Patents by Inventor Ronald Lee Mayfield

Ronald Lee Mayfield has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6138782
    Abstract: A steering control system for a tracked vehicle includes an engine driven variable displacement steering pump which drives a hydraulic motor. A control system senses steering wheel position, vehicle speed, engine speed and forward/reverse vehicle direction. As a function of these sensed inputs, a control signal is generated and is used to control the swashplate angle of an engine-driven variable displacement pump which drives a steering motor which drives a differential track drive mechanism. The control system also determines a ratio of motor speed to vehicle speed and generates a powerboost signal when the ratio exceeds a threshold value. The powerboost signal is communicated to the engine controller which causes the engine to increase its power output. This modifies the engine fuel delivery curve based on the steering system power requirement and increases the power available for turning the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Lawrence Vernon Anderson, John Wayne Schletzbaum, Ronald Lee Mayfield, Dennis Royal Yoder, Benjamin Michael Witte, Raymond Yifei Hou, Sanjay Ishvarlal Mistry