Automatic vehicle steering apparatus
US5234070A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 1991 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/0061
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.