IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0853233
(2010-08-09)
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등록번호 |
US-8215441
(2012-07-10)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Wierzba, Jerry J.
- Minkin, Timothy J.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
29 |
초록
▼
A steering system (10) for a vehicle, such as a gantry crane (12). The gantry crane (12) generally includes a support structure (14) having a first front wheel (32) and a second opposing front wheel (36) connected proximate a front portion of the crane (12), and a first rear wheel (30) and a second
A steering system (10) for a vehicle, such as a gantry crane (12). The gantry crane (12) generally includes a support structure (14) having a first front wheel (32) and a second opposing front wheel (36) connected proximate a front portion of the crane (12), and a first rear wheel (30) and a second opposing rear wheel (34) connected proximate a rear portion of the crane (12). A control system connected to the crane includes a user interface (111) electronically coupled to a command potentiometer (114) and a programmable controller responsive to the command potentiometer for controlling the angular position of each of the first front wheel (32), the second front wheel (36), the first rear wheel (30) and the second rear wheel (34) to effect a steering mode selected through the user interface (111).
대표청구항
▼
1. A steering system for controlling the steering mode of a boat lifting apparatus comprising: a frame structure having a first front wheel proximate a front portion of a first side of the frame structure, a second front wheel proximate a front portion of a second side of the frame structure, a firs
1. A steering system for controlling the steering mode of a boat lifting apparatus comprising: a frame structure having a first front wheel proximate a front portion of a first side of the frame structure, a second front wheel proximate a front portion of a second side of the frame structure, a first rear wheel proximate a rear portion of the first side, and a second rear wheel proximate a rear portion on the second side, each wheel having an axle, wherein each wheel is configured to selectively turn about the respective axle in one of a first drive direction and a second, opposed drive direction to move the frame structure;a lifting assembly supported by the frame structure and adapted to engage and lift an object;a user interface for selecting a steering mode;a controller communicatively coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to control movement of the first and second front wheels and the first and second rear wheels in response to a selected steering mode, wherein in response to selection of a carousel steering mode, the controller is configured to cause the wheels to move to respective programmed angular positions for the carousel steering mode, and is further configured to cause the first front wheel and the first rear wheel to turn in the first drive direction and to cause the second front wheel and the second rear wheel to and turn in the second drive direction to cause the frame structure to turn in a carousel manner, andan engine connected to the frame structure, the engine capable of operation at a variety of different RPMs; and,a sensor coupled to the engine and the controller for providing the controller with an operating RPM of the engine, wherein if the operating RPM is lower than a predetermined amount, the controller adjusts the rate of change of the angular position of each wheel. 2. The steering system of claim 1, wherein each wheel has a motor connected thereto to provide power to the respective wheel, wherein in response to selection of a carousel steering mode, the controller is configured to reverse the motor for the second front wheel and the motor for the second rear wheel to cause the second front wheel and the second rear wheel to turn in the second drive direction. 3. The steering system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to move the first front wheel and the second rear wheel counterclockwise and to move the second front wheel and the first rear wheel clockwise to move each wheel to the respective programmed angular positions for the carousel steering mode. 4. The steering system of claim 1, further comprising: a first sensor for monitoring the angular position of the first front wheel;a second sensor for monitoring the angular position of the second front wheel;a third sensor for monitoring the angular position of the first rear wheel; and,a fourth sensor for monitoring the angular position of the second rear wheel;the first, second, third and fourth sensors coupled to the controller wherein the controller monitors the angular positions of the wheels and when one of the wheels exceeds a predetermined distance between a sensed position and a programmed position for the wheel, the controller stops angular movement of the remaining wheels. 5. The steering system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to slow down movement of the frame structure before effecting the carousel steering mode. 6. A steering system for controlling the steering mode of a lifting apparatus comprising: a frame structure having a plurality of wheels;a user interface for selecting a steering mode;a controller communicatively coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to monitor the position of the plurality of wheels, and to control movement of the plurality of wheels; and,a sensor coupled to the controller and an engine connected to the frame for sensing RPMs of the engine, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a rate of movement of each of the wheels based on the sensed engine RPMs. 7. The steering system of claim 6 further comprising a lifting assembly supported by the frame structure and adapted to engage and lift an object. 8. The steering system of claim 6 wherein the user interface is configured to select at least one of a four-wheel steering mode and a carousel steering mode. 9. The steering system of claim 8 wherein in response to selecting the carousel steering mode, the controller is programmed to bring the frame structure to a stop before effecting the carousel steering mode. 10. The steering system of claim 6 wherein the system has a current steering mode wherein in response to selecting a different steering mode, the controller first determines that it is safe to change from the current steering mode to the different steering mode prior to effecting the change in steering modes. 