US 6,148,939 AGranted

Variable gain steering control system for a work machine

AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.

InventorsRoy V. Brookhart, Steven T. Ufheil

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A steering control system for controlling the steering of a work machine which utilizes differential speed control for maneuvering the machine wherein the operator of the work machine can select any one of a plurality of different steering modes which vary the gain of the operator input steering device based upon operating or environmental conditions, or based upon other sensed conditions of the work machine such as the ground speed of the machine. The present steering control system includes an operator input device actuatable to command a particular direction of movement of the work machine, a steering mode switch or other operator selectable mechanism for selecting any one of a plurality of different steering mode correlations established between actuation of the operator input device and operation of the respective left and right drive motors associated with the work machine, each steering mode correlation representing a different mode of operation of the left and right drive motors for the same input to the operator input device, and an electronic controller coupled with the operator input device and with the steering mode switch or other mechanism for receiving signals therefrom and for outputting signals to control the operation of the left and right drive motors in accordance with the selected steering mode.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A control system for controlling the steering of a work machine wherein the work machine utilizes differential speed control for turning the machine and likewise includes left and right drive motors for enabling the work machine to move in a plurality of directions, said control system comprising:

an operator input device actuatable to command a particular direction of movement of the work machine including fore and aft movement and turning movement of the work machine;
operator selectable means for selecting any one of a plurality of different steering mode correlations between the actuation of the operator input device and operation of the respective left and right drive motors, each steering mode correlation representing a different mode of operation of the left and right drive motors for the same input to the operator input device;
and
an electronic controller coupled with said operator input device and with said operator selectable means for receiving signals therefrom, said controller being operable to receive a signal from said operator selectable means indicative of which steering mode correlation has been selected for use, and a signal from said operator input device indicative of a particular direction of movement of the work machine being commanded by the operator;
said controller outputting a signal to control the operation of the left and right drive motors in accordance with the selected steering mode correlation when said controller receives a signal from the operator selectable means indicative of which steering mode correlation has been selected for use, and a signal from said operator input device indicative of the particular direction of movement of the work machine being commanded by the operator.

2 more elements

A steering control system for controlling the steering of a work machine which utilizes differential speed control for turning the machine wherein the work machine includes left and right drive motors for effecting fore and aft movement and turning movement of the work machine, said steering control system comprising:

an operator input device positionable to command a particular direction of movement of the work machine;
a steering mode switch positionable to select any one of a plurality of different steering mode gains effective between actuation of the operator input device and operation of the respective left and right drive motors, each steering mode gain representing a different mode of operation of the left and right drive motors for the same positioning of the operator input device, said plurality of different steering mode gains including a speed compensating mode based upon the ground speed of the work machine, said speed compensating mode including a plurality of different steering mode gains effective between the actuation of the operator input device and operation of the respective left and right drive motors when so selected, each steering mode gain associated with said speed compensating mode representing a different mode of operation of said left and right drive motors for the same operator input based upon the ground speed of the work machine, a different steering mode gain existing for a predetermined incremental change in work machine around speed when said speed compensating mode is selected;
an electronic controller coupled with said operator input device and with said steering mode switch for receiving signals therefrom, said controller being operable to receive a signal from said steering mode switch indicative of which steering mode gain has been selected for use, and a signal from said operator input device indicative of a particular direction of movement of the work machine being commanded by the operator;
said controller outputting a signal to control the operation of the left and right drive motors in accordance with the selected steering mode gain when said controller receives a signal from said steering mode switch indicative of which steering mode gain has been selected for use, and a signal from said operator input device indicative of the particular direction of movement of the work machine being commanded by the operator.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.