GB1491477A - Vehicle steering arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

1491477 Steering vehicles COVENTRY CLIMAX ENGINES Ltd 20 May 1975 [21 May 1974] 22639/74 Heading B7H A vehicle such as an industrial track comprises a wheel carrier 12 on which a ground wheel 11 is rotatably mounted and to which an end of a first linkage 14 is rigidly secured; a second linkage 16 pivoted at joint 15 at one end to the other end of linkage 14 and at joint 20 at its other end to an end of a drop arm 21, with a fulcrum 19 coupling the second linkage 16 at a point intermediate its ends to the vehicle chassis 18; and an eccentric means 24 coupling the drop arm 21 to a steering shaft 22 so that rotation of the shaft 22 is converted into angular motion of the drop arm and rotation of the second linkage about the fulcrum 19 to effect steering of the vehicle. The eccentric means 24 comprises a further shaft 26 coupled to the steering shaft 22 by a universal joint 23 and incorporating an eccentric lobe 27 which is received in a bore 29 of a toothed chain wheel 28. Rollers 31 secured to housing 25 are received in openings 30 of the wheel 28 which is thus constrained to execute displacement by the lobe 27 in a circular path without any substantial angular rotation of the wheel 28 about its own axis. The teeth of wheel 28 engage an internally toothed member, formed by the links of a chain 35 secured to a carrier 24, which is fixed to a sleeve 33 in which the drop arm 21 is slidably received. The number of links of chain 35, say thirty, exceed the number of teeth on the wheel 28, say twenty-seven, so that their interengagement serves as a reduction gearing transmitting shaft rotation to the drop arm.