Apparatus and method for automatically leveling an object

• US 20060082079A1
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Days Corporation
• Original Assignee: Days Corporation
• Inventors: Sproatt, James N., Eichhorn, Mark M.
• Application Number:
  US11/234,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20060082079A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/6.155
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 9/12 of telescopic type

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically leveling a vehicle is provided. Having a plurality of legs, a sensor and a controller. The sensor is mounted to the vehicle to sense pitch and roll of the vehicle relative to a reference level plane. The sensor produces an orientation signal representing the vehicle pitch and roll. The controller is coupled to each of the legs and to the sensor, and monitors the orientation signal received from the sensor and in response to that signal the controller causes at least one of the legs to retract to move the vehicle downwardly relative to the ground surface, for orienting the vehicle with the reference level plane within a tolerance.

Claims

2-1. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the pressure switch monitors the plurality of legs through a common fluid passage in communication with each of the plurality of legs.

10. A method for actuating a hydraulically-driven vehicle leveling system, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying fluid through a first passageway that is in fluid communication with a first side of each of a plurality of movable legs to hold the legs in a first position;

opening a valve to release the hold on the legs in that first position by the fluid;

detecting a change in fluid pressure in the first pathway with a pressure switch;

determining which one of the plurality of legs is to be moved to a second position by a control assembly;

supplying fluid through a second passageway that is in fluid communication with a second side of each of the plurality of movable legs to selectively hold at least one of the legs in a second position; and

moving at least one of the plurality of legs to a second position.

11. The method for actuating a hydraulically-driven vehicle leveling system of claim 10, further comprising the steps of moving at least one of the plurality of legs to a second position which is an extended position.

12. The method for actuating a hydraulically-driven vehicle leveling system of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

relieving fluid pressure from the second passageway;

supplying fluid pressure to the first passageway; and

detecting a pressure change in the first passageway.

13. The method for actuating a hydraulically-driven vehicle leveling system of claim 12, further comprising the steps of moving at least one of the plurality of legs to the first position which is a retracted position.

14. The method for actuating a hydraulically-driven vehicle leveling system of claim 13, further comprising the steps of retracting all of the plurality of legs.

15. The method for actuating a hydraulically-driven vehicle leveling system of claim 14, further comprising the steps of monitoring the fluid pressure holding all of the plurality of legs in the retracted position.

16. The method for actuating a hydraulically-driven vehicle leveling system of claim 10, further comprising the steps of opening a first directional valve that directs fluid through a first passageway in response to a first signal.

17. The method for actuating a hydraulically-driven vehicle leveling system of claim 16, further comprising the steps of opening a second directional valve that directs fluid through a second passageway in response to a second signal.

18. The method for actuating a hydraulically-driven vehicle leveling system of claim 17, further comprising the steps of opening a first valve that directs fluid to move at least one of the plurality of legs to the first position.

19. The method for actuating a hydraulically-driven vehicle leveling system of claim 18, further comprising the steps of opening a second valve that directs fluid to move at least one of the plurality of legs to the second position.