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:
May. 16, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 03, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Imed Gharsalli, Peoria, IL (US);
Frank J Lombardi, Metamora, IL (US);
Assignee:
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E02F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
172-2 ; 701 50 ;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling a direction of travel of an earthworking machine having an earthworking implement. The method and apparatus includes determining a desired heading of the machine, determining an actual heading of the machine, determining a straight line path for the machine as a function of the desired heading, determining a deviation of the actual heading from the desired heading, determining a desired tilt angle of the implement as a function of the deviation, and controlling the tilt angle of the implement to the desired tilt angle and responsively steering the machine on the straight line path.