Steering system for crane

A steering system for controlling the steering mode of a crane comprising:

• a crane structure having a first front wheel proximate a front portion of a first side of the crane structure, a second front wheel proximate a front portion of a second side of the crane structure, a first rear wheel proximate a rear portion of the first side, and a second rear wheel proximate a rear portion on the second side;
• a user interface for selecting one of a carousel steering mode and a four wheel coordinated steering mode;
• and,
• a controller communicatively coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to monitor the position of the first and second front wheels and the first and second rear wheels, and to control movement of the first and second front wheels and the first and second rear wheels in response to the selected steering mode, the controller further configured to monitor an operating parameter of the crane.

A steering system for controlling the steering mode of a large vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle having a drive engine mechanically coupled to a plurality of wheels positioned to effect movement of the vehicle;
• a controller connected to the vehicle configured to implement a user selected steering command to effect a selected steering mode;
• a plurality of first sensors coupled to the controller, each first sensor further coupled to a wheel of the plurality of wheels, wherein for each first sensor a signal from the first sensor to the controller provides an indication of the respective wheel position;
• a user interface coupled to the controller for providing a user selected steering command;
• a plurality of hydraulic motors coupled to the controller, each motor coupled to one of the plurality of wheels of the vehicle to rotate each respective wheel upon receipt of a wheel position command signal from the controller;
• and,
• a second sensor coupled to the controller for sensing a parameter of the vehicle relevant to the steering mode, wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust the parameter as necessary to implement one of a current steering mode and a newly selected steering mode.

A steering system for controlling the steering mode of a crane comprising:

• a crane structure having a first front wheel proximate a front portion of a first side of the crane structure, a second front wheel proximate a front portion of a second side of the crane structure, a first rear wheel proximate a rear portion of the first side, and a second rear wheel proximate a rear portion on the second side;
• a user interface for selecting a steering mode;
• a controller communicatively coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to monitor the position of the first and second front wheels and the first and second rear wheels, and to control movement of the first and second front wheels and the first and second rear wheels in response to a selected steering mode;
• and,
• a sensor coupled to the controller and an engine connected to the crane for sensing RPMs of the engine, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a rate of movement of each of the wheels based on the sensed engine RPMs.

A steering system for controlling the steering mode of a crane comprising:

• a crane structure having a first front wheel proximate a front portion of a first side of the crane structure, a second front wheel proximate a front portion of a second side of the crane structure, a first rear wheel proximate a rear portion of the first side, and a second rear wheel proximate a rear portion on the second side;
• a user interface for selecting a steering mode;
• and,
• a controller communicatively coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to monitor the position of the first and second front wheels and the first and second rear wheels, and to control movement of the wheel angle of the first and second front wheels and the first and second rear wheels in response to a selected steering mode, wherein the controller is further configured such that when at least one wheel has a sensed wheel angle position a predetermined distance from its a programmed wheel angle position the controller stops movement of the remaining wheels.

A steering system for controlling the steering mode of a crane comprising:

• a crane structure having a first front wheel proximate a front portion of a first side of the crane structure, a second front wheel proximate a front portion of a second side of the crane structure, a first rear wheel proximate a rear portion of the first side, and a second rear wheel proximate a rear portion on the second side;
• a user interface for selecting a steering mode;
• and,
• a controller communicatively coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to monitor the position of the first and second front wheels and the first and second rear wheels, and to control movement of the first and second front wheels and the first and second rear wheels in response to a selected steering mode, wherein the controller is further configured to disable an engine drive connected to the crane upon selection of a carousel steering mode until the wheels are in the programmed position for the carousel mode.