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:
Oct. 31, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 25, 1999
Lawrence Vernon Anderson, Cedar Falls, IA (US);
John Wayne Schletzbaum, Hudson, IA (US);
Ronald Lee Mayfield, Cedar Falls, IA (US);
Dennis Royal Yoder, Grundy Center, IA (US);
Benjamin Michael Witte, Fairbank, IA (US);
Raymond Yifei Hou, Waterloo, IA (US);
Sanjay Ishvarlal Mistry, Waterloo, IA (US);
Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US);
Abstract
A steering control system for a tracked vehicle includes an engine driven variable displacement steering pump which drives a hydraulic motor. A control system senses steering wheel position, vehicle speed, engine speed and forward/reverse vehicle direction. As a function of these sensed inputs, a control signal is generated and is used to control the swashplate angle of an engine-driven variable displacement pump which drives a steering motor which drives a differential track drive mechanism. The control system also determines a ratio of motor speed to vehicle speed and generates a powerboost signal when the ratio exceeds a threshold value. The powerboost signal is communicated to the engine controller which causes the engine to increase its power output. This modifies the engine fuel delivery curve based on the steering system power requirement and increases the power available for turning the vehicle.