11. The steering system of claim 6 wherein at least one of the first front wheel, the second front wheel, the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel is capable of turning 360 degrees to steer the apparatus. 12. The steering system of claim 6 wherein at least one of the first front wheel, the second front wheel, the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel has a gear drive mechanism operably connected thereto for turning the respective wheel to steer the apparatus. 13. The steering system of claim 6 wherein the engine operates in a high RPM mode and a low RPM mode wherein when the controller determines from the sensor that the engine is operating in the low RPM mode, the controller moves the wheels at a slower rate. 14. The steering system of claim 6, further comprising: a first sensor for monitoring the angular position of the first front wheel;a second sensor for monitoring the angular position of the second front wheel;a third sensor for monitoring the angular position of the first rear wheel; and,a fourth sensor for monitoring the angular position of the second rear wheel; the first, second, third and fourth sensors coupled to the controller wherein the controller monitors the angular positions of the wheels and when one of the wheels exceeds a predetermined distance between a sensed position and a programmed position for the wheel, the controller stops angular movement of the remaining wheels. 15. A steering system for controlling the steering mode of a lifting apparatus comprising: a frame structure having a plurality of wheels;a user interface for selecting a steering mode; and,a controller communicatively coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to monitor the position of the plurality of wheels, and to control movement of the plurality of wheels in response to a selected steering mode, wherein the controller is further configured such that when at least one wheel has a sensed position a predetermined distance from a programmed position the controller stops movement of the remaining wheels. 16. The steering system of claim 15 further comprising a lifting assembly supported by the frame structure and adapted to engage and lift an object. 17. The steering system of claim 15 wherein the user interface is configured to select at least one of a four-wheel steering mode and a carousel steering mode. 18. The steering system of claim 17 wherein in response to selecting the carousel steering mode, the controller is programmed to bring the frame structure to a stop before effecting the carousel steering mode. 19. The steering system of claim 15 wherein the system has a current steering mode wherein in response to selecting a different steering mode, the controller first determines that it is safe to change from the current steering mode to the different steering mode prior to effecting the change in steering modes. 20. The steering system of claim 15 wherein at least one of the first front wheel, the second front wheel, the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel is capable of turning 360 degrees to steer the apparatus. 21. The steering system of claim 15 wherein at least one of the first front wheel, the second front wheel, the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel has a gear drive mechanism operably connected thereto for turning the respective wheel to steer the apparatus. 22. The steering system of claim 15 wherein the once the wheel having the sensed position that is a predetermined distance from its programmed position is moved to the programmed position, the controller moves the remaining wheels to their respective programmed position. 23. The steering system of claim 15 wherein the predetermined distance defines a threshold wherein the threshold is adjustable. 24. The steering system of claim 23 wherein the threshold is three degrees. 25. The steering system of claim 15 further comprising: an engine connected to the frame structure, the engine capable of operation at a variety of different RPMs; and,a sensor coupled to the engine and the controller for providing the controller with an operating RPM of the engine, wherein if the operating RPM is lower than a predetermined amount, the controller adjusts the rate of change of the angular position of each wheel. 26. A steering system for controlling the steering mode of a lifting apparatus comprising: a frame structure having a plurality of wheels;a user interface for selecting a steering mode;a controller communicatively coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to monitor the position of the plurality of wheels, and to control movement of the plurality of wheels; and,a sensor coupled to the controller and an engine connected to the frame for sensing RPMs of the engine, wherein the engine operates in a high RPM mode and a low RPM mode wherein when the controller determines from the sensor that the engine is operating in the low RPM mode, the controller moves the wheels at a slower rate. 27. A steering system for controlling the steering mode of a boat lifting apparatus comprising: a frame structure having a first front wheel proximate a front portion of a first side of the frame structure, a second front wheel proximate a front portion of a second side of the frame structure, a first rear wheel proximate a rear portion of the first side, and a second rear wheel proximate a rear portion on the second side, each wheel having an axle, wherein each wheel is configured to selectively turn about the respective axle in one of a first drive direction and a second, opposed drive direction to move the frame structure;a lifting assembly supported by the frame structure and adapted to engage and lift an object;a user interface for selecting a steering mode; anda controller communicatively coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to control movement of the first and second front wheels and the first and second rear wheels in response to a selected steering mode, wherein in response to selection of a carousel steering mode, the controller is configured to cause the wheels to move to respective programmed angular positions for the carousel steering mode, and is further configured to cause the first front wheel and the first rear wheel to turn in the first drive direction and to cause the second front wheel and the second rear wheel to and turn in the second drive direction to cause the frame structure to turn in a carousel manner, wherein the controller is programmed to slow down movement of the frame structure before effecting the carousel steering mode.
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