Patent ID: 8744721

Claim:
A hydrostatic traction drive comprising: a first hydromotor pair including a first hydromotor configured to drive a first wheel and a second hydromotor configured to drive a second wheel, the first and second hydromotors being connected in series by a first pressure medium flow path; a second hydromotor pair arranged in parallel with the first hydromotor pair, the second hydromotor pair including a third hydromotor configured to drive a third wheel and a fourth hydromotor configured to drive a fourth wheel, the third and fourth hydromotors being connected in series by a second pressure medium flow path; a control valve arranged between the first hydromotor pair and the second hydromotor pair, the control valve being configured to connect the first pressure medium flow path to the second pressure medium flow path; a first axle, on which the first and third wheels are supported; and a second axle, on which the second and fourth wheels are supported, wherein the control valve is a directional valve including a valve slide and a valve spring having a spring force, and the spring force of the valve spring biases the valve slide toward a closed position, and wherein the valve slide is exposed to a load pressure of an articulated steering system to urge the valve slide toward an open position as a function of a steering movement of the articulated steering system.