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:
Apr. 28, 1981
Filed:
Nov. 09, 1978
James D Sturgill, Roxboro, NC (US);
RPC Corporation, Roxboro, NC (US);
Abstract
An electro-hydraulic steering system is disclosed for a wide track steerable vehicle which changes the position of each steerable slave wheel to an optimum angle depending on the angle of a hydraulically steerable master wheel. Controls, including electro-hydraulic steering mechanisms, are provided to cause the steerable slave wheels to turn relative to one another to assume and maintain an optimum turning radius and optimum turning relationship as the vehicle operator maneuvers the vehicle along a desired curved path of travel by hydraulically controlling a master steerable wheel. The system minimizes tire wear, reduces structural stresses in the vehicle, and maximizes traction during turning maneuvers. No conventional tie rods are required and the system may be implemented to permit two wheel steering, four wheel crab steering, and four or more wheel coordinated steering. The system uses a position sensor on the hydraulically steerable master wheel to produce a signal to control the positioning of the slave wheels. The signal is digitized to produce a signal which, when compared to a position signal from a position sensor for each slave wheel, causes each slave wheel to assume an optimum position which is about perpendicular to the turning radius of the vehicle.