Patent ID: 8340868
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A steering system for steering a machine on a terrain, the machine having a front and a rear, and opposing first and second sides, the steering system comprising: a first pair of rotatably mounted rear wheels disposed along the first side of the machine, the first pair including a first wheel disposed along a first axis and a second wheel disposed along a second axis, the first and second axes of the first pair of wheels not being coincident, a second pair of rotatably mounted rear wheels disposed along the second side of the machine, the second pair including a first wheel disposed along a first axis and a second wheel disposed along a second axis, the first and second axes of the second pair of wheels not being coincident, a first tandem support, the first pair of rear wheels being rotatably mounted to the first tandem support, the first tandem support being pivotably mounted along the first side of the machine, a second tandem support, the second pair of rear wheels being rotatably mounted to the second tandem support, the second tandem support being pivotably mounted along the second side of the machine, at least one rotatably mounted front wheel, said front wheel being spaced from said first and second pairs of rear wheels, a plurality of drive units including at least one first drive unit for rotating the rear wheels of the first pair, and at least one second drive unit for rotating the rear wheels of the second pair, a steering input device for producing a steering input signal, a controller for receiving the steering input signal and producing drive unit request signals to control the first and second drive units to rotate the associated rear wheels, the request signals causing the first drive unit to rotate the first pair of rear wheels disposed along the first side of the machine at rotational speeds greater than rotational speeds at which the second drive unit rotates the second pair of wheels disposed along the second side of the machine.