[1]Patented May 20, 1952 29597,109 I nD 'S TAT, - ,N -.0 @f @--F 1 -C - P,@ T @,gi597,1 @q9 B44N- 9 5Y-STEM FOR-YEHICLES Aoy A. Kr!opp, ,A.kver For,,est -1 Iss Y, -Origipal application Yebruar@y 28, 1948, -Ser@ial No. 41,999. @Divided@and this application August 20, ,1949, Seria lTNo.i--U71,447 -,T@ilis -iaV!@4,tjq4 yglat@@s -@p AMpyo,@epet@ks in @a px,,,.oyid6 te si@' i m,,t4,1,t-p ay, has,:ko;- ,qo,,.w@t]4 A a dific@- tion@', .'.w@Wfi -.t4p - X@,phiAlp is @i@ed -, s ca II-Qvel:bra%ing-ippph@L -ywiqle r,. p qTa@W sA q 4i&m lqr, a, pp pr. w,, pp. AseO-A iw p-e-y i le. Nvkq q y - - , 4e,.p.l.,ty ,@of -vehicle 5 0 .@Le,__ Ake . - @p _. . @m9y r@ qf nt e@pt - Pr,akediiiicle.p sion of @-,brak-ing,.s@stein-i@a't is .grkdexktly @tke W4@@ls. -@imp1b@in, qn@ @p @b !@T @vi '.de-,,,tbe-reo .-qr, glt@rpAtqly @th Is.- q@n: struction and efficient ;E;l in op im si -tlig! v-QWple,jngy;-, raked -s u4ne- A,!3,t4l @.u -pro r @ 4 e r @ o l ) j e c t i @ ' @ h e v i o r i q f . , a , b r a k y @@M @w4ic.. pjRr;pits.t @oppT-?bor,,to@- gke .OU,51y. h @,Tliis 'ji0@VPI -bT41;,Ilqg -,qyqtgl.4 is ,,p4T-1@pog@ly 10 Ilqp -;-9f -,4is 4f@144 tp,@tp@r .,t4ey-ehicl6. whild coilZdAP,t-e.d- @or:u5p -,With pb --T@l i@@htc@e W@4@@-4 is tr.p@114g:the-forwA@o,,Mo.V(@M. q4@,pf @t4p @yIZW616,by convertible from a wheel typp,-q.11 fiis,f6ot. j:hic to-o,,@tractor r '.- T@n c, r , -.@,4tWes, one -fur. pr f( _q_ 14 aAd,,, , -:Lhp @v - As I les, vantages of t4e,.Pxps@pt @i -,,phlgle,is oliq]EAtqa,, tr-a@etor it is n @n pces@@.ary for. s@p@r' g@E@s to 15.App?Li@,pAt,to,,pp' 's@@ I e i i e d i n , h e a r t , f r o m t h 6 , - f o l - -be,,able to by4keee.,!zb whqql lowing @detplil - .4e@erip,tion t@Lke t' enji @,iudep ent@,,,ppqrgti.Qn f ie,,,py@q , q @ a w i n g s . ,,ea cil @side..of @t4e .@ivQli@ipLq. -,W@,h -,,tke vehicleis @4e- gwii@gs. s -,Yehi@zle - ;Wl@hq -F - e -a.fr4g4Iq4t?t:r qiqe-elevp@tionalv' ilsed@; ,.a qt@@a., x4, I u 1 i F,_pr jg s,. cLk, @it is...jiecg@s.@ar-v@,-th ppeto 1-ke - )Ml-leftls 20 ip ,Qn. P @ @ b n d . P g L @ f l y , @ r g y - e n , ; @ , @ v a y , - ( ? f . , t 4 e ,,,t.he e@,of );@6,p nve io shq)yi-@tg @-pi-des..- jDf, t qr -:S.tOPPing @.Purposes. the body portioixs,,-Iq:a I , ,qt,@e_o, -lines; The Present application is a division,qt- ip-y -po,Pig@i re :is ?6 vie,,@ v @of rthe -PeudiUg 9,,- - d -, ebl@9 i.. I@ @ I I @ I ; - @ @ i ..wl,.h. 4e bod@. Qf -the Dlq - F mot qr,,v@hicle; of -Figure @l t PAI@QnLt,.4pp t@Q4 the 25 jica k @,e - ,vP4@Ple , @Prg97-@d, g p d ; . @ h , o w n . o 4 l y i n . d o t t e d , l i -is e ear. I I . @@. i ., I 1, @ ,,Ontaine.d a: -egiiiplete; di clos e. pf.-A nQv,.gi@qpp - !-]@Ag.@i@re,@3,@@-A,i-ragmentaiy;r e evational.view -@v,ertible.,@.v.eh-iole - @featW@ipg..-,Omopg o tb-er itgg@s A @ p c. - i Q n @ .a 4 dp a rt ly p r q @ e n, i @ @ ,y @ L y, 6f th e -- rio.vel.,,e u laaess !,trAQk %trijetu:l@e 434d ovgl - g_ear vehicl re 1;, 44 d ange,, m ,,ch -tra - mission. 4-is,.a fragmp@Atgry pe@, -spertiv e,,v i. , @ . I- - @qT, @of @,,33.rak-ing,@ sys-tems-.-, for..,gQ-nXe:rk@ble. - .yq4ilqle@a 4;'@@ # 0 Ir .c@04 t@ol m@e..aa P @,qf @4p present @,e 3 @4e her,,e.t,ofore ..taken @-,t4e -,for -a -,Pf -e-xtensive :lever IAVi@p -ni,ee,hanisins @atid:lpclci g 40Kigqs.- 1:ka, e@ A.4p @;s4q..Wn. pn @the drawings tb4@t: yee ,.