Steering system for an agricultural vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11370481-B2
Application number	US-201916677039-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2019
Priority date	Nov 7, 2019
Publication date	Jun 28, 2022
Grant date	Jun 28, 2022

Abstract

A steering system for an agricultural vehicle that includes a steering wheel, a steering wheel sensor operably connected to the steering wheel, a drive selector having a forward position, a neutral position, and a reverse position, an actuating device configured for being operably connected to the steerable wheels of the agricultural vehicle, and an electronic control unit operably connected to the steering wheel sensor, the drive selector, and the actuating device. The electronic control unit is configured for selectively preventing a rotation of the steering wheel from steering the steerable wheels in the neutral position of the drive selector.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A steering system for an agricultural vehicle comprising at least two steerable wheels, comprising:
a steering wheel configured for steering the at least two steerable wheels;
a steering wheel sensor operably connected to the steering wheel and configured for sensing a movement of the steering wheel;
a drive selector comprising a forward position, a neutral position, and a reverse position for operating the agricultural vehicle in one of a forward drive configuration, a neutral drive configuration, and a reverse drive configuration;
an actuating device configured for being operably connected to the at least two steerable wheels and configured for moving the at least two steerable wheels; and
an electronic control unit operably connected to the steering wheel sensor, the drive selector, and the actuating device, and the electronic control unit is configured for selectively preventing a rotation of the steering wheel from steering the at least two steerable wheels in the neutral position of the drive selector.

2. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein the steering system is a steer-by-wire steering system such that the electronic control unit is configured for controlling the actuating device to steer the agricultural vehicle in response to the movement of the steering wheel sensed by the steering wheel sensor.

3. The steering system of claim 2 , wherein the steering system does not comprise a direct mechanical and hydraulic connection between the steering wheel and the actuating device.

4. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured for preventing a counter-rotation of the steering wheel in the neutral position of the drive selector depending upon a machine operation.

5. The steering system of claim 4 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured for allowing the counter-rotation of the steering wheel in the neutral position of the drive selector in a header connection operational mode and a harvesting operational mode.

6. The steering system of claim 4 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured for preventing the counter-rotation of the steering wheel in the neutral position of the drive selector in a road operational mode and a non-harvesting operational mode.

7. The steering system of claim 4 , further comprising a parking brake operably connected to the electronic control unit, and wherein the electronic control unit is configured for preventing the counter-rotation of the steering wheel in the neutral position of the drive selector depending upon an activation of the parking brake.

8. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein the actuating device comprises a pair of hydraulic pumps and a pair of hydraulic motors respectively connected to the hydraulic pumps, and the hydraulic pumps and hydraulic motors are respectively associated with a respective steerable wheel for steering each steerable wheel.

9. An agricultural vehicle, comprising:
a chassis;
at least two steerable wheels connected to the chassis;
a steering system, comprising:
a steering wheel supported by the chassis and configured for steering the at least two steerable wheels;
a steering wheel sensor operably connected to the steering wheel and configured for sensing a movement of the steering wheel;
a drive selector comprising a forward position, a neutral position, and a reverse position for operating the agricultural vehicle in one of a forward drive configuration, a neutral drive configuration, and a reverse drive configuration; and
an actuating device operably connected to the at least two steerable wheels and configured for moving the at least two steerable wheels; and

an electronic control unit operably connected to the steering wheel sensor, the drive selector, and the actuating device, and the electronic control unit is configured for selectively preventing a rotation of the steering wheel from steering the at least two steerable wheels in the neutral position of the drive selector.

10. The agricultural vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the steering system is a steer-by-wire steering system such that the electronic control unit is configured for controlling the actuating device to steer the agricultural vehicle in response to the movement of the steering wheel sensed by the steering wheel sensor.

11. The agricultural vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the steering system does not comprise a direct mechanical and hydraulic connection between the steering wheel and the actuating device.

12. The agricultural vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured for preventing a counter-rotation of the steering wheel in the neutral position of the drive selector depending upon a machine operation.

13. The agricultural vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured for allowing the counter-rotation of the steering wheel in the neutral position of the drive selector in a header connection operational mode and a harvesting operational mode.

14. The agricultural vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured for preventing the counter-rotation of the steering wheel in the neutral position of the drive selector in a road operational mode and a non-harvesting operational mode.

15. The agricultural vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising a parking brake operably connected to the electronic control unit, and wherein the electronic control unit is configured for preventing the counter-rotation of the steering wheel in the neutral position of the drive selector depending upon an activation of the parking brake.

16. The agricultural vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the actuating device comprises a pair of hydraulic pumps and a pair of hydraulic motors respectively connected to the hydraulic pumps, and the hydraulic pumps and hydraulic motors are respectively associated with a respective steerable wheel for steering each steerable wheel.

17. A method for operating an agricultural vehicle, comprising:
providing a steering system for the agricultural vehicle comprising a steering wheel configured for steering at least two steerable wheels of the agricultural vehicle, a steering wheel sensor operably connected to the steering wheel, a drive selector comprising a forward position, a neutral position, and a reverse position for operating the agricultural vehicle in one of a forward drive configuration, a neutral drive configuration, and a reverse drive configuration, an actuating device configured for being operably connected to the at least two steerable wheels and configured for moving the at least two steerable wheels, and an electronic control unit operably connected to the steering wheel sensor, the drive selector, and the actuating device;
positioning, by the drive selector, the agricultural vehicle in the neutral drive configuration;
sensing, by the steering wheel sensor, a movement of the steering wheel; and
selectively preventing, by the electronic control unit, a rotation of the steering wheel from steering the at least two steerable wheels in the neutral position of the drive selector.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the steering system is a steer-by-wire steering system such that the electronic control unit is configured for controlling the actuating device to steer the agricultural vehicle in response to the movement of the steering wheel sensed by the steering wheel sensor, and the steering system does not comprise a direct mechanical and hydraulic connection between the steering wheel and the actuating device.

19. The metho

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Fasick Gregory T

Classifications

• B62D11/003 Primary

  Electric or electronic control systems · CPC title

• B62D1/046

  Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches · CPC title

• B62D5/001

  Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup · CPC title

• B62D5/091 Primary

  Hydraulic steer-by-wire systems, e.g. the valve being actuated by an electric motor · CPC title

• A01B69/008

  automatic · CPC title