A system and method for detecting the functional state of a piloted or direct-operated isolation valve in a hydraulic circuit is presented. In some examples the hydraulic circuit is a steering circuit and the isolation valve provides selective isolation between a hydraulic actuator and one or more metering valves. In some examples, the isolation valve assembly is movable between a first position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is enabled, and a second position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is blocked. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to one of the first and second positions, an inlet port and a pressure sensing port of the isolation valve assembly are placed in fluid communication with each other. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to the other of the first or second position, a second inlet port and the pressure sensing port are placed in fluid communication.

A system and method for detecting the functional state of a piloted or direct-operated isolation valve in a hydraulic circuit is presented. In some examples the hydraulic circuit is a steering circuit and the isolation valve provides selective isolation between a hydraulic actuator and one or more metering valves. In some examples, the isolation valve assembly is movable between a first position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is enabled, and a second position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is blocked. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to one of the first and second positions, an inlet port and a pressure sensing port of the isolation valve assembly are placed in fluid communication with each other. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to the other of the first or second position, a second inlet port and the pressure sensing port are placed in fluid communication.

The invention relates to a hydraulic steering unit (1) including a housing (3), a spool, a sleeve (12) arranged between spool and housing (3), and a measuring motor (14) having a number of working chambers (15), wherein a first commutation geometry (18) and a second commutation geometry (19) are arranged between the sleeve (12) and the housing (3), wherein the commutation geometries (18, 19) are connected to the working chambers (15) of the measuring motor (14) and the housing includes a first direction port (4), a second direction port (5), a pressure port (6), and a return port (7). The object is to have a good steering behavior. To this end one of the commutation geometries (18) is directly connected to the first direction port (4).

The invention relates to a hydraulic steering unit (1) including a housing (3), a spool, a sleeve (12) arranged between spool and housing (3), and a measuring motor (14) having a number of working chambers (15), wherein a first commutation geometry (18) and a second commutation geometry (19) are arranged between the sleeve (12) and the housing (3), wherein the commutation geometries (18, 19) are connected to the working chambers (15) of the measuring motor (14) and the housing includes a first direction port (4), a second direction port (5), a pressure port (6), and a return port (7). The object is to have a good steering behavior. To this end one of the commutation geometries (18) is directly connected to the first direction port (4).

A hydraulic steering arrangement (1) including a supply port (2), a return port (4), a working port arrangement having two working ports (5, 6), a main flow path (7) between the supply port (2) and one of the working ports (5) and a return flow path (8) between the other working port (6) and the return port (4), wherein the main flow path (7) includes a main orifice (A1), a flow meter (9), a first flow meter orifice (A2) upstream the flow meter (9), a second flow meter orifice (A3) downstream the flow meter (9), and a first working port orifice (A4), the return flow path (8) includes a second working port orifice (A5), a load sensing point (17) is arranged between the main orifice (A1) and the first flow meter orifice (A2), a drain orifice (Ad) is arranged between the load sensing point (17) and the return port (4), and a priority valve arrangement (10) is arranged between the supply port (2) and the main orifice (A1). Such a steering arrangement should enable a high steering speed without loss of comfort. To this end a load sensing port (16) of the priority valve arrangement (10) is connected to the load sensing point (17), characterized in that a priority outlet (CF) of the priority valve arrangement (10) is directly connected to the main orifice (A1), the load sensing port (16) of the priority valve arrangement (10) is directly connected to the load sensing point (17) and the main flow path (7) includes a check valve (24) between the load sensing point (17) and the working port (5) of the main flow path (7), the check valve (24) opening in a direction towards the working port (5).

A hydraulic steering arrangement (1) including a supply port (2), a return port (4), a working port arrangement having two working ports (5, 6), a main flow path (7) between the supply port (2) and one of the working ports (5) and a return flow path (8) between the other working port (6) and the return port (4), wherein the main flow path (7) includes a main orifice (A1), a flow meter (9), a first flow meter orifice (A2) upstream the flow meter (9), a second flow meter orifice (A3) downstream the flow meter (9), and a first working port orifice (A4), the return flow path (8) includes a second working port orifice (A5), a load sensing point (17) is arranged between the main orifice (A1) and the first flow meter orifice (A2), a drain orifice (Ad) is arranged between the load sensing point (17) and the return port (4), and a priority valve arrangement (10) is arranged between the supply port (2) and the main orifice (A1). Such a steering arrangement should enable a high steering speed without loss of comfort. To this end a load sensing port (16) of the priority valve arrangement (10) is connected to the load sensing point (17), characterized in that a priority outlet (CF) of the priority valve arrangement (10) is directly connected to the main orifice (A1), the load sensing port (16) of the priority valve arrangement (10) is directly connected to the load sensing point (17) and the main flow path (7) includes a check valve (24) between the load sensing point (17) and the working port (5) of the main flow path (7), the check valve (24) opening in a direction towards the working port (5).

A steering method for an autonomously steered vehicle having a hybrid steering system, including: identifying a malfunction during an autonomous driving procedure, wherein the hybrid steering system includes a hydraulic steering assistance system, an electromechanical steering assistance system and a control unit for monitoring and controlling the autonomous driving procedure of the vehicle, and switching the steering task by the control unit to a steering braking procedure, by which the vehicle is steered by braking at least one wheel, wherein due to the braking force that is acting on the scrub radius, a steering torque is produced that causes the wheels to turn. Also described is a related a servo-assisted steering assembly.

A steering method for an autonomously steered vehicle having a hybrid steering system, including: identifying a malfunction during an autonomous driving procedure, wherein the hybrid steering system includes a hydraulic steering assistance system, an electromechanical steering assistance system and a control unit for monitoring and controlling the autonomous driving procedure of the vehicle, and switching the steering task by the control unit to a steering braking procedure, by which the vehicle is steered by braking at least one wheel, wherein due to the braking force that is acting on the scrub radius, a steering torque is produced that causes the wheels to turn. Also described is a related a servo-assisted steering assembly.

A hydraulic system for controlling a pair of steerable caster wheels includes a left steering command valve, a right steering command valve, and a rear steering control valve. A supply pressure fluid circuit interconnects a pressure source and the rear steering control valve. A command valve supply fluid circuit interconnects the rear steering control valve with both the right steering command valve and the left steering command valve. A left side steering fluid circuit interconnects a left side actuator and the left steering command valve. A right side steering fluid circuit interconnects a right side actuator and the right steering command valve. A fluidic tie rod fluid circuit interconnects both the left side actuator and the right side actuator with the rear steering control valve. A tank return fluid circuit interconnects the rear steering control valve, the left and right steering command valves, and a tank.

A hydraulic system for controlling a pair of steerable caster wheels includes a left steering command valve, a right steering command valve, and a rear steering control valve. A supply pressure fluid circuit interconnects a pressure source and the rear steering control valve. A command valve supply fluid circuit interconnects the rear steering control valve with both the right steering command valve and the left steering command valve. A left side steering fluid circuit interconnects a left side actuator and the left steering command valve. A right side steering fluid circuit interconnects a right side actuator and the right steering command valve. A fluidic tie rod fluid circuit interconnects both the left side actuator and the right side actuator with the rear steering control valve. A tank return fluid circuit interconnects the rear steering control valve, the left and right steering command valves, and a tank.