-di,Me,ult tp@.operg-te qn!il-cp.Qrd:lika@tQ. .FurtLigr -,the -iI-x @,ail@.-3@@ihe . ,e e Ti f ren e numeral, ,I,O 9,U .,r C 'me nisras for steeringaixa@,f-or 1),rAlq-4g,-@pL t:ra -t -,the o y porti - a vehicle ,T-ig ptgr ,i ndica ,on of s -- type,.l 'cle lia ._o bee4 iDAPPe velii ve -.1@dpq-@ly@.actu35 body is mounted 6n a frame structure.- ,I,-g,@or..@@p@ --at!B(I @-thr(>Ugll S(@pRr Ate,,.,coptrols. - ,.Tbis -.Pqrt-,ky f@girt W-hpels q i@l@A @.of --co,4trols has, made tlio per.,ation @Qf suii a ,Power-.plant p s oline, engine, is -.ar--,veb.icle.,,vQZY OiJf4c@ilt,pndi.comec g!pd cto dr@ve the a juptitl-y ',Aqffl @-,A@O.Cor.!Iin to:t@ie;rQatures-_4Df,, Jlep;rep@entinvens 9- nz,1, 8,,a-,universa -i @ - - I I @ @ @ 'I@, @o;iat !,tion, @,tw 0 a? A k .,o @.,,haild @levers aull QPe fogt - ,I@over @,,are 4 "-OTiv h, a oifferential,-2-1, and,.a,,rea-r,.axle A ,.M@ ourxtecl @on a coin Mqn -sbaft ,,QXtipn(Ung trIMPj @gon -9e,ar 24 is Py ed @to the.7rpa @axle ..Ke@rs!R41y-pf theyeliiele.@nea -..theopiezAt-pr! sta n. .29 in r a--- ttQ. ine hlw@@h.-A-@riv-en-gqqr2@5;con-nA@-lever c ptr@ols g @ rT, - ge ,.to -,to--the@a I -26,-of,each,rear wheel. -T-he , @ 0 4 @e, Pt .Actua,te..,%:33rake r@-w a e._s ant .-P - ikle axle 26 may @e a in - @a he@ cLt- lev r @Ls@ arr@a - bq4@@i,@g ..f-O @ .0 li&Qd - tO 45 _@lopk 27 securi@o-@o t4e@ynd@rside of one ec in - @@r gf,,,t e frame. lU4te: g xn m h Aff b-e 15A- --W PlYj@K@@K@ngpf -th.e-.)rpE@r-- twllq@el5 gLnl@ot-k- sides ,gf @@the 7-V ,,,o 7!4e hk 44@_ 41@el -5 @rac or@when S lio t -",P-r ..;ks A t P, 4e e@n actu teid @i4 Oprltly@ qf@ Qg@allipt,, -.pf P y- -n :jqr-AW@@r tiagks 99 gKe@,-Mo WI q n t q d , - o i i .@tbA:X,Qp tj Oyer , to, @ ray. e, @ c@ne:,Wb g e 1. 50 Whq4 @4evpli@ele i@@pperat @,a,5 - t@_4,;tpr, A..,p g i r .@pkefor an ir4ppr@ O@f W4qels 3 1, @- pjyp@pii-y @ @4kqVr4l @q g@, the frameA,@@, 4rL- - IAQK4ble, aoWi4- wArdly to poil-taqt p p , ,;gn ' convertible vehicle -.w-4tq4.,, br I p n $ i g 4 p l , p o -gf -the. 0 r;r pen4.pptly. @ke e ar op.. ,tp i , -t e- 5 is @seen that,.the 4 4 e , - U P @ P f . - . a - p f @ s u b -
[2]3 stantially rectangular transverse plate members 37 hingedly connected together at their leading and trailing edges by pins 38 disposed in apertured lugs 39 projecting from the edges of the plate members 37.1 The ends of the pins 38 are swaged over to prevent them from sliding out of the lugs. However, at one hinged connection a removable bolt may be used as a pivot pin in order that the crawler track may be separated for dismounting. For the purpose of grippingly engaging the tires there is provided on each plate 37 an arcuate contact member 40 projecting up from the top surface of the plate and having a contact surface shaped to fit the contour of the tire. The member 40 has generally arcuate leading and trailing edges 41 and has upstanding wall members 42 which are arranged to snugly engage the side walls of the tire (Figure 1). When the vehicle I 0 is operated as a wheel type automobile, steering movement of the front wheels 14 is accomplished through a standard worm and gear steering assembly 49 (Figure 3) which is connected to the front wheel king pins 50 by a pitman arm 51, a drag link 52, a, tie rod 53, and a steering arm 