Abstract The invention relates to a hydrostatic-steering system having two or more motors for the power steering of two or more wheels, or two or more pairs of wheels. The motors are arranged in parallel in a hydraulic circuit and a metering type control device operated by a steering wheel is used for controlling the distribution pressurized hydraulic fluid to the motors. A fluid stream quantity divider is utilized to supply equal quantities of pressurized fluid to the motors. Each of the motors has valve means associated therewith having two or three operative positions including a neutral or bypass position. The other operative positions facilitate the operation of a motor such that the turning of the steering wheel in one direction effects the operation of the motor in a selected one of two possible directions. With this arrangement, for example, it is possible to have the front wheels of a vehicle turn in one direction and the rear wheels of the vehicle turn in either selected direction as desired.
A hydrostatic-steering system for controlling the front and rear wheels of a vehicle comprising at least two motors, a steering wheel-controlled metering control device having inlet and outlet ports and two motor ports, each of said motor ports being selectable as a pressure or exhaust port as determined by a steering wheel control of said control device, a fluid stream quantity divider connected to one of said motor ports, a first set of parallel conduits extending from said divider to said motors, a second set of parallel conduits connected to said motors, and a single conduit connectiNg said second set of parallel conduits to the other one of said motor ports.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A hydrostatic-steering system for controlling the front and rear wheels of a vehicle comprising at least two motors, a steering wheel-controlled metering control device having inlet and outlet ports and two motor ports, each of said motor ports being selectable as a pressure or exhaust port as determined by a steering wheel control of said control device, a fluid stream quantity divider connected to one of said motor ports, a first set of parallel conduits extending from said divider to said motors, a second set of parallel conduits connected to said motors, and a single conduit connectiNg said second set of parallel conduits to the other one of said motor ports.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A hydrostatic-steering system according to claim 1 having first valve means for one of said motors which has connections with one conduit in each of said sets of conduits, said first valve means having a bypass position bridging said one of said motors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A hydrostatic-steering system according to claim 2 having second valve means for the other one of said motors, said second valve means having connections with one conduit in each of said sets of conduits, said second valve means having a bypass position bridging said other one of said motors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A hydrostatic-steering system according to claim 3 in which one of said valve means has two operating positions with one of said operating positions effecting operation of the associated motor in one direction and the other of said operating positions effecting operation of the associated motor in the other direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A hydrostatic-steering system according to claim 1 in which said quantity divider comprises two similar rotary piston gear devices coupled together.