Patent ID: 7408450
Filing Date: 2008-08-05
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A method of indicating the direction and amount to turn a steering wheel of a self-propelled vehicle to bring it to a neutral location for a neutral start mechanism comprising the steps of: providing a self-propelled vehicle with an engine, an engine starting system connected to the engine, and at least one drive wheel operable by power supplied by the engine via a hydraulic pump with a displacement control; providing an ECU with a memory and programmable signal processing capabilities; providing a visual display device receiving signals from the ECU to determine the visual output of the display device; providing a steering mechanism for the vehicle including a steering wheel, the steering wheel having a neutral position wherein the displacement control of the drive wheel pump will be at a neutral position suppressing motion of the drive wheel that would cause movement of the vehicle; providing a sensor to measure the rotational position of the steering wheel relative to the neutral position and transmit generally continuous signals to the ECU, the signal value from the sensor changing as the relative position changes between the neutral position of the steering wheel and real time position thereof; storing, within the ECU memory, a reference signal value from the sensor when the steering wheel is in the neutral position; before initiating the engine starting system: initiating the engine starting system when the display device indicates that it is appropriate to do so.