54. However, when the vehicle is operated as a tractor it is not possible t6 pivot the front wheels when the crawler tracks are in place, and steering must be effected by stopping or slowing down the crawler track on one side of the vehicle while allowing the track on the other side to propel the vehicle forwardly at its regular speed. Thus, to convert a wheel type vehicle to a tractor, provision must be made for locking the conventional steering mechanism in position with the front wheels of the vehicle pointed directly ahead. Next, means must be provided for braking each rear wheel independently of the other wheel so that the movements of the crawler tracks can be separately controlled. To lock the steering mechanism there is provided an inverted U-shaped locking member 57 (Figures 1 and 2) which is pinned to a shaft 58 journaled for pivoting in bearing block 59 on a forward cross member of the frame structure i 2. When the shaft 58 is pivoted in one direction, the U-shaped locking member moves downwardly over a, forwardly projecting arm 60 connected to the tie rod 53 and thus prevents sidewise steering movement of the tie rod. Since the arm 60 is disposed centrally on the tie rod, the front wheels will be locked in a position pointed directly ahead. As best seen in Figure 1, the movement of the shaft 58 and consequently the locking member 57 is controlled from the cab of the vehicle by a lever 62 pivoted from an upstanding support member 61 and connected to the shaft 58 through a radius arm 63 and a tie rod 64. A spring-loaded cylinder 65 is connected between the tie rod 64 and the arm 63 and is arranged to resiliently transmit the pull of the tie rod 64 to the arm 63. It will be readily seen that, when the tie rod is pulled to the right by the clockwise pivoting of the control rod 62, the spring will be compressed in the cylinde@ 65 until ihe resistance of the shaft 58 is overcome, at which time the shaft 58 and the locking inember 57 will be pivoted into locking position. If the forwardly projecting arm 60 of the ste,,ring mechanism has not been properly centered, the locking member 57 will be resiliently pressecl downwardly on the arm 60 so that, as sbon as the ste6ring mechanism is moved through the contering position, the 2,597,109 4 locking member 57 will be snapped into pos tion aroiind the arm. The provision of the spring-loaded cylinders 65 in the locking mechanism is a particular safety feature of this invention which causes the locking member 57 to be snapped into position and precludes the possibility of the vehicle being run off the crawler track by steering movement of the wheels. 10 When the motor vehicle I 0 is operated as a wheel type of vehicle, braking is accompushed through typical mechanical brakes which may be either of the internally or externally expanding type. Separate linkages are connected to 15 each rear wheel, and each linkage includes a brake drum 85 and@a brake actuating rod 86 journaled in,a bearing block 87 secured to the frame 12. A lever 89, which is secured to the rod 86, is pivotally connected to a brake rod 90. At 20 its forward end the brake rod 90 is pivotally secured to an arm 92 (Figure 4) integrally forrned at one end of a tubular sleeve 93. A rod 95, journaled at either