Steering Assist For A Rear Caster Wheel On A Work Machine
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsThomas Daryl Bebernes, Eric Ryan Lang, David Vincent Rotole, Timothy K. Dreger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A work machine includes a frame, at least one drive wheel carried by the frame, at least one caster wheel assembly carried by the frame, and at least one turn assist arrangement. Each turn assist arrangement is coupled between the frame and a corresponding caster wheel assembly. Each turn assist arrangement is configured to bias the corresponding caster wheel assembly during an operator commanded turn, and to be overridden by forces applied by the ground to the caster wheel assembly.
Claims25
A work machine, comprising:
- a frame;
- at least one drive wheel carried by said frame;
- at least one caster wheel assembly carried by said frame;
- and
- at least one turn assist arrangement, each said turn assist arrangement coupled between said frame and a corresponding said caster wheel assembly, each said turn assist arrangement being configured to bias said corresponding caster wheel assembly during an operator commanded turn and to be overridden by forces applied by the ground to said caster wheel assembly.
A steering arrangement for a work machine, comprising:
- a frame;
- a caster wheel assembly carried by said frame;
- and
- a turn assist arrangement coupled between said frame and said caster wheel assembly, said turn assist arrangement being configured to:
- a) apply a biasing force to said caster wheel assembly during an operator commanded turn,
- b) allow said biasing force to be overridden by forces applied by the ground to said caster wheel assembly, and
- c) allow said caster wheel assembly to rotate 360° about a generally vertical axis.
A work machine, comprising:
- a frame;
- at least one caster wheel assembly carried by said frame, each said caster wheel assembly including a caster wheel and a pivotable shaft defining an axis;
- and
- at least one turn assist arrangement, each said turn assist arrangement being coupled between said frame and a corresponding said caster wheel assembly, each said turn assist arrangement biasing said corresponding caster wheel during an operator commanded turn and allowing said caster wheel to rotate 360° about said axis of said shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.