IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0252837
(2002-09-24)
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우선권정보 |
JP-0344319 (1998-12-03) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein &
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
26 인용 특허 :
105 |
초록
▼
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 steerin
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. The lateral turning centers of both the steerable running wheels may coincide with each other, and further coincide with a lateral turning center of the vehicle body caused by differential rotation of the running-driving wheels.
대표청구항
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1. A vehicle comprising:a steering operation device for turning said vehicle right or left, wherein the manipulated degree of said steering operation device from its position for making said vehicle travel straight is increased so as to increase the turning angle of said vehicle; a pair of right and
1. A vehicle comprising:a steering operation device for turning said vehicle right or left, wherein the manipulated degree of said steering operation device from its position for making said vehicle travel straight is increased so as to increase the turning angle of said vehicle; a pair of right and left unsteerable running-driving wheels disposed at one of front and rear portions of said vehicle coaxially to each other, wherein said right and left running-driving wheels are differentially driven by manipulating said steering operation device for turning said vehicle right or left so that a turning center of said vehicle moves along a line extended axially of said right and left running-driving wheels; a traveling and steering transmission system including a hydrostatic transmission which includes mutually fluidly connected pump and motor, wherein said traveling and steering transmission system is coupled to said steering operation device and to said right and left running-driving wheels, such that manipulation of said steering operation device causes the hydrostatic transmission to increase the rate of rotation of one of said right and left running-driving wheels and decrease the rate of rotation of the other of said right and left running-driving wheels; a pair of right and left steerable running wheels disposed at the other of front and rear portions of said vehicle, wherein said right and left steerable running wheels are revolved laterally by manipulating said steering operation device for turning said vehicle right or left; and a steering mechanism interposed between said pair of steerable running wheels and said steering operation device, said steering mechanism including a pair of gear trains, each of the gear trains including mutually meshing first and second gears, wherein said first gear interlocks with said steering operation device, wherein said second gear interlocks with each of said steerable running wheels, and wherein said first and second gears of said pair of gear trains in said steering mechanism turn laterally so as to revolve said pair of steerable running wheels laterally according to manipulation of said steering operation device so that each of said steerable running wheels turns perpendicular to a radial line from said turning center of said vehicle, each of said gear trains including a rod pulled and pushed by manipulation of said steering operation device, wherein said first gear is an irregularly circular driving gear which is pulled and pushed by said rod so as to rotate, and wherein said second gear is an irregularly circular driven gear which meshes with said first gear so as to be rotated integrally with the turning of each of said steerable running wheels. 2. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, each of said gear trains including a first pivot shaft of said first gear and second pivot shaft of said second gear, said second pivot shaft serving as the turning center axis of said corresponding steerable running wheel, wherein a meshing point for mutually meshing of said first and second gears is disposed between said first and second pivot shafts, and wherein a ratio of a distance of said meshing point from said second pivot shaft to a distance of said meshing point from said first pivot shaft varies according to rotation of said first gear.3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein, according to manipulation of said steering operation device for turning said vehicle, said rod of one of said gear trains is pulled and said rod of the other of said gear trains is pushed so that said ratio of the distance of said meshing point from said second pivot shaft to the distance of said meshing point from said first pivot shaft in one of said gear trains becomes different from said ratio of the distance of said meshing point from said second pivot shaft to the distance of said meshing point from said first pivot shaft in the other of said gear trains.4. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said steering mechanism includes a hydraulic power steering device.5. A vehicle comprising:a steering operation device for turning said vehicle right or left, wherein the manipulated degree of said steering operation device from its position for making said vehicle travel straight is increased so as to increase the turning angle of said vehicle; a pair of right and left running-driving wheels disposed at one affront and rear portions of said vehicle, wherein said right and left running-driving wheels are differentially driven by manipulating said steering operation device for turning said vehicle right or left; a traveling and steering transmission system including a hydrostatic transmission which includes mutually fluidly connected pump and motor, wherein said traveling and steering transmission system is coupled to said steering operation device and to said right and left running-driving wheels, such that manipulation of said steering operation device causes the hydrostatic transmission to increase the rate of rotation of one of said right and left running-driving wheels and decrease the rate of rotation of the other of said right and left running-driving wheels; a pair of right and left steerable running wheels disposed at the other of front and rear portions of said vehicle, wherein said right and left steerable running wheels are revolved laterally by manipulating said steering operation device for turning said vehicle right or left; a pair of rods pushed and pulled by manipulation of said steering operation device; a pair of irregularly circular drive gears interlocking with said respective rods so as to be rotated around respective first pivot shafts by being pulled and pushed with said respective rods; and a pair of irregularly circular follower gears interlocking with said respective steerable running wheels so as to be rotated around respective second pivot shafts together with said respective steerable running wheels, said follower gears meshing with said respective drive gears so as to make two couples of mutually meshing drive and follower gears, wherein gear ratios of said respective couples of mutually meshing drive and follower gears vary according to manipulation of said steering operation device, wherein, a meshing point for mutually meshing of said drive and follower gears of each of said couples is disposed between said first and second pivot shafts, and wherein a ratio of a distance of said meshing point from said second pivot shaft to a distance of said meshing point from said first pivot shaft is defined as said gear ratio of each of said couples. 6. A vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein the gear ratio of said mutually meshing drive and follower gears interlocking with one of said steerable running wheels serving as an inside wheel disposed at inside of said turning vehicle is reduced according to increase of said manipulated degree of said steering operation device.7. A vehicle as set forth in claim 6, wherein the gear ratio of said mutually meshing drive and follower gears interlocking with the other of said steerable running wheels serving as an outside wheel disposed at outside of said turning vehicle is increased according to increase of said manipulated degree of said steering operation device.8. A vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said drive gears and said follower gears are spur gears.9. A vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said drive gears and said follower gears are bevel gears.10. A vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said distance of said meshing point from said first pivot shaft is greater than said distance of said meshing point from said second pivot shaft.11. A vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said pair of running-driving wheels are disposed coaxially to each other along a line, and wherein said couples of mutually meshing drive and follower gears are so arranged as to make lateral revolution centers of said respective steerable running wheels coincide with each other at a point on said line.12. A vehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein said common lateral revolution center of both said steerable running wheels coincide with revolution center of said vehicle caused by differential rotation of said running-driving wheels.13. A vehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein said common revolution center of both said steerable running wheels moves on said line toward the middle position between said right and left running-driving wheels according to increase of said manipulated degree of said steering operation device.14. A vehicle as set forth in claim 13, wherein said common lateral revolution center of both said steerable running wheels moves so as to coincide with a revolution center of said vehicle caused by differential rotation of said running-driving wheels moving on said line.15. A vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein a hydraulic power steering device rotates said drive gears.
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