An articulated work vehicle in which front and rear frames are linked includes a joystick lever configured to be operated by an operator, a hydraulic actuator driven by hydraulic pressure, a control valve, a force imparting component, and a controller. The joystick lever is usable to set a target steering angle. The hydraulic actuator performs an articulation to change an actual steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame in response to operation of the joystick lever. The control valve controls flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator so as to make the actual steering angle coincide with the target steering angle. The force imparting component applies an assisting force or a counterforce to operation of the joystick lever. The controller controls the force imparting component so as to generate resistance to operation of the joystick lever based on a start timing of an articulation.

A pilot neutralizing system of a work vehicle may include a pilot neutralizer and a flow control apparatus. The work vehicle may include a frame assembly and an actuating assembly to pivot the frame assembly. The pilot neutralizer is hydraulically coupled between an operator control member and a steering valve to selectively direct a pilot signal to the steering valve and is hydraulically coupled to a reservoir via a reservoir line. The pilot signal is used to switch the steering valve to change a direction of a hydraulic fluid flowing from the steering valve to the actuating assembly. The flow control apparatus is hydraulically coupled to the reservoir line and used to change a draining rate of the pilot signal to the reservoir. When the articulation position reaches a cushion region during steering, the pilot signal drains back through the flow control apparatus to the reservoir.

A pilot neutralizing system of a work vehicle may include a pilot neutralizer. The work vehicle may include a first frame portion and a second frame portion. The work vehicle has an actuating assembly used to pivot the first frame portion relative to the second frame portion. The pilot neutralizer is electrically coupled to a controller receiving a signal indicative of an articulation position. The pilot neutralizer is hydraulically coupled between an operator control member and a steering valve to selectively change a pilot signal at the steering valve. The pilot signal is used to switch the steering valve to change a direction of a hydraulic fluid flowing from the steering valve to the actuating assembly. When the articulation position reaches a cushion region during steering, the pilot neutralizer is de-energized or energized by the controller to change the pilot signal at the steering valve to resist the actuating assembly from moving.

A pilot neutralizing system of a work vehicle may include a pilot neutralizer and a first sensor. The work vehicle may include a frame assembly having a first frame portion and a second frame portion and an actuating assembly used to pivot the first frame portion relative to the second frame portion. The pilot neutralizer is electrically coupled to a controller and is hydraulically coupled between the operator control member and the steering valve to selectively provide a communication of a pilot signal. When an articulation position reaches a cushion region during steering, the pilot neutralizer is de-energized or energized to change the pilot signal at the steering valve to resist the actuating assembly from moving. The first sensor is coupled to the pilot neutralizer and detects a first value to diagnose the pilot neutralizer to determine whether the pilot neutralizer is incorrectly in a de-energized state or an energized state.

A vehicle steering assembly for controlling movement of a vehicle having independently rotatable left and right ground-engaging traction elements. The steering assembly comprises a steering handle coupled to the panel support structure and extending generally upwardly from the panel support structure. The steering handle comprises a laterally-extending crossmember and at least one upright extension member. The crossmember and the upright extension member are rigidly connected to one another so that shifting of the crossmember relative to the extension member is substantially prevented. The steering handle is shiftable in forward and rearward directions to thereby cause corresponding forward and rearward rotation of both of the left and right traction elements. The steering handle is rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions to thereby cause a change in the relative speeds and directions of rotation of the left and right traction elements.

A working machine includes an undercarriage supported by first and second ground engaging units powered by first and second drive units, a main frame supported by the undercarriage, a first sensor configured to sense an orientation and relative angular motion of the main frame with respect to the undercarriage, a second sensor configured to sense an orientation and relative angular motion of the main frame in an external reference frame independent of the undercarriage, and a controller functionally linked to the first and second sensors. The controller is configured to receive commands corresponding to an intended movement of the first and second ground engaging units, and generate control signals to the first and second drive units to achieve or maintain the intended movement taking into account a detected orientation of the main frame relative to the undercarriage and a detected orientation of the main frame in the external reference frame.

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.

The present invention relates to a switching valve block for a hydraulically actuable work machine that comprises a plurality of valve block inputs for a respective connection to a pressure output of one or more hydraulic fluid pumps, a plurality of valve block outputs for outputting a pressurized hydraulic fluid, and at least one valve that is arranged between valve block inputs and valve block outputs and is adapted to selectively produce a fluid connection between a first valve block input and a first valve block output or between a first valve block input and a second valve block output. The invention is characterized in that the first valve block output furthermore already has a fixed fluid connection to a second valve block input.

A cruise control system for work machines. The system comprises one or more levers for controlling the velocity of the work machine and one or more magnet assemblies. The magnet assemblies comprise means of overcoming the neutral bias of a control lever so that the velocity of the work machine may be maintained without manual input from the operator. The magnets may act directly upon a control lever or a surface adjacent a control lever. Additional controls may be employed to set a maximum cruising speed for the work machine when cruise control is engaged.

A working machine comprises an operation member for operating a hydraulic device via a control valve. An oscillation calculator acquires a specific value corresponding to a feature representing oscillation of the operation member when the feature appears in variation of an control signal output according to an operation amount of the operation member within one of a sequence of predetermined periods, and calculates an evaluation value representing a degree of oscillation of the operation member by adding up the specific value or values obtained within one or more of the predetermined periods. A control signal generator generates a control signal for controlling the control valve based on the operation signal. The control signal generator decreases a value of the control signal per a unit value of the operation signal as the evaluation value gradually increases with the elapse of one or more of the sequence of the predetermined periods.