# US 11,026,368 B2 · Steering control system for harvester and methods of using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,368 B2 - Document ID: US11026368B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/200,324 - Filed: 2018-11-26 - Published: 2020-05-28 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-26 - Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC - Applicants: Cnh Industrial America LLC - Inventors: Jeffrey Brown Fay, II; Mark Dean Layton; Steven C. Young; Gregory Fasick; Madhu Pankaj; Robert Fackler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026368B2 ## CPC - A01D 41/1278: {for automatic steering} - A01D 67/00: Undercarriages or frames specially adapted for harvesters or mowers (coupling arrangements between animal or tractor and harvester or mower A01B59/00); Mechanisms for adjusting the frame (adjusting devices for the cutter-bar A01D34/28); Platforms - A01B 69/006: {derived from the steering of the tractor} - A01B 69/008: {automatic} - A01B 73/00: Means or arrangements to facilitate transportation of agricultural machines or implements, e.g. folding frames to reduce overall width (arrangements of lifting devices for soil working implements A01B63/00) - B60B 33/0005: {characterised by mounting method} - B60B 33/026: {being actuated remotely, e.g. by cable or electrically} - B60B 33/04: adjustable {, e.g. in height; linearly shifting castors} - B62D 11/24: Endless track steering specially adapted for vehicles having both steerable wheels and endless track - A01D 2101/00: Lawn-mowers - B60B 33/0039: {Single wheels} - B60Y 2200/222: Harvesters - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract The disclosure relates to a steering control system useful for providing stable control during high-speed operation of harvesters, such as self-propelled windrowers. The steering control system utilizes a sensor for detecting and regulating a position of a single steering cylinder associated with a first caster, a damper being free of sensing and providing passive damping to the second caster. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steering control system for a harvester, comprising: a first cylinder configured to be coupled to a rear axle of the harvester at one end and rigidly coupled to an upright shaft of a first caster of the harvester at an opposing end; a sensor associated with the first cylinder and in communication with a controller, the sensor detecting a position of the first cylinder; and a damper configured for extension and retraction and to be coupled to the rear axle of the harvester at one end and an upright shaft of a second caster of the harvester at an opposing end; wherein in a road operation mode, the first cylinder is actuated by the controller to extend or retract to control steering of the first caster, and the sensor transmits data to the controller regarding the detected position of the first cylinder; and wherein the damper is free of sensing and provides passive damping to the second caster. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steering control system of claim 1, wherein one end of the first cylinder is configured to be coupled to the rear axle of the harvester by a flange. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The steering control system of claim 1, wherein the first cylinder is hydraulically plumbed to a steering proportional valve for actuation of the first cylinder to extend or retract. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The steering control system of claim 3, wherein the steering proportional valve is hydraulically plumbed to a rod end and a barrel end of the first cylinder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The steering control system of claim 1, wherein the detected position of the first cylinder is representative of a position of the first caster relative to the rear axle of the harvester. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The steering control system of claim 1, comprising a proximity sensor configured to detect a position of the first caster relative to the rear axle of the harvester. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The steering control system of claim 1, wherein cantering of second caster is unaffected by actuation of the first cylinder to extend or retract. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The steering control system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is at least one of an internal position sensor, an external position sensor, or a potentiometer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The steering control system of claim 1, wherein in a field operation mode, free flow of hydraulic fluid into and out of the first cylinder provides passive damping by the first cylinder to the first caster. ### Claim 10 A steering control system for a harvester, comprising: a first cylinder configured to be coupled to a rear axle of the harvester at one end and rigidly coupled to an upright shaft of a first caster of the harvester at an opposing end; a sensor associated with the first cylinder and in communication with a controller, the sensor detecting a position of the first cylinder; and a second cylinder configured to be coupled to the rear axle of the harvester at one end and an upright shaft of a second caster of the harvester at an opposing end; wherein in a road operation mode, the first cylinder is actuated by the controller to extend or retract to control steering of the first caster, and the sensor transmits data to the controller regarding the detected position of the first cylinder; and wherein the second cylinder is free of sensing and is hydraulically coupled to the first cylinder to move in an equal and opposite direction of the first cylinder to control steering of the second caster. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The steering control system of claim 10, wherein barrel ports of the first and second cylinders are hydraulically coupled together, and rod ports of the first and second cylinders are hydraulically coupled to a steering proportional valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The steering control system of claim 11, actuation of the first cylinder to retract displaces fluid from a barrel end of the first cylinder into a barrel end of the second cylinder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The steering control system of claim 12, wherein displacement of the fluid into the barrel end of the second cylinder actuates the second cylinder to extend in an equal magnitude to retraction of the first cylinder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The steering control system of claim 10, wherein the detected position of the first cylinder is representative of a position of the first and second casters relative to the rear axle of the harvester. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The steering control system of claim 10, comprising a proximity sensor configured to detect a position of the first caster or second caster relative to the rear axle of the harvester. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The steering control system of claim 10, wherein the sensor is at least one of an internal position sensor, an external position sensor, or a potentiometer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The steering control system of claim 10, wherein in a field operation mode, free flow of hydraulic fluid into and out of the first and second cylinders provides passive damping by the first cylinder to the first caster and the second cylinder to the second caster. ### Claim 18 A harvester, comprising: a frame; at least one front axle comprising first and second front wheels pivotally mounted to the front axle; at least one rear axle comprising first and second casters pivotally mounted to the rear axle; and a steering control system comprising: a first cylinder coupled to the rear axle at one end and rigidly coupled to an upright shaft of the first caster at an opposing end; a sensor associated with the first cylinder and in communication with a controller, the sensor detecting a position of the first cylinder; and a damper configured for extension and retraction and coupled to the rear axle at one end and an upright shaft of the second caster at an opposing end; wherein in a road operation mode, the first cylinder is actuated by the controller to extend or retract to control steering of the first caster, and the sensor transmits data to the controller regarding the detected position of the first cylinder; and wherein the damper is free of sensing and provides passive damping to the second caster. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The harvester of claim 18, wherein castering of second caster is unaffected by actuation of the first cylinder to extend or retract. ### Claim 20 A harvester, comprising: a frame; at least one front axle comprising first and second front wheels pivotally mounted to the front axle; at least one rear axle comprising first and second casters pivotally mounted to the rear axle; and a steering control system comprising: a first cylinder coupled to the rear axle at one end and rigidly coupled to an upright shaft of the first caster at an opposing end; a sensor associated with the first cylinder and in communication with a controller, the sensor detecting a position of the first cylinder; and a second cylinder coupled to the rear axle at one end and an upright shaft of the second caster at an opposing end; wherein in a road operation mode, the first cylinder is actuated by the controller to extend or retract to control steering of the first caster, and the sensor transmits data to the controller regarding the detected position of the first cylinder; and wherein the second cylinder is free of sensing and is hydraulically coupled to the first cylinder to move in an equal and opposite direction of the first cylinder to control steering of the second caster.