Abstract: A low pressure gear pump and wear plate is disclosed. The wear plate may comprise a sidewall, a drive portion, a driven portion, and a transition portion. The sidewall is free of a sealing member or a recess configured to receive the sealing member. The drive portion includes a drive inlet lip, a drive outlet lip, a drive recessed trough and a drive bore. The drive bore is configured to receive the drive shaft of the gear pump. The driven portion may that include a driven inlet lip, a driven outlet lip, a driven recessed trough, and a driven bore. The driven bore is configured to receive the driven shaft of the gear pump. The transition portion may include a transition aperture configured to receive a first fastener configured to mount the wear plate to the gear housing. The wear plate is made of bronze, aluminum or non-magnetic material.

Abstract: A method of determining readiness of an emergency steering pump system is provided. The method may include the steps of detecting a startup condition; determining a standby pressure provided by a primary pump and a margin pressure to be provided by a secondary pump; engaging the secondary pump for a predefined duration based on the standby pressure and the margin pressure; and determining readiness based on a cumulative pressure of the standby pressure and the margin pressure as compared to a predefined threshold corresponding to load demand.

Abstract: A steering system and method for providing a force feedback to an operator input device are disclosed. The method may determine an actual position of the operator input device. The method may determine a desired steering mechanism position of a steering mechanism based on the actual position of the operator input device. The method may determine an actual steering mechanism position of the steering mechanism. The method may compare the actual steering mechanism position to the desired steering mechanism position and to a previous desired steering mechanism position. The method may generate a command that selectively activates force feedback to the operator input device based on the comparison.

Abstract: A steering system and method for providing a force feedback to an operator input device are disclosed. The method may determine an actual position of the operator input device. The method may determine a desired steering mechanism position of a steering mechanism based on the actual position of the operator input device. The method may determine an actual steering mechanism position of the steering mechanism. The method may compare the actual steering mechanism position to the desired steering mechanism position and to a previous desired steering mechanism position. The method may generate a command that selectively activates force feedback to the operator input device based on the comparison.