Steering control for tractor grader attachments

• US 3,957,130 A
• Filed: 07/15/1974
• Issued: 05/18/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert A. Hammersmith
• Original Assignee: Albert A. Hammersmith
• Inventors: Hammersmith, Albert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/488,550
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 180/11, 180/12, 180/14 R, 180/14 A, 180/79.2 R, 180/79.2 C
• US Class Current: 180/436
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/04 modified to take pushing devices
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7636 Graders with the scraper blade mounted under the tractor chassis

Abstract

A steering control hookup for use in connection with a mobile assembly comprised of a conventional tractor in which the normal, steerable front wheel and axle structure is in a raised, non-ground engaging disposition, and a grader blade attachment provided with a ground-engaging front wheel and axle unit having a steering apparatus. The steering hookup includes an arrangement of selectively shiftable hydraulic valves interposed in a power steering system of the tractor in order to render the steering apparatus of the attachment responsive to actuation of the power steering system while at the same time rendering a steering mechanism associated with the tractor front wheel end axle structure inoperative, thus making the turning movements of the mobile assembly responsive solely to the operation of the steering apparatus of the attachment.

Claims

1. In a steerable mobile assembly:

a powered vehicle equipped with a fluid-actuated, power steering system and a front wheel and axle structure having a steering mechanism provided with a fluid operated actuator operably coupled with said power steering system;

a tool-supporting frame provided with a ground-engaging front wheel and axle unit having a steering apparatus which includes a fluid-operated actuator;

means releasably securing said frame to said vehicle with said frame extending forwardly of said vehicle wheel and axle structure and supporting the latter in a raised, non-ground-engaging disposition; and

releasable coupling means operably interconnecting the actuator of said frame axle unit steering apparatus in flow communication with the power steering system of said vehicle to render the front wheel and axle unit of said frame responsive to actuation of the power steering system whereby turning movement of the mobile assembly is responsive solely to operation of the steering apparatus of said frame front wheel and axle unit,

said coupling means including selectively positionable flow-directing means,

said flow-directing means being positionable in a first position in which the actuator of said vehicle steering mechanism is rendered nonoperative and the actuator of said frame steering apparatus is rendered operative in response to actuation of the power steering system,

said flow-directing means being further positionable in a second position for rendering the actuator of said vehicle steering mechanism operative in response to actuation of the power steering system when said frame is removed from the vehicle and said coupling means are released to remove the actuator of the frame steering apparatus from said communication.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flow-directing means is a pair of manually shiftable valves substantially permanently mounted on said vehicle and operably interposed in flow communication with said power steering system.