Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present disclosure generally relates to vehicle steering system, and more particularly, relates to a steering assembly adapted for bi-directional driving (i.e., in a forward and a reverse direction) in a vehicle such as tractor or any other similar vehicle.

BACKGROUND
[002] Vehicles such as tractors and other heavy vehicles used in farming or construction, use different tools which are attached to the vehicle for carrying out specific operation. Certain farming or constructional operations requires the implements or tools to be attached at front end of the vehicle. However due to non-availability of Power take-off (PTO) at the front end of the vehicle, complex mechanical arrangements are required to be retrofitted in the conventional vehicle for such operations. Thus incurs additional cost for the operation. Further, when the implements are attached at the rear end of the vehicle, due to lack of visibility it is difficult for the driver/ operator of the vehicle to monitor the operations carried out through the tools. It is not possible for the driver to constantly turn form the seat of the vehicle and monitor the operations, as it may cause physical discomfort and strain to the driver/ operator.
[003] The existing solutions are complicated and cumbersome to integrate in the vehicle as it requires either installation of additional components in the vehicle or extensive alteration or modification of existing steering wheel assembly. Another drawback of the conventional steering wheel assemblies is that, if the direction of the steering wheel is changed, the turning mechanism of the vehicle is also altered, creating difficulty of operation Also, there is a lack of a standardized solution which provides ease of operating the vehicle when tools are attached at the rear end, without hampering the mobility of the vehicle.
[004] Therefore, there is a need for a steering wheel system which can be easily integrated in the vehicle, provides ease of driving and operation when implements are attached at the rear end, does not require complex procedure to alter the position of the steering wheel system from a front position to a rear position.

OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a steering assembly which is adapted for a bi-directional driving (i.e., in a forward and a reverse direction) of a vehicle or a heavy vehicle such as a tractor.
[006] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide the steering assembly which facilitates ease of driving in both forward direction and reverse direction.
[007] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide the steering assembly in which a position of steering wheel is variable from a forward driving position to a rearward driving position and vice versa with minimal alterations and adjustments in the steering assembly.
[008] Yet another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide the steering assembly which is compact and easily integrable in the vehicle.
[009] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0011] Fig.1 is a perspective view of a steering assembly adapted for bi-directional driving, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0012] Fig. 2a is a side view of the steering assembly for bi-directional driving in a forward driving position, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0013] Fig 2b depicts a top view of the steering assembly in the forward driving position, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0014] Fig. 2c depicts a perspective view of the steering arm, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0015] Fig 3a is side view of the steering assembly in a rearward driving position, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0016] Fig 3b depicts a top view of the steering assembly in the rearward driving position, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0017] Fig 3c is a perspective view of the steering assembly in the rearward driving position, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0019] The embodiments herein achieve a steering assembly which is adapted for a bi-directional driving (i.e., in a forward and a reverse direction) of a vehicle or a heavy vehicle such as tractor. Further, the embodiments herein achieve the steering assembly which facilitates ease of driving in both forward and reverse direction. Furthermore, the embodiments herein achieve the steering assembly in which a position of steering wheel is variable from a forward driving position to a rearward driving position and vice versa with minimal alterations and adjustments in the steering assembly. Moreover, the embodiments herein achieve the steering assembly which is compact and easily integrable in the vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0020] Fig.1 is a perspective view of a steering assembly adapted for bi-directional driving, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The steering assembly (100) comprises of a steering wheel unit having a steering wheel (101), a steering gear assembly (103) comprising of a plurality of operationally connected gears, a universal joint (104), a drop arm (105) and a longitudinal tie-rod (106) and a front axle assembly (107). Further, the steering assembly (100) includes a steering mounting bracket (102), a steering arm (108) comprising of at least two pivot points (108a, 108b), a cross tie-rod (109) and a steering column (110). For example, the steering assembly is considered to be having a first set of steering components and a second set of steering components. The first set of steering components includes the steering wheel (101), the steering gear assembly (103), the universal joint (104), and the drop arm (105). Further, the second set of steering components includes a pair of king pin (not shown), the cross-tie rod (109) and the wheel axle (not shown).
[0021] The steering wheel (101) is mounted on the steering column (110), and the steering column (110) is operationally connected to the steering gear assembly (103) through the universal joint (104). Further, the steering gear assembly (103) is mounted on the steering mounting bracket (102) through a predetermined mounting means. Further, the steering mounting bracket (102) is mounted on a chassis or body part of the vehicle. Furthermore, the drop arm (105) is operationally connected with the steering gear assembly (103), such that a rotational movement of the steering wheel (101) operates the steering gear assembly (103), whereby the rotational motion of the steering wheel (101) is transferred to the drop arm (105). The longitudinal tie rod (106) is operationally connected to the drop arm (105), such that the movement of the drop arm (105) results in a linear displacement or translational movement of the longitudinal tie rod (106) in a predetermined direction. Furthermore, the longitudinal tie rod (106) is operationally connected to the steering arm (108), and the steering arm (108) is further connected to the cross tie-rod (109). The steering arm (108) converts the translational movement of the longitudinal tie-rod (106) to rotatory motion of a king pin (not shown) through the cross tie-rod (109). The rotatory motion of the king pin connected with the front axle assembly (107) results in the rotation of a pair of front wheels attached to the front axle assembly (107).
[0022] Figs. 2a and 2b depict the different views of the steering assembly (100) for the bi-directional driving operation in a forward driving position, wherein a driver seat faces towards a front end of the vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In the forward driving position, the driver’s seat faces the front end of the vehicle and the steering wheel is also in a conventional driving position i.e., facing the front end of the vehicle. As, shown in Fig 2b, the longitudinal tie-rod (106) of the steering assembly (100) is connected to the steering arm (108) at a first pivot point (108pa). Further, in the forward driving position, the steering mounting bracket (102) is positioned such that the steering mounting bracket (102) is facing towards the front end of the vehicle. Thus, at the forward driving position the steering assembly (100) provides ease of operation in forward direction and provides full visibility of operating or driving the vehicle in the forward direction.
[0023] Fig. 2c depicts a perspective view of the steering arm (108), according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the steering arm (108) is fabricated such that the steering arm (108) includes a pair of arms (108a and 108b) extending from a central body (108c). The central body further defines an opening (108o) which is adapted to receive a first fastening means. The steering arm (108) is rotatably fixed to the king pin (not shown) through the first fastening means such that the steering arm (108) converts the translational movement of the longitudinal tie-rod (106) to the rotatory motion of the king pin (not shown) through the cross tie-rod (109). The pair of arms (108a and 108b) are provided in the steering arm (108) such that each of the arm (108a and 108b) includes a hole (108h) for engaging with the longitudinal tie rod (106) through a second fastening means. Furthermore, the steering arm (108) includes a connecting part (108d) which connects the steering arm (108) with the cross tie-rod (109). The connecting part (108d) extends transversely to the pair of arms (108a and 108b) from the central body (108c). The connecting part (108d) includes an opening (108do) which is adapted to receive a third fastening means to connect the connecting part (108d) with the cross-tie rod (109).
[0024] Figs 3a to 3c depict the different views of the steering assembly (100) for bi-directional driving operation in a rearward driving position, wherein the driver seat faces a rear end of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. At rearward driving position, the longitudinal tie rod (106) which is connected to the steering arm (108) at the first pivot point (108pa) is removed and connected to a second pivot point (108pb) of the steering arm (108). Further, the steering mounting bracket (102) is rotated or displaced from a first position to a second position, wherein the rearward driving position is such that the steering mounting bracket (102) faces the rear end of the vehicle i.e. 180 degrees from the forward driving position. In an embodiment, the steering assembly (100) is fabricated such that at the rearward driving position, the vehicle’s turning mechanism remains the same as that of conventional driving, thereby ensuring ease of driving/operation of the vehicle in the reverse direction.
[0025] The technical advantages achieved by the embodiments disclosed herein include ease of driving and operating vehicle in a reverse driving operation, changing position of steering wheel assembly without altering the vehicle’s tuning mechanism, ease and efficiency in changing position of steering wheel assembly from one position to another without the requirement of additional components and additional space.
[0026] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
, Claims:We claim,
1. A steering assembly (100) for bi-directional driving of a vehicle, said steering assembly (100) having a first set of steering components and a second set of steering components, comprising:
at least one steering mounting bracket (102) mounted on chassis of said vehicle to support said first set of steering components;
a longitudinal tie-rod (106) operatively connected between said first set of steering components and said second set of steering components; and
a steering arm (108) operatively connected between said longitudinal tie-rod (106) and said second set of steering components.

