US 5,307,611 AGranted

Vehicle steering control system

AssigneeOrthman Manufacturing, Inc.

InventorsWendell D. Vardeman, Raymond D. Vardeman, Wendell K. Vardeman

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A steering probe for controlling the steering of an agricultural vehicle along a path corresponding to a crop row includes a yoke pivotally mounted to the vehicle and having arms extending downwardly on opposite sides of the crop row. The yoke is pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. A sensor is connected to the probe adjacent its pivotal mounting to the vehicle, and senses the rotational position of the yoke. The lower ends of the yoke engage the opposite sides of the crop row, and the yoke pivots from its neutral position about the pivotal axis whenever the vehicle becomes misaligned with the crop row. The sensor senses the rotation of the yoke and causes the vehicle to be steered to compensate for the misalignment with the crop row.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A steering probe for facilitating the steering of a vehicle along a path corresponding to an elongated row of upstanding objects extending upwardly from the ground, said vehicle comprising a vehicle frame having front and rear ends, ground engaging wheels supporting said frame, steering mechanism for steering said wheels, and steering control means for controlling said steering mechanism, said probe comprising:

a yoke having spaced apart yoke arms, each having a pair of upper and lower ends, a yoke connection member connecting said upper ends of said yoke arms, said lower ends of said yoke arms being spaced apart from one another so as to be capable of being positioned on opposite sides of said row of upstanding objects;
pivot means for pivotally mounting said yoke to said vehicle for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis extending in the same general direction as said path of said vehicle, said horizontal axis being positioned above said lower ends of said yoke arms;
sensor means for sensing the rotational position of said yoke about said horizontal axis relative to said vehicle and for creating a data signal corresponding to said rotational position of said yoke;
connecting means for connecting said sensor means to said steering control means for carrying said data signal to said steering control means.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.