Automatic vehicle steering apparatus
First Claim
1. A vehicle steering apparatus comprising:
- fluid motor mean for turning steerable vehicle wheels;
valve means operable from an initial condition to a first actuated condition to effect operation of said fluid motor means in a first direction to turn the steerable vehicle wheels in one direction and operable from the initial condition to a second actuated condition to effect operation of said fluid motor means in a second direction opposite to the first direction to turn the steerable vehicle wheels in another direction;
fluid metering means for providing a metered flow of fluid at a rate which is a function of the rate of rotation of the steering wheel to effect operation of said fluid motor means at a rate which is a function of the rate of rotation of the steering wheel;
control means for sensing a relationship of the vehicle relative to a reference outside of the vehicle and for effecting actuation of said valve means between the initial condition and said first and second actuated conditions independently of the steering wheel to maintain a predetermined relationship between the vehicle and the reference during movement of the vehicle relative to the reference;
and means for interrupting operation of said control means in response to rotation of the steering wheel during operation of said control means;
said control means including electrically activated means for effecting actuation of said valve means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle is operable in either one of two modes to control the turning of steerable vehicle wheels. During operation of the vehicle in a manual steering mode, the steerable vehicle wheels are turned in response to rotation of a steering wheel. During operation of the vehicle in an automatic steering mode, the steerable vehicle wheels are turned to maintain a predetermined relationship between the vehicle and a reference during movement of the vehicle relative to the reference. Upon initiation of operation of the vehicle in either of the two steering modes, a valve assembly is operated from an initial condition to either one of two actuated conditions to effect turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheels toward either the left or the right. During the manual steering mode, the valve assembly is operated in response to rotation of the vehicle steering wheel. During the automatic steering mode, the relationship of a vehicle to the reference outside of the vehicle is sensed and the valve assembly is operated independently of the steering wheel to maintain a predetermined relationship between the vehicle and the reference as the vehicle moves relative to the reference.
89 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vehicle steering apparatus comprising:
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fluid motor mean for turning steerable vehicle wheels; valve means operable from an initial condition to a first actuated condition to effect operation of said fluid motor means in a first direction to turn the steerable vehicle wheels in one direction and operable from the initial condition to a second actuated condition to effect operation of said fluid motor means in a second direction opposite to the first direction to turn the steerable vehicle wheels in another direction; fluid metering means for providing a metered flow of fluid at a rate which is a function of the rate of rotation of the steering wheel to effect operation of said fluid motor means at a rate which is a function of the rate of rotation of the steering wheel; control means for sensing a relationship of the vehicle relative to a reference outside of the vehicle and for effecting actuation of said valve means between the initial condition and said first and second actuated conditions independently of the steering wheel to maintain a predetermined relationship between the vehicle and the reference during movement of the vehicle relative to the reference; and means for interrupting operation of said control means in response to rotation of the steering wheel during operation of said control means; said control means including electrically activated means for effecting actuation of said valve means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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- 10. A vehicle steering apparatus comprising fluid motor means for turning steerable vehicle wheels, valve means operable from an initial condition to a first actuated condition to effect operation of said fluid motor means in a first direction to turn the steerable vehicle wheels in one direction and operable from the initial condition to a second actuated condition to effect operation of said fluid motor means in a second direction opposite to the first direction to turn the steerable vehicle wheels in another direction, stepper motor means for operating said valve means, clutch means operable between an engaged condition connecting the steering wheel with said stepper motor means and a disengaged condition in which said clutch means is ineffective to connect the steering wheel with said stepper motor means, said valve means being operable under the influence of force transmitted from the steering wheel through said clutch means and said stepper motor means when said clutch means is in the engaged condition, and control means for sensing a relationship of the vehicle relative to a reference outside of the vehicle and for effecting operation of said stepper motor means to operate said valve means when said clutch means is in the disengaged condition to maintain a predetermined relationship between the vehicle and the reference during movement of the vehicle relative to the reference.
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13. A vehicle steering apparatus comprising fluid motor means for turning steerable vehicle wheels, valve means operable from an initial condition to a first actuated condition to effect operation of said fluid motor means in a first direction to turn the steerable vehicle wheels in one direction and operable from the initial condition to a second actuated condition to effect operation of said fluid motor means in a second direction opposite to the first direction to turn the steerable vehicle wheels in another direction, fluid metering means for providing a metered flow of fluid at a rate which is a function of the rate of rotation of the steering wheel to effect operation of said fluid motor means at a rate which is a function of the rate of rotation of the steering wheel, control means for sensing a relationship of the vehicle relative to a reference outside of the vehicle and for effecting actuation of said valve means between the initial condition and said first and second actuated conditions independently of the steering wheel to maintain a predetermined relationship between the vehicle and the reference during movement of the vehicle relative to the reference, and clutch means connected with said fluid metering means and the steering wheel, said clutch means being operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to transmit force between the steering wheel and said fluid metering means and a disengaged condition in which said clutch means is ineffective to transmit force between the steering wheel and said fluid metering means, said control means including means for maintaining said clutch means in the disengaged condition during operation of said control means to maintain the predetermined relationship between the vehicle and the reference.
- 14. A vehicle steering apparatus comprising fluid motor means for turning steerable vehicle wheels, valve means operable from an initial condition to a first actuated condition to effect operation of said fluid motor means in a first direction to turn the steerable vehicle wheels in one direction and operable from the initial condition to a second actuated condition to effect operation of said fluid motor means in a second direction opposite to the first direction to turn the steerable vehicle wheels in another direction, said valve means including a valve member having opposite end portions, fluid metering means for providing a metered flow of fluid at a rate which is a function of the rate of rotation of the steering wheel to effect operation of said fluid motor means at a rate which is a function of the rate of rotation of the steering wheel, control means for sensing a relationship of the vehicle relative to a reference outside of the vehicle and for effecting actuation of said valve means between the initial condition and said first and second actuated conditions independently of the steering wheel to maintain a predetermined relationship between the vehicle and the reference during movement of the vehicle relative to the reference, fluid pressure responsive means disposed adjacent to opposite end portions of said valve member for effecting movement of said valve member under the influence of fluid pressure conducted from said fluid metering means, and electrically actuated means disposed adjacent to opposite end portions of said valve member for effecting movement of said valve member in response to said control means.
- 16. A vehicle steering apparatus comprising fluid motor means for turning steerable vehicle wheels, valve means operable from an initial condition to a first actuated condition to effect operation of said fluid motor means in a first direction to turn the steerable vehicle wheels in one direction and operable from the initial condition to a second actuated condition to effect operation of said fluid motor means in a second direction opposite to the first direction to turn the steerable vehicle wheels in another direction, means for providing fluid pressure to effect actuation of said valve means from the initial condition to the first actuated condition in response to rotation of a vehicle steering wheel in one direction and for providing fluid pressure to effect actuation of said valve means from the initial condition to the second actuated condition in response to rotation of the steering wheel in a direction opposite to the one direction of rotation, control means for sensing a relationship of the vehicle relative to a reference outside of the vehicle and for effecting actuation of said valve means between the initial condition and said first and second actuated conditions independently of the steering wheel to maintain a predetermined relationship between the vehicle and the reference during movement of the vehicle relative to the reference, and means for interrupting operation of said control means in response to rotation of the steering wheel during operation of said control means.
Specification