Patent ID: 7406825

Claim:
A control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a first continuously variable axle driving apparatus mounted to the vehicle and having a neutral condition and a plurality of forward output speeds and a plurality of reverse output speeds; a first control mechanism in mechanical communication with the first continuously variable axle driving apparatus, the first control mechanism movable to cause adjustment of the output speed of the first continuously variable axle driving apparatus and to allow placement of the first continuously variable axle driving apparatus in the neutral condition; a second continuously variable axle driving apparatus mounted to the vehicle and having a neutral condition and a plurality of forward output speeds and a plurality of reverse output speeds; a second control mechanism in mechanical communication with the second continuously variable axle driving apparatus, the second control mechanism movable to cause adjustment of the output speed of the second continuously variable axle driving apparatus and to allow placement of the second continuously variable axle driving apparatus in the neutral condition; a speed adjusting mechanism mounted to the vehicle and in communication with the first and second control mechanisms, the speed adjusting mechanism adjustable to cause simultaneous movement of the first and the second control mechanisms to establish generally equivalent output speeds of the first and the second continuously variable axle driving apparatuses; and a steering mechanism mounted to the vehicle and in communication with the first and second control mechanisms, the steering mechanism adjustable to cause movement of the first and the second control mechanisms, thereby adjusting the output speeds of the first and the second continuously variable axle driving apparatuses such that when the output speed of one of the continuously variable axle driving apparatuses is increased the output speed of the other of the continuously variable axle driving apparatuses is decreased, and such that when the output speed of one of the continuously variable axle driving apparatuses is decreased the output speed of the other of the continuously variable axle driving apparatuses is increased, thereby causing steering of the vehicle in response to the adjustment of the steering mechanism; and the steering mechanism is prevented from moving the first and the second control mechanisms if the first continuously variable axle driving apparatus and the second continuously variable axle driving apparatus are each in their respective neutral conditions.