Differential steering application for trailer spotter vehicles

摘要

A trailer spotter vehicle having a seat and a control console which are relatively rotatable with respect to the vehicle frame, and a differential drive system which permits the vehicle to turn within a very small turning radius. The rotatable seat and control console allow the operator to steer the vehicle without having to substantially turn their body or use mirrors to observe the path of the vehicle. To drive the vehicle in a forward direction, hydraulic pumps transmit pressurized hydraulic fluid to the trailer spotter wheels to rotate them in a first direction. In order to drive the vehicle in reverse, the flow of hydraulic fluid to the wheels is reversed to rotate the wheels in an opposite direction. To pivot the vehicle, the first wheel is driven in the first direction and the second wheel is driven in the opposite direction.