Importance

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Abstract

A high mobility wheeled vehicle for transporting long loads, such as trimmed tree trunks or whole trees, over roadless terrain. The vehicle has front and rear quad wheel assemblies pivotally connected to a centrally disposed elongated bed frame so as to permit lateral rotation of these assemblies about a roll axis disposed below and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed frame. A linkage type roll control interconnects the quad wheel assemblies and the bed frame to proportionately control the relative angular movement of the bed frame with respect to the quad wheel assemblies. The roll control includes a plurality of interconnected links plus a pair of power extensible links for selectively adjusting the steady state position of the vehicle bed relative to the quad wheel assemblies in either direction. The quad wheel assembly incorporates a unique mounting for each of the wheels of the assembly which provides for individually controlled motors for driving each wheel, individually controlled brakes, and individually controlled, power actuated extensible links for steering each wheel. Sensors are provided on each wheel assembly which generate signals proportional to the rotational velocity and direction of the wheel and proportional to the turning angle of each wheel. A microprocessor receives all such signals and compares same with a desired turning angle and rotational velocity of the wheels in accordance with one of a plurality of modes of operation of the vehicle selected by the operator, and generates appropriate control signals to the individually controlled wheels to adjust the turning motion and the rotational velocity to that required to effect the desired movement of the vehicle.

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First Claim