Method and apparatus for operating a hydraulic drive system of a feller-buncher

Abstract

A feller-buncher includes a first axle having a number of first wheels attached thereto and a second axle having a number of second wheels attached thereto. The feller-buncher also includes a first hydraulic motor operable to rotate the first axle and a second hydraulic motor operable to rotate the second axle. The feller-buncher also includes a first hydraulic pump operable to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid. Yet further, the feller-buncher includes a first flow sharing valve fluidly coupled to each of the first hydraulic pump, the first hydraulic motor, and the second hydraulic motor. The first flow sharing valve is configured to distribute the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic pump evenly between the first hydraulic motor and the second hydraulic motor, whereby the first axle and the second axle are driven at a substantially equal speed relative to one another. A method of operating a feller-buncher is also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.