2. The steering assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steering mounting bracket (102) is adapted to be mounted on said chassis of said vehicle in one of a first position and a second position, corresponding to a forward driving of the vehicle and a reverse driving of the vehicle, respectively.

3. The steering assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steering arm (108) includes:
a pair of arms (108a and 108b) extending from a central body (108c), each of the arm (108a and 108b) includes a hole (108h) for engaging with said longitudinal tie rod (106) through a second fastening means, said central body (108c) defines an opening (108o) which is adapted to receive a first fastening means; and
a connecting part (108d) extends transversely to the pair of arms (108a and 108b) from the central body (108c), said connecting part (108d) connects said steering arm (108) with a cross tie-rod (109), said connecting part (108d) defines an opening (108d0) which is adapted to receive a third fastening means to connect said steering arm (108) with said cross-tie rod (109).

4. The steering assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first set of steering components includes:
a steering wheel (101) mounted on a steering column (110) connected to said steering mounting bracket (102);
a steering gear assembly (103), mounted on said steering mounting bracket (102);
a universal joint (104) operationally connecting said steering wheel (101) with said steering gear assembly (103); and
a drop arm (105) operationally connected to said steering gear assembly (103).

5. The steering assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second set of steering components includes:
a pair of king pin, each disposed towards a left side and a right side of said vehicle at front end of said vehicle;
said cross-tie rod (109) connected between said pair of king pin; and
a wheel axle (not shown) extending transversely below each of said king pin.

6. The steering assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal tie-rod (106) is operatively connected to the drop arm (105) such that a rotational movement of the drop arm (105) causes a translational movement of the longitudinal tie-rod (106) in a predetermined direction.

7. The adjustable steering wheel assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steering arm (108) comprises of a first pivot point (108pa) corresponding to a forward driving position and a second pivot point (108pb) corresponding to a rearward driving position, defined on the pair of arms (108a and 108b) of the steering arm (108) at predetermined positions.

8. The adjustable steering wheel assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the steering mounting bracket (102) is rotatable to a predetermined angle for bi-directional driving of said vehicle, said predetermined angle is at least 180 °.