Steering system with joystick mounted controls

US7334658B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Caterpillar Inc. · US

Inventors

• Torsten Berg · Pulsnitz, DE
• Knuth Kressin · Regensburg, DE
• Thomas Spindler · Würzburg, DE
• Thorsten Parketny · Schwandorf, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 23, 2004
• Grant date: Feb 26, 2008
• Expiry date: Apr 4, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05G9/04788
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A steering system is provided for a work machine. The steering system may include at least one hand-operated work implement control device and a steering mechanism configured to control a direction of travel of the work machine. The system may also include a first steering device operatively coupled to the steering mechanism and configured to control at least one component of the steering mechanism based on operator input. The system may further include a second steering device mounted on the work implement control device. The second steering device may be configured to be selectively operatively coupled to the steering mechanism to thereby control a direction of travel of the work machine based on lateral movement of the second steering device relative to the work implement control device.