the drive input rec

1. An apparatus for providing input to a drive transmission and a steer transmission of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:a drive input receiver; a steer input receiver; a drive transmission input device; a steer transmission input device; and a converter operatively coupled to the drive input receiver, the steer input receiver, the drive transmission input device and the steer transmission input device, the converter having: (a) a drive multiplier operatively coupled to the drive input receiver and to the steer input receiver; and (b) a steer multiplier operatively coupled to the steer input receiver. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive input receiver has a pivoting member.3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the steer input receiver has a crank member.4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive transmission input device has a pivoting member.5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the steer transmission input device has a pivoting member.6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a zero radius turn capability.7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a tractor.8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a steering assembly operatively coupled to the steer input receiver.9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the steering assembly is adapted to pivot a plurality of front wheels.10. An apparatus for providing input to a drive transmission and a steer transmission of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:a drive input receiver; a steer input receiver; a drive transmission input device; a steer transmission input device; and a converter operatively coupled to the drive input receiver, the steer input receiver, the drive transmission input device and the steer transmission input device, the converter having: (a) a drive multiplier operatively coupled to the drive input receiver and to the steer input receiver; and b) a steer multiplier operatively coupled to the steer input receiver, the steer multiplier having a crank arm operatively coupled to the steer input receiver, a force transmitter operatively coupled to said crank arm and to the steer transmission input device, and a neutral control member operatively coupled to said force transmitter and to at least one coupling member which operatively couples the neutral control member to the drive input receiver. 11. An apparatus for providing input to a drive transmission and a steer transmission of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:a drive input receiver; a steer input receiver; a drive transmission input device; a steer transmission input device; and a converter operatively coupled to the drive input receiver, the steer input receiver, the drive transmission input device and the steer transmission input device, the converter having at least one electronic component. 12. An apparatus for providing input to a drive transmission and a steer transmission of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:a drive input receiver; a steer input receiver; a drive transmission input device; a steer transmission input device; and a converter operatively coupled to the drive input receiver, the steer input receiver, the drive transmission input device and the steer transmission input device, the converter having at least one processor. 13. An apparatus for providing input to a drive transmission and a steer transmission of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:a drive input receiver; a steer input receiver; a drive transmission input device; a steer transmission input device; and a converter operatively coupled to the drive input receiver, the steer input receiver, the drive transmission input device and the steer transmission input device, the converter having: (a) a drive multiplier operatively coupled to the drive input receiver and to the steer input receiver; and (b) a steer multiplier operatively coupled to the steer input receiver, the drive multiplier having a crank arm operatively coupled to the steer input receiver, a force transmitter operatively coupled to the crank arm and to the drive transmission input device, and a neutral control member operatively coupled to the force transmitter and to at least one coupling member which operatively couples the neutral control member to the drive input receiver. 14. A vehicle comprising:a frame; a plurality of front wheels rotatably connected to the frame; a plurality of rear drive wheels rotatably connected to the frame; an engine operatively coupled to the rear drive wheels; a speed control device; a steering control device a drive input receiver operatively coupled to the speed control device; a steer input receiver operatively coupled to the steering control device; a drive transmission input device; a steer transmission input device; a converter operatively coupled to the drive input receiver, the steer input receiver, the drive transmission input device and the steer transmission input device, the converter having: (a) a drive multiplier operatively coupled to the drive input receiver and to the steer input receiver; and (b) a steer multiplier operatively coupled to the steer input receiver; a drive transmission operatively coupled to the drive transmission input device and to the rear drive wheels; and a steer transmission operatively coupled to the steer transmission input device and to the rear drive wheels. 15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is a tractor.16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is a vehicle selected from the group consisting of a tractor, a mowing machine, a harvesting machine, a plant picking machine, a snow plow machine, a snow thrower, a vacuum machine, a cleaning machine, a power tool and a recreational vehicle.17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the drive input receiver has a pivoting member.18. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the steer input receiver has a crank member.19. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the drive transmission input device has a pivoting member.20. