Jerk control valve for pilot operated steering system

• US 5,934,406 A
• Filed: 05/29/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Dvorak, Paul A., Wells, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brooks, Jason S.
• Application Number:
  US08/865,570
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 180/417, 180/402, 180/403, 180/442, 91/461
• US Class Current: 180/442
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/09 characterised by means for actuating valves

Abstract

A jerk control valve adapted for use in a pilot operated steering system has a pilot operated valve biased to an open position by a spring for communicating left steer and right steer pilot lines to a tank through a pair of orifices. The pilot operated valve is moveable to a closed position blocking communication through the first and second orifices when the highest pressure of the left and right steer pilot lines exceeds a predetermined value. The left and right steer pilot lines are continuously communicated with the tank through a pair of orifice devices.

Claims

1. A jerk control valve adapted for use in a pilot operated steering system having a tank, left steer and right steer pilot lines, and a check valve disposed in each of the pilot lines, the jerk control valve comprising:

a right steer flow passage communicating the right steer pilot line with the tank;

a left steer flow passage communicating the left steer pilot line with the tank;

first orifice means disposed between the right steer flow passage and the tank;

second orifice means disposed between the left steer flow passage and the tank;

third orifice means disposed in the right steer flow passage;

fourth orifice means disposed in the left steer flow passage;

a pilot operated valve having an open position establishing communication through the first and second orifice means and a closed position blocking communication through the first and second orifice means, the pilot operated valve having a spring biasing the pilot operating valve to the open position; and

a resolver disposed to transmit the highest pilot pressure from the right steer pilot line and the left steer pilot line to the end of the pilot operated valve.

2. The jerk control valve of claim 1 wherein the effective areas of the first and second orifice means are equal and the effective areas of the third and fourth orifice means are equal.

3. The jerk control valve of claim 2 wherein the third and fourth orifice means each include a pair of serially disposed orifices.