Claims
- 1. In an automatic steering mechanism for a prime mover of a type having a mechanical linkage means connected between a conventional steering mechanism and an automatic steering unit said mechanical linkage means being for transmitting displacement feedback force from the conventional steering mechanism to the automatic steering unit, an oversteering displacement absorber including clutch means for selectively disengaging said mechanical linkage from said automatic steering unit, said clutch means including means for automatically disengaging said mechanical linkage means from said automatic steering unit at a preselected value of said feedback force and said clutch means further comprising:
- (a) a shaft;
- (b) clutch block means operably mounted on said shaft;
- (c) clutch plate means operably mounted on said shaft and selectively rotatable with respect to said clutch block;
- (d) engagement means for selectively engaging and disengaging said clutch block with said clutch plate;
- (e) first displacement transfer means operably connected to said clutch block means;
- (f) second displacement transfer means operably connected to said clutch plate means.
- 2. The oversteering displacement absorber of claim 1 wherein said engagement means comprises:
- (a) spring biasing means mounted within said clutch block;
- (b) detent balls operably positioned on said spring biasing means; and
- (c) detent grooves on said clutch plate adapted to accept said detent balls.
- 3. The oversteering displacement absorber of claim 2 wherein said first displacement transfer means is operably connected to said conventional steering mechanism and said second displacement transfer means is operably connected to said automatic steering unit.
- 4. The oversteering displacement absorber in claim 3 wherein said clutch block means is fixedly mounted on said shaft and werein said clutch plate means is journaled to said shaft proximate said clutch block.
- 5. The oversteering displacement absorber of claim 2 wherein said first displacement transfer means is operably connected to said automatic steering unit and said second displacement transfer means is operably connected to said conventional steering mechanism.
- 6. The oversteering displacement absorber of claim 5 wherein said prime mover has a steering knuckle and wherein said first displacement transfer means comprises a clutch block arm fixedly mounted on said clutch block and pivotally attached to a feedback linkage arm, and wherein said second displacement transfer means comprises a locking tab fixedly mounted on said clutch plate and fixedly positioned on said steering knuckle.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 039,224, filed Mar. 21, 1977, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
54-123684 |
Sep 1979 |
JPX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
39224 |
Mar 1977 |
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