Track vehicle steering mechanism - has control gear with pinion segment cooperating with two racks but preventing movement of non-engaged rack

摘要

The steering gear (1) has an operating handle (2) fitted on steering shaft (3) carrying a pinion segment (4), meshing with two racks (6, 7) mounted on opposite sides of the pinion. The racks are operating inside a housing (5) and their parts away from the toothed surfaces carry control pistons operating in cylinders (8). To steer the vehicle in the reqd. direction the handle (2) is moved in the reqd. direction (9, 10). The movement of the handle in one direction (9) steers the vehicle to the left. The rack (6) is pushed in a given direction (11), while the rack (7) remains stationary. To secure the rack in this position the segment is fitted with a semi-circular locking disc (12). The face of the disc rests against a recess provided on the pinion segment. The disc overlaps the ends of both racks with its extensions (16, 16a) mounted in corresp. recesses (17, 17a) of the racks.