Steering system for an articulated combine
OwnerBen N. Dilloninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Broadly, one aspect of the present invention is an articulated combine having increased on-board grain storage capacity (e.g., 1,200 bushels) and which is composed of a forward unit having an operator's cab, an engine, a grain harvesting assembly, a grain transfer assembly, and being devoid of an on-board grain bin; and a rearward unit jointedly attached to the forward section and having, steerable and powered wheels, an on-board grain bin for receiving grain from the forward section grain transfer assembly, and a grain off-loading assembly. The grain transfer assembly, joint, and grain off-loading assembly and controls, form other aspects of the present invention.
Claims12
A steering system for an articulated vehicle having a joint that connects a forward unit and a rearward unit and at least one articulation cylinder to provide a turning force at said joint, which comprises:
- (a) an operator steering mechanism whereby an operator can direct the desired direction of said vehicle;
- (b) a power source for driving pumps adapted to drive motors and cylinders;
- (c) said forward unit having tractive wheels/tracks powered by one or more motors, each motor having a transducer for measuring its rotational speed;
- (d) said rearward unit having a pair of tractive endless tracks/wheels each powered by a separate motor, each motor having a transducer for measuring its rotational speed;
- (e) a programmable controller that receives the rotational speed measurements from all of said transducers and operator steering commands from said steering mechanism, and which responds with suitable outputs;
- and
- (f) actuators that receive said controller outputs and adjusts the output of each of said motors powering said rearward unit tracks/wheels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.