Yard maintenance vehicle with cable steering assembly for tight turning

摘要

A riding yard maintenance vehicle may include a frame, a steering assembly, and a cable. Wheels of the riding yard maintenance vehicle may be attachable to the frame. The steering assembly may include a steering apparatus operably coupled to front wheels of the riding yard maintenance vehicle via a cable system. The cable system may include the cable, which may be wrapped around at least a portion of the steering shaft. The cable may terminate at respective ends thereof at corresponding portions of a turn magnification assembly that indirectly couples the cable to the front wheels. The turn magnification assembly may be configured to approximate Ackermann geometry steering of respective ones of the front wheels based on movement of the cable responsive to rotation of the steering shaft.

主权项

1. A riding yard maintenance vehicle comprising:
a frame to which wheels of the riding yard maintenance vehicle are attachable; a steering assembly comprising a steering apparatus comprising a steering shaft operably coupled to front wheels of the riding yard maintenance vehicle via a cable system; and a cable forming a portion of the cable system, the cable being operably coupled to the steering shaft, the cable terminating at respective ends thereof at corresponding portions of a turn magnification assembly that indirectly couples the cable to the front wheels, the turn magnification assembly configured to approximate Ackermann geometry steering of respective ones of the front wheels based on movement of the cable responsive to rotation of the steering shaft, wherein the turn magnification assembly comprises: a first cam associated with one of the front wheels; a second cam associated with another of the front wheels; a first steering knuckle disposed proximate to the one of the front wheels and the first cam, the first steering knuckle being operably coupled to a first axle rod; a second steering knuckle disposed proximate to the other of the front wheels and the second cam, the second steering knuckle being operably coupled to a second axle rod; a first linkage member extending between the first cam and the first steering knuckle at respective portions of the first cam and the first steering knuckle that are spaced apart from corresponding axes of rotation of the first cam and the first steering knuckle; and a second linkage member extending between the second cam and the second steering knuckle at respective portions of the second cam and the second steering knuckle that are spaced apart from corresponding axes of rotation of the second cam and the second steering knuckle, wherein respective ends of cable terminate at the first cam and the second cam.