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US 4,304,316 AGranted
Comparator for the automatic control system of an automatic steering installation
AssigneeZahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
InventorArmin Lang
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AssigneeZahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
InventorArmin Lang
Estimating the term…
For use in an agricultural machine which is automatically steered by sensing along a row of plants, a component of the automatic steering system, namely, a comparator system is disclosed herein which utilizes hydraulic signals from independent sensors and mechanically compares such signals with each other and with a mechanical feedback responsive to the degree of angularity of the steered wheels of the vehicle. The net result of the combination and construction of the comparator system is to provide automatic steering control for a small variation of steering of left and right steering courses, for example 2 to 5 degrees, wherein any large amount of deflection of the steering wheels that may be caused by the vehicle operator taking over the steering function will not affect the automatic operation of the comparator mechanism nor will the comparator mechanism have any response thereto. Further the hydraulic system of the comparator sensors which "feel" the presence of corn stalks or vines ahead of the vehicle is hydraulically isolated from the hydraulic circuitry of the comparator interior. The invention is susceptible for use for directrix guidance by a single row of plants, for example corn stalks, or by guidance between directrices, e.g., parallel rows of plants. Due to the fact that two sensors are utilized which function independently of each other should interruption of the directrix, for example, a row of corn stalks, occur due to a cross path, there would be no sudden sharp steering deflection and the vehicle would continue in straight steering.
An automatic steering system comprising sensors for providing hydraulic signals, a steering mechanism and a hydraulic comparator for receiving said hydraulic signals and sending signals to said steering mechanism, said comparator comprising hydraulic signal responsive means (43.1, 43.2;
An automatic steering system having sensors for providing hydraulic signals and a hydraulic comparator to effect an increased differential between said hydraulic signals received from the sensors for steering control;
An automatic vehicle steering system comprising a comparator supplying directional steering signals and a steering mechanism receiving said steering signals and also supplying a feedback signal corresponding to a corrective steering action;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.