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. 09, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 09, 1999
David Joseph Easton, Cedar Falls, IA (US);
Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US);
Abstract
A control system controls a tracked vehicle drive/steering system which has an engine driven hydraulic steering pump which drives a hydraulic steering motor. In one embodiment, the control system operates to gradually reduce the magnitude of the steering pump control signals if the vehicle is stationary, the clutch is engaged and these conditions persist for at least a certain time period, and to further or more rapidly reduce the magnitude if the vehicle seat is not occupied. In an alternate embodiment, the control system operates to limit the magnitude of the steering pump control signals as a function of the acceleration of wheel speed. In another alternate embodiment, the control system operates to quickly reduce the magnitude of the steering pump control signals if the vehicle is stationary, the clutch is engaged and the transmission is commanded to be in a non-neutral gear, between the time the ear is commanded and the vehicle motion begins.