IMPLEMENT/VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090032273A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Hahn, Klaus
• Application Number:
  US12/142,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20090032273A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 172/2
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/004 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/006 derived from the steering of the tractor
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/00 Steering specially adapted for trailers combined traction and steering hitches B60D
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/005 operated from tractor steering system
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/025 the pivoted movement being initiated by the coupling means between tractor and trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/04 for individually-pivoted wheels

Abstract

A control system controls steering of an implement which is coupled to an agricultural utility vehicle. The control system includes a control unit, a sensor, a hydraulic system on the utility vehicle, an electronically actuatable hydraulic valve, a hydraulic actuator on the implement and a steerable wheel on the implement. A status variable of the utility vehicle or of the implement can be detected with the sensor and transmitted to the control unit. A current operating state of the utility vehicle and/or of the implement is determined by the control unit. The hydraulic valve is connected to the hydraulic system and to the actuator. The hydraulic valve can be actuated as a function of the current operating state of the utility vehicle and/or of the implement in order to block the steering of the wheel with the actuator.

Claims

1. A control system for steering an implement which is coupled to a utility vehicle, comprising:

a control unit;

a sensor;

a vehicle hydraulic system;

an electronically actuatable hydraulic valve;

a hydraulic actuator on the implement; and

a steerable wheel on the implement, wherein the sensor detects a status variable of the utility vehicle or of the implement and transmits a status signal to the control unit, the control unit determining an operating state of the utility vehicle and/or of the implement, wherein the hydraulic valve is connected hydraulically to the hydraulic system and the actuator, and wherein the hydraulic valve can be actuated as a function of the operating state of the utility vehicle and/or of the implement in order to block steering of the wheel with the actuator.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the steerable wheel is steered exclusively by the actuator.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the steerable wheel is part of a trailer steering axle.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the sensor detects at least one variable from a group of variables, including vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, direction of travel, a currently set vehicle steering angle, a deviation from a predefined direction of travel, a spatial position of the utility vehicle, a vehicle yaw movement, a vehicle yaw torque, an implement yaw movement, an implement yaw torque, a gradient of the utility vehicle and/or a gradient of the implement.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein with the sensor detects at least one variable from a group of variables, including rotational speed of an engine shaft or gear shaft, a wheel rotational speed, a torque transmitted by a shaft, a torque output of a drive unit, a drive unit power, a drive unit utilization, a vehicle slip, a quality of an underlying surface, axle load, hydraulic the pressure, hydraulic flow rate, steering cylinder travel, a force of the implement acting on the vehicle, a travel state, and/or a vehicle propulsion force.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the steering of the steerable wheel is blocked if the utility vehicle is reversing.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the steering of the steerable wheel is blocked if the utility vehicle exceeds a predefined speed.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the steering of the steerable wheel is blocked if a lateral acceleration and/or a lateral force which exceeds a predefined value acts on the utility vehicle and/or on the implement.

9. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the steering of the steerable wheel is blocked if the utility vehicle and/or the implement has a lateral inclination which exceeds a predefined value.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the control unit determines a steering angle for the steerable wheel as a function of a current operating state of the utility vehicle and/or of the implement.

11. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the hydraulic valve is arranged on the utility vehicle.

12. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the hydraulic valve is arranged on the implement.

13. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the hydraulic valve is actuated in an automated fashion.

14. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

actuation of the hydraulic valve can be switched off.

15. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the implement is a multi axle trailer coupled to the vehicle in semitrailer fashion.

16. In a control system for steering an implement which is coupled to a utility vehicle, the implement having a steerable wheel, the control system having a control unit, a sensor, a vehicle hydraulic system, an electronically actuatable hydraulic valve, a hydraulic actuator on the implement, the hydraulic valve being operatively connected to the hydraulic system and to the actuator, a method of operating comprising:

detecting with the sensor a status variable of the utility vehicle or of the implement;

transmitted the status variable to the control unit;

determining with the control unit a current operating state of the utility vehicle and/or of the implement;

actuating the hydraulic valve as a function of the current operating state in order to block the steering of the steerable wheel with the actuator.