Method to select an active steering input device based on orbital pressure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019249395-A1
Application number	US-201815895387-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 13, 2018
Priority date	Feb 13, 2018
Publication date	Aug 15, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A work machine having a cab coupled to a frame, a steering system coupled to the frame, a controller configured to selectively articulate the steering system, a joystick assembly positioned in the cab and in communication with the controller, a steering wheel assembly positioned in the cab and configured to selectively articulate the steering system, and a steering wheel sensor coupled to the steering wheel assembly and in communication with the controller to identify movement of the steering wheel assembly. Wherein, the controller does not articulate the steering system responsive to movement of the joystick assembly when the steering wheel sensor identifies movement of the steering wheel.

First claim

1 . A work machine having a cab, the work machine comprising:
a steering system; a controller configured to selectively articulate the steering system; a joystick assembly positioned in the cab and in communication with the controller; a steering wheel assembly positioned in the cab and configured to selectively articulate the steering system; and a steering wheel sensor coupled to the steering wheel assembly and in communication with the controller to identify movement of the steering wheel assembly; wherein, the controller does not articulate the steering system responsive to movement of the joystick assembly when the steering wheel sensor identifies movement of the steering wheel.

2 . The work machine of claim 1 , further wherein the steering wheel assembly is a hydro-mechanical steering wheel assembly that includes a steering valve having at least one input and at least one output, wherein the steering wheel sensor is a hydraulic pressure sensor positioned to identify when the output of the steering valve is above a threshold.

3 . The work machine of claim 1 , further wherein the steering wheel assembly is fluidly coupled to a steering logic valve assembly that selectively fluidly couples the steering wheel sensor to a pump line.

4 . The work machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
an armrest positioned in the cab and having a first position and a second position; and an armrest position switch coupled to the armrest and communicating to the controller whether the armrest is in the first position or the second position; wherein, the joystick assembly controls the steering system when the controller determines that the armrest is in the second position, and the steering wheel sensor is not identifying movement of the steering wheel assembly.

5 . The work machine of claim 4 , further wherein the steering wheel assembly is a hydro-mechanical steering wheel assembly that includes a steering valve having at least one input and at least one output;
further wherein, the steering wheel sensor is a hydraulic pressure sensor positioned to identify when the output of the steering valve is above an output threshold; further wherein, the controller communicates with the steering wheel sensor and identifies movement of the steering wheel assembly when the hydraulic pressure sensor indicates a hydraulic pressure above a hydraulic pressure threshold.

6 . The work machine of claim 1 , further wherein the steering wheel assembly has an orbital valve that has an active position and an inactive position, wherein the active position selectively fluidly couples the steering system to a tank and a pump.

7 . The work machine of claim 6 , further comprising:
a logic valve fluidly coupled to the orbital valve; and a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the logic valve through a sensor line; wherein the logic valve selectively couples the sensor line to the pump when the orbital valve is in the active position.

8 . A method for prioritizing multiple steering inputs, comprising:
providing a steering wheel assembly having an orbital valve with a first pressure sensor positioned to identify an output of the orbital valve, an electro-hydraulic assembly having a joystick, a controller, and a steering system selectively controlled by the steering wheel assembly or the joystick; storing, in the controller, a pressure threshold value; monitoring, with the first pressure sensor communicating to the controller, a first pressure value; comparing, with the controller, the first pressure value to the pressure threshold value; and disabling, with the controller, control of the steering system with the joystick when the first pressure value is greater than the pressure threshold value.

9 . The method of prioritizing multiple steering inputs of claim 8 , further comprising controlling the steering system with the joystick through the electro-hydraulic assembly when the first pressure value is less than the pressure threshold value.

10 . The method of prioritizing multiple steering inputs of claim 9 , further comprising controlling the steering system with the joystick through the electro-hydraulic assembly when the controller identifies an armrest in a down position.

11 . The method of prioritizing multiple steering inputs of claim 8 , further comprising:
providing a logic valve that is fluidly coupled to the output of the orbital valve; and repositioning the logic valve based on an output pressure of the orbital valve.

12 . The method of prioritizing multiple steering inputs of claim 11 , further wherein the logic valve has a first position and a second position, wherein when the logic valve is in a first position the first pressure sensor is not fluidly coupled to a pump and when the logic valve is in a second position the first pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to the pump.

13 . The method of prioritizing multiple steering inputs of claim 8 , further wherein the steering system has at least one hydraulic cylinder, wherein the output of the orbital valve is fluidly coupled to the hydraulic cylinder.

14 . The method of prioritizing multiple steering inputs of claim 8 , further comprising:
providing a second pressure sensor fluidly positioned to identify the output of the orbital valve; monitoring, with the second pressure sensor communicating to the controller, a second pressure value of the output of the orbital valve; and disabling, with the controller, control of the steering system with the joystick when either of the first pressure value or the second pressure value is greater than the pressure threshold value.

15 . A work machine steering system, comprising:
a frame having a front portion and a rear portion that pivot relative to one another; a cylinder assembly coupled to the frame and configured to pivot the front portion relative to the rear portion; an orbital valve assembly fluidly coupled to the cylinder assembly; a first hydraulic pressure sensor; an electro-hydraulic assembly having a joystick, the electro-hydraulic assembly being selectively fluidly coupled to the cylinder assembly; and a controller in communication with the first hydraulic pressure sensor and the joystick; wherein, when the controller identifies a hydraulic pressure with the first hydraulic pressure sensor that is greater than a pressure threshold value, the controller does not manipulate the cylinder assembly responsive to an input from the joystick.

16 . The steering system of claim 15 , further comprising a logic valve fluidly coupled to the orbital valve with a load line, wherein the logic valve is repositionable based on a fluid pressure of the load line.

17 . The steering system of claim 15 , further comprising a second hydraulic pressure sensor, wherein if either the first hydraulic pressure sensor or the second hydraulic pressure sensor identify a pressure greater than the pressure threshold value, the controller does not manipulate the cylinder assembly responsive to an input from the joystick.

18 . The steering system of claim 16 , further wherein the cylinder assembly comprises a hydraulic cylinder wherein an output pressure of the orbital valve assembly is a fluid pressure applied to the hydraulic cylinder and wherein the output pressure is applied to the load line.

19 . The steering system of claim 15 , further wherein the controller manipulates the cylinder assembly responsive to an input from the joystick when the hydraulic pressure identified by the first hydraulic pressure sensor is less than the pressure threshol

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Myers David J
• Kellogg Brian K
• Kenkel Aaron R
• Sobkowiak Adam J
• Mccabe Michael
• Huttenlocher Bryan J
• Mueller Jason L

Classifications

• E02F9/0841

  Articulated frame, i.e. having at least one pivot point between two travelling gear units (tractor-trailer combinations B62D53/00) · CPC title

• E02F9/2087

  Control of vehicle steering (for steering with hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/225) · CPC title

• B62D5/09

  characterised by means for actuating valves · CPC title

• B62D1/22

  Alternative steering-control elements, e.g. for teaching purposes · CPC title

• E02F3/283

  with a single arm pivoted directly on the chassis (linkage mechanism for it E02F3/3405) · CPC title