Improved Power-transmitting and Steering Mechanism for Caterpillar Tractors.

摘要

16,798. Schneider, E. Nov. 29. Independent driving on opposite sides.- In endless-track tractors, the tract belts are driven through a main differential gear, the driven parts of which are geared together through an auxiliary differential gear of which the planet carrier is driven independently at varying speeds for steering purposes. The shafts a, b, driving the track wheels, are driven from the motor D through a shaft d, speed gear H, bevel wheel c, differential gear C, and shafts C1, C2, Toothed wheels P1, N1 secured to the shafts C1, C2, respectively, drive, through gearing of equal ratio, pinions P, N, the direction of one pinion being reversed by an idle pinion p. The pinions P, N are secured to loose wheels L, K gearing with planet pinions j on a spider J secured on a shaft I which is driven through gearing r3, r2, r1, r from a disk-and-roller speed gear Q, R driven from a shaft q gearing with one of the wheels of the speed gear H. The roller R is adjusted by rack-and-pinion gearing s, S connected to the steering-wheel so as either to keep the shaft I stationary, when the vehicle travels in a straight line, or to rotate it in either direction, when the shafts C1, C2 are driven at different speeds for steering. A gap is provided at the centre of the disk Q to keep the roller R out of contact, in which position it may be retained by a brake. The auxiliary speed gear R, Q &c. may be replaced by an hydraulic transmitter connecting the speed gear H with the shaft I