Steering system with ability to stop steering wheel rotation
First Claim
1. A full fluid-linked steering system adapted to provide input movement to a pair of steered wheels of a vehicle, in response to manual input to a steering member, said steering system comprising a source of pressurized fluid, a fluid controller, and a fluid pressure operated actuator adapted to be operably associated with the pair of steered wheels to provide said input movement thereto in response to manual input to said steering member;
- said fluid controller defining an inlet port in fluid communication with said source of pressurized fluid, and a control port in fluid communication with said actuator, said fluid controller further including a fluid meter operable to measure fluid flow through said fluid meter, and valve means and means biasing said valve means toward a neutral position;
said steering system further comprising compensation valve means in fluid communication with said source of fluid, and in fluid communication with said actuator, and including valving moveable in response to an external input signal to permit fluid communication between said source and said actuator;
a load sensing priority flow control valve having an inlet connected to said source of fluid, a controlled flow outlet port and an excess flow outlet port;
characterized by;
(a) said compensation valve means includes a fluid inlet in direct fluid communication with said controlled flow outlet port of said priority flow control valve; and
(b) said inlet port of said fluid controller being in direct fluid communication with said excess flow outlet port of said priority flow control valve.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A full fluid-linked steering system includes a fluid pump (11), a fluid controller (19), a steering actuator (17), an electro-hydraulic compensation valve (21), and a vehicle microprocessor (23). Downstream of the fluid pump (11) is a load sensing priority flow control valve (15) having both a controlled flow outlet port (CF) and an excess flow outlet port (EF). The excess flow outlet port (EF) communicates with an inlet port (35) of the fluid controller (19), while the controlled flow outlet port (CF) communicates with a fluid inlet (63) of the compensation valve (21). As a result, when the steering actuator (17) is at the end of its travel, pressure will be communicated only through the compensation valve (21), and the operator will be unable to turn the steering wheel further in the same direction.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A full fluid-linked steering system adapted to provide input movement to a pair of steered wheels of a vehicle, in response to manual input to a steering member, said steering system comprising a source of pressurized fluid, a fluid controller, and a fluid pressure operated actuator adapted to be operably associated with the pair of steered wheels to provide said input movement thereto in response to manual input to said steering member;
- said fluid controller defining an inlet port in fluid communication with said source of pressurized fluid, and a control port in fluid communication with said actuator, said fluid controller further including a fluid meter operable to measure fluid flow through said fluid meter, and valve means and means biasing said valve means toward a neutral position;
said steering system further comprising compensation valve means in fluid communication with said source of fluid, and in fluid communication with said actuator, and including valving moveable in response to an external input signal to permit fluid communication between said source and said actuator;
a load sensing priority flow control valve having an inlet connected to said source of fluid, a controlled flow outlet port and an excess flow outlet port;
characterized by;(a) said compensation valve means includes a fluid inlet in direct fluid communication with said controlled flow outlet port of said priority flow control valve; and
(b) said inlet port of said fluid controller being in direct fluid communication with said excess flow outlet port of said priority flow control valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- said fluid controller defining an inlet port in fluid communication with said source of pressurized fluid, and a control port in fluid communication with said actuator, said fluid controller further including a fluid meter operable to measure fluid flow through said fluid meter, and valve means and means biasing said valve means toward a neutral position;
Specification