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:
Nov. 20, 2001
Filed:
May. 12, 2000
William J. Novacek, Bloomington, MN (US);
Aaron W. Smith, Excelsior, MN (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A fluid controller (,) to control flow to a steering cylinder (,) is modified to include a selector valve assembly (,) having two operating positions. In a first position (“R” in FIG.,), the selector valve (,) permits fluid flow though the main fluid path (,) in the normal manner, as would be used when the vehicle is in a “roading” mode. In a second position (“W” in FIG.,and in FIG.,), the selector valve (,) blocks flow through the fluid meter (,) which normally provides the follow-up movement (,) to the controller valving (,), and bypasses the fluid meter in a “working” mode. Thus, the normal flow rate can be achieved by merely rotating the steering wheel (,) an amount which corresponds to the desired deflection of the controller valving (,), without the need for the continuous rotation of the steering wheel, as required during normal steering.