end in bearings 96 seciired@ to the frame 12, passes freely through each tubular 25 sleeve 93. A lever 97, having a lower laterall@ extendin@ foot portion 98, is secured to the rod 95 adjacent each sleeve 93 with the foot portion 98 overhanging the arm 92 of the sleeve 93. Adjusting screws 99 are provided on each foot 3o portion 98 for equalizing the effective length of the brake rods 90. Movement of the rod 9 5 is controlled by @ a foot pedal I 0 0 secured thereto. When the pedal 100 is pushed down, the rod 9-5 will rotate in 35 its bearings 96 and cause each lever 97 to contact its associated arm 92 and pivot it about the rod 95. Forward movement of the arms 92 pulls the brake rods 90 forwardly and causes braking of the rear wheels. Thus, when the vehicle is 40 operated as an atitomobile, both rear wheels may be braked contemporaneously through the foot pedal 100. As previously mentioned, when the vehible is operated as a tractor it is necessary for steering 45 purposes to be able to brake each wheel separately and allow indeloendent operation of the crawler track on each side of the vehicle. This is accomplished by separate hand levers 102 which have lower tubular portions 102airotatably 5o mounted on the rod 95 adjacent each sleeve 93. A slot 102@b in the tubular portion 102a is arranged to receive a laterally projecting arm 93a of the sleeve 93. The lever i 02 and consequently the slot 102b will be returned to thb position 55 shown in Figure 4 by a spring 103 secured between the lever 102 and a bar 104 (Figure 2) secured across the housing of the transmission 18. Thus, when the arm 102 i-s rotated, the slot 102b will contact the arm 93a and cause the 6o associ-,,Lted brake to be applied. However, when the sleeve 93 is rotated by the foot pedal 100, the lever 102 will not be moved due to the fact that the arm 93a can move in the slot 102b. Since the levers 102 act i-ndependently of each 65 other, each rear wheel can be braked separately. The details of the pbwer transmission 18, the mounting and operation of the tensioning wheels, the construction of the body portion 10 of the vehicle, as well as further details of the operation 70 of the braking system and its coordineition with the other mechanisms, may be found in my abovementioned parent application. As explained in the parent application, the cab of the vehicle is @o constructed that the operator 75 can, if he desires, stand erect in the cab while
[3]5 operating the vehicle. For this purpose the brake levers 102 have been equipped with a pivo extension member 105 which, as shown in Figure 1 in dotted lines, is arranged to be pivoted upwardly and has a strap member 107 which engages over the top portion of the lever 102 to hold the extension in upright position. Thus, when the operator is standing up and operati-ng the tractor in thi-s position, the brake control levers are still within easy reach of his hand. From the foregoing description it is seen that there is provided in this invention a novel, efficient and sirnple braking mechanism which may be used, without modification, either when the vehicle is operated as a tractor or as a wheel type vehicle. It will be understood that modiflcations and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. I
