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:
Apr. 02, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2007
Frederick R. Kasten, Plymouth, MI (US);
Darrel A. Recker, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Daniel K. Tuttle, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ashraf Zeid, Belleville, MI (US);
Frederick R. Kasten, Plymouth, MI (US);
Darrel A. Recker, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Daniel K. Tuttle, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ashraf Zeid, Belleville, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An electronic control unit monitors pressure conditions present at the input to the steering system and other vehicle data signals and then provides override control of a hydro-mechanical flow control device. An electro-hydraulic valve is connected to the supply side of the hydro-mechanical flow control device and reacts to the electronic monitoring of pressure and other vehicle data to alter the counter-balancing forces within the hydro-mechanical flow control device. This causes a by-pass diversion of steering fluid to the source by the hydro-mechanical flow control device and thereby relieves backpressure on the pump when relatively little steering assist is required to be provided by the steering system. The control of steering fluid diversion at such times results in a significant reduction in parasitic losses within the steering system and improves the operating and fuel efficiency of the vehicle.