CPC B62D 49/0678 (2013.01) [B62D 7/06 (2013.01); B66F 9/0655 (2013.01); B66F 9/07559 (2013.01); B66F 11/046 (2013.01); B60G 2300/40 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A method of operating a construction machine that includes a base, a first support arm and a second support arm each including a base end pivotally coupled to the base and a distal end opposite each respective base end, and a plurality of wheel assemblies each coupled to the respective distal end of one of the first and second support arms, each wheel assembly including a wheel and an associated wheel motor, said method comprising:
in a transport mode of the construction machine wherein each support arm is in a stowed condition, turning the wheel of each of the wheel assemblies, independently from the wheel of another of the wheel assemblies, to a toe out orientation;
causing the construction machine to transition from the transport mode to an operational mode by driving each support arm, using the wheel motor of each respective wheel assembly, from the stowed condition to a deployed condition of the support arm, wherein driving each support arm to the deployed condition causes the distal ends of each of the support arms to move away from the distal end of each adjacent support arm and causes the distal end and the base end of each support arm to move outwardly from the base, such that, for each pair of laterally-adjacent wheels, relative to a lateral axis of the base, a distance measured between the laterally-adjacent wheels is increased in the operational mode and for each pair of longitudinally-adjacent wheels, relative to a longitudinal axis of the base, a distance measured between the longitudinally-adjacent wheels is increased in the operational mode;
locking each support arm in the deployed condition; and
controlling steering of each wheel in the operational mode of the construction machine.
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