Granted Patent B2

US 12,344,251 · App. 17/888,656 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Inventors: Lowell D. Stutzman (Cedar Falls, IA); Nathanael K. Rehn (Waterloo, IA); Timothy J. Ofenloch (Willowbrook, IL); Jeffrey M. Tott (New Hartford, IA); Suresh Putta (Cedar Falls, IA); Douglas M. Van Meter (Grovetown, GA); Jordan L Tagtow (Waterloo, IA); Jacyn R. Goebel (Cedar Falls, IA)

Assignee: Deere & Company

B60W30/182A01B69/007B60W10/18B60W10/20B60W2300/152B60W2520/10B60W2552/05

Abstract

Claims (57)

1. A method for controlling a steering system of a work machine between at least a field mode and a transport mode, the work machine including a chassis and an axle to which wheels are coupled, the method comprising:

providing a steering device, a controller, a steering device sensor, a brake, and a motor;

determining whether to control the steering system according to the field mode or transport mode;

applying the brake to provide a first amount of resistance to the steering device if the controller is controlling the steering system according to the field mode, the first amount of resistance being a non-directional force; and

engaging the motor to provide a second amount of resistance to the steering device if the controller is controlling the steering system according to the transport mode, wherein the second amount of resistance is a biasing force directed toward a return of the steering device to a threshold position, the threshold position corresponding to a straight-line trajectory of the work machine.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a command from a user control to selectively control the steering system according to either the field mode or transport mode.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically selectively controlling the steering system by the controller according to either the field mode or transport mode.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a travel speed of the work machine via a speed sensor;

communicating the travel speed to the controller;

comparing the travel speed to a threshold speed; and

selecting the field mode if the travel speed is less than the threshold speed, and selecting the transport mode if the travel speed is greater than the threshold speed.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

controlling the steering system according to either the field mode or the transport mode;

receiving a communication from a user control to switch from the field mode or transport mode to the other; and

controlling the steering system according to the other of the field mode or transport mode.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a signal from the steering device sensor indicative of a movement of the steering device;

sending a command to a valve assembly via the controller to actuate a double-acting cylinder, the double-acting cylinder operably coupled to the wheels; and

adjusting an angle of the wheels based on the movement of the steering device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling an angular movement of the wheels based only upon electrical communication from the controller.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting an operating status of a power take-off system of the work machine; and

controlling the steering system according to the field mode or transport mode based on the operating status of the power take-off system.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a location of the work machine via a global positioning sensor;

determining if the location of the work machine is in a field; and

controlling the steering system according to the field mode if the location is in determined to be in a field.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining if an implement is coupled to the work machine;

if an implement is coupled to the work machine, controlling the steering system according to the field mode; and

if an implement is not coupled to the work machine, controlling the steering system according to the transport mode.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an operating status of an implement coupled to the work machine;

if the operating status is active, controlling the steering system according to the field mode; and

if the operating status is inactive, controlling the steering system according to the transport mode.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold position is a center position for the steering device, and further comprising determining a position of the steering device does not satisfy the threshold position,

wherein applying the brake comprises applying the brake in response to determining to control the steering system according to the field mode and that the position of the steering device does not satisfy the threshold position, and

wherein applying the motor comprises applying the motor in response to determining to control the steering system according to the transport mode and that the position of the steering device does not satisfy the threshold position.

13. A method for controlling a steering system of a work machine between at least a work mode and a road mode, the method comprising:

determining whether to control the steering system in the work mode or the road mode;

determining whether a position of a steering device of the steering system satisfies a threshold position, the threshold position being a center position of the steering device;

applying, if the position of the steering device is determined to not satisfy the threshold position and the work machine is determined to be in the work mode, a brake of the steering system to provide a passive, non-directional torque to the steering device; and

applying, if the position of the steering device is determined to not satisfy the threshold position and the work machine is determined to be in the road mode, a motor of the steering system to provide a biasing torque that biases the steering device toward the threshold position.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

identifying a lateral acceleration of the work machine; and

determining, in response to the identified lateral acceleration, an amount of resistance to be applied by the biasing torque.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining a return of the steering device to the threshold position; and

removing, in response to determining the return of the steering device to the threshold position, the passive, non-directional torque.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining a return of the steering device to the threshold position; and

removing, in response to determining the return of the steering device to the threshold position, the biasing torque.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising operating, in response to determining to operate the steering system in the road mode, the steering system according to a variable steering ratio.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising operating, in response to determining to operate the steering system in the road mode, the steering system according to a fixed steering ratio.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising operating, in response to determining to operate the steering system in the work mode, the steering system according to a vehicle speed-dependent steering ratio.

20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising adjusting an output of the motor to adjust the biasing torque in response to a command communicated from a user control.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (71)