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:
Feb. 06, 1996
Filed:
Jul. 23, 1993
Anthony J Saiia, Racine, WI (US);
Alan R Fillman, Racine, WI (US);
Textron Inc., Providence, RI (US);
Abstract
A vehicle steering control system and apparatus for controlling steering radius to prevent vehicle and surface damage and to provide improved low speed vehicle maneuverability. The steering control system and apparatus provides a first controllably limited turning radius range in relation to a first condition and a second controllably limited turning radius range in relation to a second condition. Examples of the first and second conditions include speed related conditions, such as, the actual speed of the vehicle, a selected gear of the vehicle, and manual selection of the turning radius. The system and apparatus includes a dual stroke hydraulic cylinder having a cylinder body housing a hydraulically controllable primary piston. A shaft is attached to and extends from the primary piston, projects through the cylinder body, and connects to the steering linkage of the vehicle. Hydraulic operation of the primary piston transfers forces along the shaft to the linkage. First and second hydraulically controllable stroke limiting stops are positioned at each end of the cylinder body. The stops are hydraulically positionable for limiting the stroke length of the primary piston and the attached shaft. A hydraulic control device is associated with the hydraulic cylinder for operating the primary piston and the first and second stops. A mode selection device is associated with the hydraulic control device selecting a desired mode of operation and thus controllably operating the first and second stops to controllably limit the turning radius range of the steering mechanism of the vehicle.