Hydraulic interrupter safety system and method
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling automatic steering for a vehicle, comprising:
- operating a steering control system in an automatic steering mode where a steering sub-system automatically controls a steering actuator to steer the vehicle;
sensing a fluid pressure in the steering control system indicating manual operation of a steering wheel;
operating the steering control system in a manual mode based on the manual operation of the steering wheel;
blocking pressurized fluid in the steering sub-system to the steering actuator during the manual mode;
directing pressurized fluid through a steering directional control valve during the manual mode to control the steering actuator in proportion to manual movement of the steering wheel;
sensing a fluid pressure in the steering control system indicating termination of the manual operation of the steering wheel;
switching the steering control system back into the automatic steering mode based on the termination of the manual operation of the steering wheel;
unblocking the pressurized fluid flow through the steering sub-system to the steering actuator based on the steering control system switching back into the automatic steering mode;
using a load sense valve coupled to the steering direction control valve to sense the fluid pressure in the steering control system;
using an interrupt valve coupled to the load sense valve to control the pressurized fluid in the steering sub-system;
closing the interrupt valve in response to the fluid pressure sensed by the load sense valve indicating manual operation of the steering wheel; and
opening the interrupt valve in response to the fluid pressure sensed by the load sense valve indicating termination of the manual operation of the steering wheel.
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Abstract
A system and method for interrupting a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based automatic steering mode of a hydraulic steering system on a vehicle. When a steering wheel is manually turned by an operator, pressurized hydraulic fluid from a steering directional control valve activates an interrupter having an interrupter valve. The interrupter valve blocks pressurized fluid flow to the automatic steering system, thus overriding automatic steering and giving the operator full manual steering control via the steering wheel. The hydraulic interrupt system is mechanical with no electronic elements.
95 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of controlling automatic steering for a vehicle, comprising:
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operating a steering control system in an automatic steering mode where a steering sub-system automatically controls a steering actuator to steer the vehicle; sensing a fluid pressure in the steering control system indicating manual operation of a steering wheel; operating the steering control system in a manual mode based on the manual operation of the steering wheel; blocking pressurized fluid in the steering sub-system to the steering actuator during the manual mode; directing pressurized fluid through a steering directional control valve during the manual mode to control the steering actuator in proportion to manual movement of the steering wheel; sensing a fluid pressure in the steering control system indicating termination of the manual operation of the steering wheel; switching the steering control system back into the automatic steering mode based on the termination of the manual operation of the steering wheel; unblocking the pressurized fluid flow through the steering sub-system to the steering actuator based on the steering control system switching back into the automatic steering mode; using a load sense valve coupled to the steering direction control valve to sense the fluid pressure in the steering control system; using an interrupt valve coupled to the load sense valve to control the pressurized fluid in the steering sub-system; closing the interrupt valve in response to the fluid pressure sensed by the load sense valve indicating manual operation of the steering wheel; and opening the interrupt valve in response to the fluid pressure sensed by the load sense valve indicating termination of the manual operation of the steering wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A hydraulic steering system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a steering directional control valve; a load sensor valve connected to the steering directional control valve; and an interrupt valve connected to the load sensor valve, the interrupt value configured to block pressurized fluid flow used to automatically steer the vehicle based on a fluid pressure sensed by the load sensor valve indicating manual turning of the steering wheel, wherein the interrupt valve is further configured to unblock the pressurized fluid flow based on the fluid pressure sensed by the load sensor valve indicating termination of the manual turning of the steering wheel. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification