US4498554A — Highly maneuverable prime mover

Claim 1

Independent Claim 183 words

A highly maneuverable prime mover which comprises: a. a main frame; b. rotatable turret means mounted on the frame; c. means to supply motive and control power to the prime mover wheels and turret; d. means for mounting an operating tool head on the turret means; e. four supporting drive wheels mounted in a spaced rectangular relationship on the frame; f. steering arm means operatively connected to each wheel; g. mode shifting means acting on the steering arm means, said shifting means adapted to shift each wheel through a 90° horizontal arc between a first position and a second position orthogonal to the first; and f. steering means operating on the steering arms to control direction of travel by Ackermann steering at least one side-by-side wheel pair when the wheels are in the first position, the mode shifting means serving as a linkage between the steering means and steering arm means, said prime mover being adapted for skid steering or hybrid steering when the wheels are in the second position, wherein said hybrid steering involves steering only a single wheel of one pair.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 183 words

A highly maneuverable prime mover which comprises: a. a main frame; b. rotatable turret means mounted on the frame; c. means to supply motive and control power to the prime mover wheels and turret; d. means for mounting an operating tool head on the turret means; e. four supporting drive wheels mounted in a spaced rectangular relationship on the frame; f. steering arm means operatively connected to each wheel; g. mode shifting means acting on the steering arm means, said shifting means adapted to shift each wheel through a 90° horizontal arc between a first position and a second position orthogonal to the first; and f. steering means operating on the steering arms to control direction of travel by Ackermann steering at least one side-by-side wheel pair when the wheels are in the first position, the mode shifting means serving as a linkage between the steering means and steering arm means, said prime mover being adapted for skid steering or hybrid steering when the wheels are in the second position, wherein said hybrid steering involves steering only a single wheel of one pair.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The prime mover of claim 1 in which the turret means is adapted for 360° rotation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

The prime mover of claim 1 in which the motive and control power means is an engine.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The prime mover of claim 1 in which the motive and control power means is a battery powered motor.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The prime mover of claims 3 or 4 in which the motive and control power means is mounted on the turret.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The prime mover of claim 1 in which the wheels are driven by individual hydraulic motors.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The prime mover of claim 1 in which the tool head comprises object lifting means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The prime mover of claim 7 in which the object lifting means includes an elevator means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The prime mover of claim 8 in which the lifting means includes horizontally disposed fingers for engaging a load.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

The prime mover of claim 8 in which the lifting means includes a gripping mechanism.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The prime mover of claim 8 in which the lifting means includes a plurality of side-by-side screw conveyors adapted for lifting a geometrically patterned array of objects.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

The prime mover of claim 8 in which the lifting means includes a plurality of side-by-side chain-type conveyors for liftings geometrically patterned array of objects.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 214 words

The prime mover of claim 1 in which the wheels are adapted to be shifted in pairs from the first position to the second position orthogonal to the first, said shifting means for each wheel pair comprising: a. a T-bar having the base of the stem portion of the T pivotally attached to the midpoint of a longitudinal frame member; b. the steering arm means for each wheel of the pair comprising a vertically oriented shaft rotationally mounted in the frame at the center of rotation of the wheel shifting arc, each shaft having a first end with support means for a drive wheel and a second end bearing a lever arm oriented normal to the axis of the shaft, the lever arm being operatively connected to c. individual mode shifting means which tie the lever arm of each steering arm means to the adjacent end of the crossbar of the T, said shifting means adapted to be simultaneously extended or retracted in order to partially rotate the steering arm means about their respective axes of rotation and cause the wheels of the pair to be turned toward or away from each other in order to effect a 90° change in each wheel orientation as the wheels shift between the first and second positions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The prime mover of claim 13 in which the shifting means are hydraulic cylinders.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 78 words

The prime mover of claims 13 further containing a pair of hydraulic steering cylinders adapted for Ackermann steering when the wheels are in the first position, said steering cylinders being placed in opposition between the frame and a position on the stem of the T-bar so that by differentially acting against the T-bar it is caused to swing about its pivot point and transmit steering motion to the wheels through the mode shifting means and steering arm means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

The prime mover of claim 15 in which only one of the wheel pairs are adapted to Ackermann steer when the wheels are in the first position.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

The prime mover of claim 15 in which both wheel pairs are adapted to Ackermann steer when the wheels are in the first position.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 25 words

