Automated re-centering of steering system
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsThomas D. Bebernes, Benjamin C. Potter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering system and method are described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A steering device may be coupled to one or more of the wheels. A parked state of the vehicle and a present orientation of the hydraulic steering device may be determined. The present orientation of the steering device may be compared with a neutral orientation of the steering device. Based upon a determined parked state of the vehicle and the comparing of the present and neutral orientations of the steering device, the steering device may be moved from the present orientation toward the neutral orientation.
Claims20
A steering control method for an agricultural vehicle having an engine, one or more steerable wheels, a steering input device configured to receive a manual steering input for the one or more steerable wheels, and a steering device coupled to at least one of the one or more steerable wheels, the steering control method comprising:
- determining, by one or more controllers, whether the agricultural vehicle is in a parked state;
- determining, by the one or more controllers, a present orientation of the steering device based upon input from a sensor;
- comparing, by the one or more controllers, the present orientation of the steering device with a neutral orientation of the steering device;
- and
- based upon determining that the agricultural vehicle is in the parked state and comparing the present and neutral orientations of the steering device, controlling, by the one or more controllers, the steering device to move from the present orientation toward the neutral orientation.
A steering system for an agricultural vehicle having an engine, one or more steerable wheels, and a steering input device configured to receive a manual steering input for the one or more steerable wheels, the steering system comprising:
- a hydraulic steering device coupled to at least one of the one or more steerable wheels;
- a valve assembly configured to hydraulically control the hydraulic steering device in order to steer the at least one steerable wheel;
- a sensor configured to detect a present orientation of the hydraulic steering device;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- determine whether the agricultural vehicle is in a parked state;
- determine a present orientation of the hydraulic steering device based upon information from the sensor;
- compare the present orientation of the hydraulic steering device with a neutral orientation of the hydraulic steering device;
- and
- based upon determining that the agricultural vehicle is in the parked state and comparing the present and neutral orientations of the hydraulic steering device, control the valve assembly in order to move the hydraulic steering device from the present orientation toward the neutral orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.