Hydraulic bi-directional flow switches
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorFrederick William Nelson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hydraulic bi-directional flow switches are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a piston disposed in a fluid channel between a first fluid connection and a second fluid connection, where the first and second fluid connections define a fluid pathway for hydraulic steering fluid. The example apparatus also includes a detector to detect a movement of the piston away from a default position of the piston, where the piston is to displace from the default position when the hydraulic steering fluid flows along the fluid pathway.
Claims13
A method comprising:
- detecting movement of a piston from a default position of the piston, the piston disposed in a fluid channel that fluidly couples a first fluid connection and a second fluid connection, wherein hydraulic steering fluid moves between the first and second fluid connections to cause the movement of the piston;
- dis-engaging, based on the detected movement of the piston, an automated steering system;
- and
- centering the piston to the default position when the hydraulic steering fluid is not moving between the first and second fluid connections, wherein centering the piston occurs via a magnetic portion on at least one of the piston or a guide rod to guide the piston.
A hydraulic steering system comprising:
- a steering valve defining a first fluid connection;
- a steering cylinder defining a second fluid connection, wherein hydraulic steering fluid moves between the first and second fluid connections;
- a piston disposed in a fluid channel between the first and fluid second fluid connections, the piston bi-directionally movable along a linear path when the hydraulic steering fluid flows between the first and second fluid connections;
- a detector to detect the bi-directional movement of the piston away from a default position of the piston;
- a processor communicatively coupled to the detector, the processor to interpret the movement of the piston, and
- a guide rod to guide the bi-directional movement of the piston via a bore of the piston.
A hydraulic steering system comprising:
- a steering valve defining a first fluid connection;
- a steering cylinder defining a second fluid connection, wherein hydraulic steering fluid moves between the first and second fluid connections;
- a piston disposed in a fluid channel between the first and fluid second fluid connections, the piston bi-directionally movable along a linear path when the hydraulic steering fluid flows between the first and second fluid connections;
- a detector to detect the bi-directional movement of the piston away from a default position of the piston;
- a processor communicatively coupled to the detector, the processor to interpret the movement of the piston;
- and
- an automated steering control system fluid source that defines a third fluid connection, the third fluid connection fluidly coupled to the first and second fluid connections, wherein the hydraulic fluid moves between the second fluid connection and the third fluid connection when fluid flows between the second and third fluid connections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.