GB813791A - Apparatus for controlling simultaneously two independent mechanisms - Google Patents

Abstract

813,791. Steering vehicles by declutching and braking. RANSOMES & RAPIER Ltd. Jan. 31, 1957 [Dec. 23, 1955], No. 36947/55. Class 79(2) [Also in Group XXIV] A steering control linkage for the combined clutch and locking members 16, 17, Fig. 1, between a driving shaft 10 and the half-shafts 14, 15 of driving sprockets 12, 13 of a track laying vehicle comprises a -control rod 30, Fig. 2, coupled to an arm 35 on a shaft 36 which shaft carries arms 40, 41 coupled respectively by links 42, 43 to levers 44, 45 which move the operating members 16, 17. Members 16, 17 comprise clutch dogs 19 or 20 for engaging with co-operating dogs 22 or 23 on the driving shaft 10 and locking dogs 18 or 21 for engaging fixed dogs 24 or 25. Each member 16 or 17 has a clutch engaged, locked and neutral position and the arrangement of the control linkage 40-45 is such that one clutch remains engaged owing to its linkage passing through its dead centre position whilst the other moves from locked to neutral and engaged position (see Group XXIV). Further operation of control rod 30 moves the first clutch to neutral and locked position whilst the second clutch remains engaged. In order to allow for a slight movement during the passage of the respective linkages over their dead centre positions lost-motion connections comprising pins 52, 53 in the arms 44, 45 engaging in slots 50, 51 of the links 42, 43 and being spring-pressed by springs 56 towards the inner end of the slots. These springs give in the fully engaged position of the clutches 16, 17 by the abutment of arms 44, 45 against stops 54, 55. In a modified control linkage the arms 40, 41 are on separate shafts but are operated in unison from a control shaft by toothed quadrants and pinions.