A hydraulic system for controlling a pair of steerable caster wheels of an agricultural machine includes a fluidic tie rod fluid circuit interconnecting both a left side actuator and a right side actuator with a rear steering control valve in fluid communication, and forming a fluid tie rod between the left side actuator and the right side actuator. A tie rod control valve is disposed in the fluidic tie rod fluid circuit and is controllable between a first position allowing fluid communication through the fluidic tie rod fluid circuit to communicate fluid between the left side actuator, the right side actuator, and the rear steering control valve and a second position blocking fluid communication to the rear steering control valve while connecting the left side actuator and the right side actuator in fluid communication to increase stiffness of the fluid tie rod therebetween.

A hydraulic unit for supplying pressure to a hydraulic steering system is provided having at least two hydraulic cylinders and at least one hydraulic pump (9, 10, 32, 33). It is essential that the hydraulic cylinders are of interacting configuration, by an annular space (6a, 6a, 28a, 28b) of the first hydraulic cylinder being connected via at least one hydraulic line to an annular space (6a, 6a, 28a, 28b) of the second hydraulic cylinder, and a piston space (5a, 5b, 29a, 29b) of the first hydraulic cylinder being connected via at least one hydraulic line to a piston space (5a, 5b, 29a, 29b) of the second hydraulic cylinder, and a hydraulic pump (9, 10, 32, 33) being arranged at least in a hydraulic line (7, 8, 30, 31) between the two annular spaces (6a, 6a, 28a, 28b) or in a hydraulic line (7, 8, 30, 31) between the two piston spaces (5a, 5b, 29a, 29b). Furthermore, the invention relates to methods for operating a hydraulic unit for supplying pressure to a hydraulic steering system, and to a steering system.

A heavy haul vehicle has a chassis capable of supporting a load to be transported by the vehicle. A first group of one or more first drive axles and a second group of one or more second drive axles are coupled to the chassis. The vehicle also has a first engine and a second engine. The first engine drives each axle in the first group of drive axles. The second engine drives each axle in the second group drive axles.

A booster for a trailer system is provided comprising a control system in communication with a sensor(s) for determining the direction and speed of the booster when in motion. The control system comprises instructions corresponding to one or more booster operations such as: detection of a reverse state, retraction of a suspension system when the reverse state is detected; engagement of a steer axle lock when the reverse state is detected; detection of a forward state; extension of the suspension system when the forward state is detected; disengagement of the steer axle lock when the forward state is detected; detection of a high-speed forward state; engagement of the steer axle lock when the high-speed forward state is detected; detection of a low-speed forward state; and disengagement of the steer axle lock when the low-speed forward state is detected.

A steering system for a trailing axle of a motor vehicle includes an electric motor, a hydraulic pump, a first valve, and a working cylinder. The electric motor is configured to drive the hydraulic pump. The working cylinder has a central bore and a piston positioned in the working cylinder. The first valve is fluidically connected to the pump such that the first valve is configured to block flow between the central bore and the pump in response to pressure generated by the pump, and to release the flow in response to a non-pressurized state of the pump in order to divert hydraulic fluid from the working cylinder through the central bore via an adhesion-driven movement of the piston into a central position in the central bore. A method includes operating a steering system for a trailing axle of a motor vehicle of this type.

A vehicle includes a first steered axle and a second steered axle behind the first steered axle. The second steered axle is steerable independently from the first steered axle. The vehicle includes wheels on the second steered axle. An electric steering motor is connected to the at least one of the wheels.

A multiple-drive vehicle comprises a first driving position (3) for a first driver provided with first driving means (4), a second driving position (5) for a second driver provided with second driving means (6), a first pair of wheels (9) mechanically connected to the first driving means (4) and a second pair of wheels (10) mechanically connected to the second driving means (6). The first driving means (5) and the second driving means (6) are independent of each other for moving the respective pairs of wheels (9, 10) in an independent manner from each other;

The technology relates to fine maneuver control of large autonomous vehicles that employ multiple sets of independently actuated wheels. The control is able to optimize the turning radius, effectively negotiate curves, turns, and clear static objects of varying heights. Each wheel or wheel set is configured to adjust individually via control of an on-board computer system. Received sensor data and a physical model of the vehicle can be used for route planning and selecting maneuver operations in accordance with the additional degrees of freedom provided by the independently actuated wheels. This can include making turns, moving into or out of parking spaces, driving along narrow or congested roads, construction zones, loading docks, etc. A given maneuver may include maintaining a minimum threshold distance from a neighboring vehicle or other object.

A heavy haul vehicle has a chassis capable of supporting a load to be transported by the vehicle. A first group of one or more first drive axles and a second group of one or more second drive axles are coupled to the chassis. The vehicle also has a first engine and a second engine. The first engine drives each axle in the first group of drive axles. The second engine drives each axle in the second group drive axles.

Modular kinematic steering device, for installation on at least a first module and module of a system of modular vehicles, each module including at least two axes, for each axis, a kinematic steering mechanism adapted to move wheels connected to the axis, a rudder for controlling the kinematic steering mechanism, arranged transversely relative to the axes, the rudder constrainable to the mechanism to transmit rudder motion to the wheels by the mechanism, the rudder defining a variable steering ratio relative to each axis, a mechanism locking device, to make one of the axes a fulcrum rotation of the rudder rigidly connecting the mechanism with the rudder, wherein the first module includes a first rudder having first and second distal ends and the second module includes a second rudder having first and second distal ends, and the distal ends countered and/or counter-shaped to be rigidly connected to each other.