TITLE OF THE INVENTION : AN IMPROVED POWER STEERING FOR FACILITATING QUICK HEAD LAND TURN OF AN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE

FILED OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to a power steering for agricultural vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Agricultural vehicles with power steering are known in the art. However, conventional power steering systems do not have any flexibility i.e., left hand turns and right hand turns are handled in the same manner. When a head land turn is taken in an agricultural vehicle, some operators would prefer lesser number of rotations for either a left hand turn or a right hand turn, depending on their convenience. This flexibility does not exist in conventional power steering systems.

There is therefore a need in the art for an improved power steering that facilitates an agricultural vehicle to make a quick head land turn, that overcomes the above mentioned drawback and has the below mentioned objective.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide improved power steering that facilitates an agricultural vehicle to make a quick head land turn.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and achieve the above mentioned objective, an improved power steering for facilitating quick head land turn of an agricultural vehicle is disclosed. The improved power steering comprises an engine, a gear pump, a tank, a steering unit, a first port, a second port, a first single acting cylinder, a second single acting cylinder and a track rod, and is characterized in that the size of the first single acting cylinder is different from the size of the second single acting cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 depicts a conventionally known power steering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this specification, the use of the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising" may imply the inclusion of an element or elements not specifically recited.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a agricultural vehicle power steering known in the art generally comprises an engine (1); a gear pump (2) that is associated with the engine (1); a tank (3) that is associated with both the gear pump (2) and a steering unit (4); a first single acting cylinder (6a) that is associated with the steering unit (4) through a first port (5a) and a second single acting cylinder (6b) that is also associated with the steering unit (4) through a second port (5b). The first single acting cylinder (6a) comprises a first piston rod, while the second single acting cylinder (6b) comprises a second piston rod. The first piston rod and the second piston rod are associated with each other by means of a track rod (7)

When the engine (1) is turned on, hydraulic oil from the gear pump (2) is delivered to the steering unit (4). When the steering unit (4) is in neutral condition i.e. when the steering unit (4) is not moved, the oil goes to the tank (3) through a return line filter.

When the steering unit (4) is turned left, hydraulic oil is diverted to the first single acting cylinder (6a) through the first port (5a), wherein the oil is pressurized depending on the resistance, and moves out the first piston rod associated with the track rod (7). The second piston rod facilitates return of the oil to the tank (3) through the steering unit (4).

Likewise, when the steering unit (4) is turned right, hydraulic oil is diverted to the second single acting cylinder (6b) through the second port (6b), wherein the oil is pressurized depending on the resistance, and moves out the second piston rod associated with the track rod (7). The first piston rod facilitates return of the oil to the tank (3) through the steering unit (4).

However, the conventional power steering described above does not offer any flexibility i.e.,. left hand turns and right hand turns are handled in the same manner, due to the identical nature of the first single acting cylinder (6a) and the second single acting cylinder (6b). The power steering in the current disclosure offers this flexibility. The improved power steering is characterized in that the size of the first single acting cylinder (6a) is different from the size of the second single acting cylinder (6b). In a preferred embodiment, the first single acting cylinder (6a) has a size that ranges between 26 mm and 50mm, while the second single acting cylinder (6b) has a size that ranges between 18 mm and 25 mm.

The improved power steering can be used for specific applications such as facilitating quick head land turn of an agricultural vehicle such as a tractor. When a head land turn is taken in an agricultural vehicle, some operators would prefer lesser number of rotations for either a left hand turn or a right hand turn, depending on their convenience.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the above description is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting. Various modifications, additions, alterations, and improvements without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the invention may be made by a person skilled in the art.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1-Engine

2- Gear Pump

3- Tank

4- Steering Unit 5a- First Port 5b- Second Port

6a- First Single Acting Cylinder 6b- Second Single Acting Cylinder 7- Track Rod

We claim:

1. An improved power steering for facilitating quick head land turn of an agricultural vehicle,
comprising:
an engine (1);
a gear pump (2) that is associated with the engine (1);
a tank (3) that is associated with both the gear pump (2) and a steering unit (4);
a first single acting cylinder (6a) that is associated with the steering unit (4) through a first port
(5a), wherein the first single acting cylinder (6a) comprises a first piston rod;
a second single acting cylinder (6b) that is associated with the steering unit (4) through a
second port (5b), wherein the second single acting cylinder (6b) is identical in size when
compared to the first single acting cylinder (6a) and comprises a second piston rod; and
a track rod (7) that associates the first piston rod and the second piston rod,
characterized in that
the size of the first single acting cylinder (6a) is different from the size of the second single
acting cylinder (6b).

2. An improved power steering for facilitating quick head land turn of an agricultural vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein first single acting cylinder (6a) has a size that ranges between 26 mm and 50mm.

3. An improved power steering for facilitating quick head land turn of an agricultural vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second single acting cylinder (6b) has a size that ranges between 18 mm and 25 mm.

4. An improved power steering for facilitating quick head land turn of an agricultural vehicle
as claimed in claim 1, wherein the agricultural vehicle is a tractor.