The prime mover of claim 1 in which the frame is constructed to give the prime mover straddle capability in at least one wheel position.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 154 words

A highly maneuverable prime mover which comprises: a. a main frame; b. four supporting drive wheels mounted in a spaced rectangular relationship on the frame; c. drive means for each wheel; d. steering arm means operatively connected to each wheel; e. mode shifting means acting on the steering arm means, said shifting means adapted to shift each wheel through a 90° horizontal arc between a first position and a second position orthogonal to the first; and f. steering means operating on the steering arms to control direction of travel by Ackermann steering at least one side-by-side wheel pair when the wheels are in the first position, the mode shifting means serving as a linkage between the steering means and steering arm means, said prime mover being adapted for skid steering or hybrid steering when the wheels are in the second position, wherein said hybrid steering involves steering only a single wheel of one pair.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 154 words

A highly maneuverable prime mover which comprises: a. a main frame; b. four supporting drive wheels mounted in a spaced rectangular relationship on the frame; c. drive means for each wheel; d. steering arm means operatively connected to each wheel; e. mode shifting means acting on the steering arm means, said shifting means adapted to shift each wheel through a 90° horizontal arc between a first position and a second position orthogonal to the first; and f. steering means operating on the steering arms to control direction of travel by Ackermann steering at least one side-by-side wheel pair when the wheels are in the first position, the mode shifting means serving as a linkage between the steering means and steering arm means, said prime mover being adapted for skid steering or hybrid steering when the wheels are in the second position, wherein said hybrid steering involves steering only a single wheel of one pair.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 17 words

The prime mover of claim 19 in which the motive and control power means is an engine.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The prime mover of claim 19 in which the motive and control power means is a battery powered motor.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 16 words

The prime mover of claim 19 in which the wheels are driven by individual hydraulic motors.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

The prime mover of claim 21 in which the tool head comprises object lifting means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 19 words

The prime mover of claim 19 further having means for mounting an operating tool head on the prime mover.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 16 words

The prime mover of claim 23 in which the object lifting means includes on elevator means.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

The prime mover of claim 25 in which the lifting means includes horizontally disposed fingers for engaging a load.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 15 words

The prime mover of claim 25 in which the lifting means includes a gripping mechanism.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 27 words

The prime mover of claim 25 in which the lifting means includes a plurality of side-by-side screw conveyors adapted for lifting a geometrically patterned array of objects.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 25 words

The prime mover of claim 25 in which the lifting means includes a plurality of side-by-side chain-type conveyors for liftings geometrically patterned array of objects.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 214 words

The prime mover of claim 1 in which the wheels are adapted to be shifted in pairs from the first position to the second position orthogonal to the first, said shifting means for each wheel pair comprising: a. a T-bar having the base of the stem portion of the T pivotally attached to the midpoint of a longitudinal frame member; b. the steering arm means for each wheel of the pair comprising a vertically oriented shaft rotationally mounted in the frame at the center of rotation of the wheel shifting arc, each shaft having a first end with support means for a drive wheel and a second end bearing a lever arm oriented normal to the axis of the shaft, the lever arm being operatively connected to c. individual mode shifting means which tie the lever arm of each steering arm means to the adjacent end of the crossbar of the T, said shifting means adapted to be simultaneously extended or retracted in order to partially rotate the steering arm means about their respective axes of rotation and cause the wheels of the pair to be turned toward or away from each other in order to effect a 90° change in each wheel orientation as the wheels shift between the first and second positions.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 14 words

The prime mover of claim 30 in which the shifting means are hydraulic cylinders.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 80 words

The prime mover of claims 30 or 31 further containing a pair of hydraulic steering cylinders adapted for Ackermann steering when the wheels are in the first position, said steering cylinders being placed in opposition between the frame and a position on the stem of the T-bar so that by differentially acting against the T-bar if is caused to swing about its pivot point and transmit steering motion to the wheels through the mode shifting means and steering arm means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 27 words

The prime mover of claim 32 in which only one of the wheel pairs are adapted to Ackermann steer when the wheels are in the first position.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 24 words

The prime mover of claim 32 in which both wheel pairs are adapted to Ackermann steel when the wheels are in the first position.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 25 words

The prime mover of claim 19 in which the frame is constructed to give the prime mover straddle capability in at least one wheel position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-02-12	1988-08-13	1989-02-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-02-12	1992-08-13	1993-02-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-02-12	1996-08-13	1997-02-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Highly maneuverable prime mover

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