Self-propelled vehicles having a steering position sensor
AssigneeVermeer Manufacturing Company
InventorsNathan D. Dockter, Kent M. Recker, Kent L. Thompson, Curt T. Graham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Self-propelled vehicles that include swiveling caster wheels and independent drive wheels are disclosed. The self-propelled vehicles are selectively steered in a caster wheel steering mode or a drive wheel steering mode. The vehicle includes a steering position sensor to measure the position of the steering system. A control unit varies the rotational speed of first and second drive wheels based at least in part of the signal from the steering position sensor.
Claims21
A self-propelled vehicle having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
- a chassis;
- first and second drive wheels connected to the chassis;
- first and second steerable wheels connected to the chassis, each steerable wheel having a pivot axis about which the steerable wheel pivots, the first and second steerable wheels being offset from the first and second drive wheels along the longitudinal axis;
- first and second drive systems connected to the first and second drive wheels for independently controlling a rotational drive speed of each of the first and second drive wheels;
- a steering system that selectively engages the steerable wheels for steering the vehicle comprising:
- a steering device;
- a steering actuator connected to the steering device;
- a steering position sensor that produces a signal based on the position of the steering actuator;
- and
- a control unit that adjusts the rotational drive speed of the first drive wheel and the rotational drive speed of the second drive wheel based at least in part on the signal produced by the steering position sensor, a difference in rotational drive speed between the first and second drive wheels steering the vehicle.
A steering system for steering a vehicle comprising:
- a steering device for controlling the position of the steering system;
- a hydraulic cylinder connected to the steering device;
- first and second tie rods connected to the hydraulic cylinder;
- and
- a steering position sensor that produces a signal based at least in part on the position of the hydraulic cylinder and/or tie rods.
A self-propelled vehicle comprising:
- a chassis;
- first and second drive wheels connected to the chassis;
- first and second non-driven steerable wheels connected to the chassis, each steerable wheel having a pivot axis about which the steerable wheel pivots, the first and second steerable wheels being offset from the first and second drive wheels along the longitudinal axis;
- first and second drive systems connected to the first and second drive wheels for independently controlling a rotational drive speed of each of the first and second drive wheels;
- a steering system for steering the vehicle comprising:
- a steering device;
- a steering actuator connected to the steering device;
- a steering position sensor that produces a signal based on the position of the steering actuator;
- and
- a control unit that adjusts the rotational drive speed of the first drive wheel and the rotational drive speed of the second drive wheel based at least in part on the signal produced by the steering position sensor, a difference in rotational drive speed between the first and second drive wheels steering the vehicle with each drive wheel of the vehicle being parallel to the other drive wheels while steering.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.