System for steering towed implement in response to, or independently of, steering of towing vehicle
First Claim
1. In a steering system for a towed implement coupled to a towing unit wherein the steering system includes at least a first extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator coupled between the towed vehicle and towing unit so as to generate a hydraulic fluid output having a value which is a function of at least the relative position of the towed vehicle to the towed unit, a positioning device including at least a second extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator connected to a steerable wheel of said towed implement and coupled for receiving said hydraulic fluid output of said first extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator so as to be controlled in response to said hydraulic fluid output to reposition said steerable wheel an amount which is a direct function of the value of said hydraulic fluid output, and a control device coupled for effecting positioning of said steerable wheel independently of said first extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator, the improvement comprising:
- said second extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator having a longitudinal axis and being mounted to said towed implement for being shifted as a unit along said longitudinal axis; and
said control device being mechanically coupled to said second extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator and selectively operable for shifting said second extensible and hydraulic actuator as a unit along said longitudinal axis for effecting movement of said steerable wheel independently of said first extensible and retractable actuator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steering system for a towed implement includes a first double-acting hydraulic actuator that is coupled between the towing vehicle and the towed implement such as that turning the towing vehicle relative to the towed implement results in fluid being forced out of the first actuator and into a second double-acting hydraulic actuator that is coupled for effecting steering of a steerable wheel of the towed implement. The piston rod of the second actuator is coupled to the piston rod of a third double-acting hydraulic actuator forming part of a control for steering the towed implement wheel independently of the turning action of the towing vehicle in order to straighten the steered wheel so that the implement may be moved backwards with out any problems. In one embodiment, the towed implement frame is made so as to be extensible and retractable in the fore-and-aft direction. The control when used with this implement aids in orienting the steered wheel, which is mounted to the movable section of the implement frame, so as to permit the movable section to move backwards either when the frame of the implement is being extended or when the entire implement frame is being moved backwards.
86 Citations
6 Claims
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1. In a steering system for a towed implement coupled to a towing unit wherein the steering system includes at least a first extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator coupled between the towed vehicle and towing unit so as to generate a hydraulic fluid output having a value which is a function of at least the relative position of the towed vehicle to the towed unit, a positioning device including at least a second extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator connected to a steerable wheel of said towed implement and coupled for receiving said hydraulic fluid output of said first extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator so as to be controlled in response to said hydraulic fluid output to reposition said steerable wheel an amount which is a direct function of the value of said hydraulic fluid output, and a control device coupled for effecting positioning of said steerable wheel independently of said first extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator, the improvement comprising:
- said second extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator having a longitudinal axis and being mounted to said towed implement for being shifted as a unit along said longitudinal axis; and
said control device being mechanically coupled to said second extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator and selectively operable for shifting said second extensible and hydraulic actuator as a unit along said longitudinal axis for effecting movement of said steerable wheel independently of said first extensible and retractable actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- said second extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator having a longitudinal axis and being mounted to said towed implement for being shifted as a unit along said longitudinal axis; and
Specification