The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 07, 1978
Filed:
Apr. 15, 1977
Robert Henry Casterton, Waterloo, IA (US);
Gordon K Wiegardt, Cedar Falls, IA (US);
Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US);
Abstract
A vehicle with a total power fluid system includes a pair of drive wheels, variable displacement, fluid motors driven by an engine driven, variable displacement, fluid pump. The motor displacements are controlled by operator speed input and speed sensing controls, and the pump displacement is controlled by a pressure sensing pressure control. A vehicle steering control includes an operator steering input control connected to a steerable wheel control for actuating a valve for holding, turning, or castering fluidly steerable wheels which are capable of turning the vehicle. The operator steering input control is further connected to the operator speed input controls to slow the turn-side drive wheel motor during either a steerable wheel controlled or an emergency, drive wheel controlled turn. During either an electrical failure or a hydraulic failure sensed by the inability of the steerable wheels to follow the operator steering input control, the valve will be actuated to caster the steerable wheels. The operator steering input control further includes provisions for greater steering sensitivity near the centered steerable wheel position and for limiting the degree of steerable wheel turn with increasing vehicle speed.