Steering system with joystick mounted controls

A steering system for a work machine, comprising:

• at least one hand-operated work implement control device;
• a steering mechanism configured to control a direction of travel of the work machine;
• a first steering device operatively coupled to the steering mechanism and configured to control at least one component of the steering mechanism based on operator input;
• and
• a multifunction input device mounted on the at least one work implement control device, the multifunction input device being configured to be selectively operatively coupled to the steering mechanism to thereby control a direction of travel of the work machine, the multifunction input device also having two or more selectable modes of operation and being configured to operate, in at least one of the modes of operation, as a second steering device that controls a direction of travel of the work machine.

A work machine, comprising:

• a frame mounted on a base;
• a controllable work implement including a work tool operatively attached to the frame via a boom and a stick, the frame being configured to rotate relative to the base;
• a steering mechanism configured to control a direction of travel of the work machine;
• a steering wheel operatively coupled to the steering mechanism and configured to control at least one component of the steering mechanism based on operator input;
• at least one hand-operated work implement control device operatively coupled to the work implement and configured to control movement thereof;
• and
• a multifunction input device mounted on the work implement control device, the multifunction input device being configured to be selectively operatively coupled to the steering mechanism to thereby control directional movement of the at least one traction device based on lateral movement of the multifunction input device relative to the work implement control device;
• the multifunction input device having two or more selectable modes of operation and, in at least one of the modes of operation, being operatively coupled to the steering mechanism and being configured to operate as a second steering device that controls a direction of travel of the work machine.

A method of steering a work machine, comprising;

• operating a steering device operatively coupled to a steering mechanism to control a direction of travel of the work machine;
• activating a secondary steering system by selectively operatively coupling a multifunction input device to the steering mechanism, the multifunction input device being mounted on a hand-operated work implement control device configured to control movement of a work implement;
• operating the multifunction input device in a first mode of operation to control a direction of travel of the work machine;
• selectively operatively coupling the multifunction input device to at least one component of a system configured to perform an alternative function of the work machine;
• and
• operating the multifunction input device in a second mode of operation to control the alternative function of the work machine.