Patent ID: 7954573

Claim:
A synchronized two-lever drive-steering control system adapted for off-road or amphibious vehicles capable of traveling in at least a forward direction, the drive-steering control system comprising: first and second steering input levers, each of the first and second steering input levers being operable to rotate in a forward pivotal direction and an oppositely-disposed rearward pivotal direction; coupling means for converting and transmitting rotation of the first steering input lever in the forward pivotal direction into rotation of the second steering input lever in the rearward pivotal direction and rotation of the second steering input lever in the forward pivotal direction into rotation of the first steering input lever in the rearward pivotal direction, the coupling means preventing the first and second steering input levers from being simultaneously rotated in the forward pivotal direction and simultaneously rotated in the rearward pivotal direction; means for reducing propulsion outputs of a first means for propelling a lefthand side of the vehicle and a second means for propelling a righthand side of the vehicle; and means for converting the rotations of the first and second steering input levers into inputs to the reducing means; wherein the reducing means reduces the propulsion output of the first propelling means when the first steering input lever is rotated in the rearward pivotal direction so that the lefthand side of the vehicle travels at a speed lower than the righthand side of the vehicle and the vehicle turns in a lefthand direction relative to the forward direction of the vehicle, and the reducing means reduces the propulsion output of the second propelling means when the second steering input lever is rotated in the rearward pivotal direction so that the righthand side of the vehicle travels at a speed lower than the lefthand side of the vehicle and the vehicle turns in a righthand direction relative to the forward direction of the vehicle.