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the steer transmission input device has a pivoting member.21. A method for controlling input to a transmission of a vehicle, the transmission controlling speed and direction of the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a steer input receiver which receives steering input from a user steering control device; (b) providing a drive input receiver which receives drive input from a user speed control device; (c) operatively coupling a steer multiplier to the steer input receiver so as to convert the steering input to a converted steering input; (d) operatively coupling a drive multiplier to the drive input receiver so as to convert the drive input to a converted drive input; (e) transmitting the converted steering input to the transmission; and (f) transmitting the converted drive input to the transmission. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the steering input and the drive input are received simultaneously.23. The method of claim 21, wherein the steering input and the drive input are converted simultaneously.24. The method of claim 21, wherein step (a) includes the step of receiving input from a steering wheel of a tractor.25. The method of claim 21, wherein step (b) includes the step of receiving input from a speed control device of a tractor.26. A vehicle comprising:a frame; a plurality of front wheels rotatable connected to the frame; a plurality of rear drive wheels rotatable connected to the frame; an engine operatively coupled to the rear drive wheels; a speed control device; a steering control device a drive input receiver operatively coupled to the speed control device; a steer input receiver operatively coupled to the steering control device; a drive transmission input device; a steer transmission input device; and a converter operatively coupled to the drive input receiver, the steer input receiver, the drive transmission input device and the steer transmission input device; a drive transmission operatively coupled to the drive transmission input device and to the rear drive wheels; a steer transmission operatively coupled to the steer transmission input device and to the rear drive wheels; and a steering assembly operatively coupled to the steering control device and to the front wheels, the steering assembly including an axle having a first axle end and a second axle end, a first wheel mount arm operatively coupled to the first axle end, a second wheel mount arm operatively coupled to the second axle end and an input member operatively coupled to the first wheel mount arm and the second wheel mount arm, the input member having a fore-aft path of movement. 27. A steering assembly for a vehicle, the steering assembly comprising:an axle having a first axle end and a second axle end, the axle having a front side furthest from a rear end of the vehicle, and the axle having a back side closest to the rear end of the vehicle; a first wheel mount arm operatively coupled to the first axle end; a second wheel mount arm operatively coupled to the second axle end; an input member operatively coupled to the first wheel mount arm and the second wheel mount arm, the input member having a fore-aft path of movement; a slide member operatively coupling the input member to the first wheel mount arm or the second wheel mount arm; a mount member rigidly connectable to a frame of the vehicle; and a guide member connected to the mount member, the guide member positioned adjacent to the slide member, the guide member being pivotally connected to the slide member. 28. The steering assembly of claim 27 wherein the input member has an elongated shape.29. The steering assembly of claim 27, wherein the slide member has an elongated shape.30. The steering assembly of claim 27, wherein the slide member has a side-to-side path of movement.31. The steering assembly of claim 27, wherein the slide member is positioned closer to the front side of the axle than the back side of the axle.32. The steering assembly of claim 27, wherein the axle has a pivoting member.33. A steering assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle having a transmission which controls speed and direction of the vehicle, the steering assembly comprising:a user steering device; a crank operatively coupled to the user steering device, the crank having a round portion; a flexible force transmitter coupled to the crank and adapted to be operatively coupled to the transmission; and a coupling member operatively coupled to the crank, the coupling member having a fore-aft path of movement and the coupling member adapted to be operatively coupled to at least one front wheel. 34. The steering assembly of claim 33 wherein the user steering device is rotatable.35. The steering assembly of claim 33, wherein the user steering device has a steering wheel.36. The steering assembly of claim 33, wherein the coupling member is rigid.37. The steering assembly of claim 33, wherein the flexible force transmitter has a belt.38. A vehicle comprising:a frame having a front axle and a rear axle; a transmission supported by the frame, the transmission operable to control speed and direction of the vehicle; a plurality of front wheels rotatably connected to the front axle, the front axle having a first axle end and a second axle end; a plurality of rear wheels rotatably connected to the rear axle; a first wheel mount arm operatively coupled to the first axle end; a second wheel mount arm operatively coupled to the second axle end; a user steering device; a crank operatively coupled to the user steering device, the crank having a round portion; a flexible force transmitter coupled to the crank and the transmission; and a coupling member operatively coupled to the crank, the first wheel mount arm and the second wheel mount arm, the coupling member having a fore-aft path of movement. 39. The vehicle of claim 38, wherein the coupling member has an elongated shape.40. The vehicle of claim 38, which includes a slide member which operatively couples the coupling member to the first wheel mount arm and the second wheel mount arm.41. The vehicle of claim 40, wherein the slide member has an elongated shape.42. The vehicle of claim 40, wherein the slide member has a side-to-side path of movement.43. The vehicle of claim 40, wherein the front axle has a front side furthest from a rear end of the vehicle, and the front axle has a back side closest to the rear end of the vehicle, the slide member being positioned closer to the front side of the front axle than the back side of the front axle.44. The vehicle of claim 38, wherein the flexible force transmitter includes at least one belt.