Apparatus and method for operating a hydraulic suspension system of a crop sprayer

• US 6,386,554 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2000
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exel Industries (Exel)
• Original Assignee: Equipment Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Weddle, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US09/496,400
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 280/6.15, 280/6.153, 280/6.154, 280/124.159, 280/124.16, 280/124.161, 280/124.106, 280/124.103
• US Class Current: 280/6.154
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/033 characterised by regulating means acting on more than one spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/006 Attaching arms to sprung or unsprung part of vehicle, characterised by comprising attachment means controlled by an external actuator, e.g. a fluid or electrical motor B62D7/146 takes precedence

Abstract

A hydraulic suspension system for a crop sprayer includes a first damping cylinder and a second damping cylinder. The suspension system also includes a first leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to the first damping cylinder via a first leveling fluid line and a second leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to the second damping cylinder via a second leveling fluid line. The suspension system further includes a first accumulator which is fluidly coupled to the first damping cylinder via a first damping fluid line and a second accumulator which is fluidly coupled to the second damping cylinder via a second damping fluid line. The first damping fluid line possesses a first diameter, whereas the first leveling fluid line possesses a second diameter. The second damping fluid line possesses a third diameter, whereas the second leveling fluid line possesses a fourth diameter. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter and the third diameter is greater than the fourth diameter. A method of operating a hydraulic suspension of a work machine is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A hydraulic suspension system for a work machine, comprising:

a first damping cylinder;

a second damping cylinder;

a first leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first leveling fluid line;

a second leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second leveling fluid line;

a first accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first damping fluid line; and

a second accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second damping fluid line,

wherein (i) said first leveling fluid line is restricted relative to said first damping fluid line, and (ii) said second leveling fluid line is restricted relative to said second damping fluid line.

2. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein:

said first damping fluid line possesses a first diameter,

said first leveling fluid line possesses a second diameter,

said second damping fluid line possesses a third diameter,

said second leveling fluid line possesses a fourth diameter,

said first diameter is greater than said second diameter, and

said third diameter is greater than said fourth diameter.

3. The suspension system of claim 1, further comprising a chassis and an axle assembly, wherein each of said first damping cylinder, said second damping cylinder, said first leveling cylinder, and said second leveling cylinder is mechanically interposed between said chassis and said axle assembly.

4. The suspension system of claim 3, wherein:

said first damping cylinder has a first damping housing with a first damping rod extending therefrom, said first damping housing of said first damping cylinder being secured to said chassis and said first damping rod of said first damping cylinder being secured to said axle assembly, and

said second damping cylinder has a second damping housing with a second damping rod extending therefrom, said second damping housing of said second damping cylinder being secured to said chassis and said second damping rod of said second damping cylinder being secured to said axle assembly.

5. The suspension system of claim 4, wherein:

said first leveling cylinder has a first leveling housing with a first leveling rod extending therefrom, said first leveling housing of said first leveling cylinder being secured to said axle assembly and said first leveling rod of said first leveling cylinder being secured to said chassis, and

said second leveling cylinder has a second leveling housing with a second leveling rod extending therefrom, said second leveling housing of said second leveling cylinder being secured to said axle assembly and said second leveling rod of said second leveling cylinder being secured to said chassis.

6. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein said first damping cylinder is fluidly isolated from said second damping cylinder.

7. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein:

said first damping cylinder is fluidly isolated from said second damping cylinder and said second leveling cylinder, and

said second damping cylinder is fluidly isolated from said first leveling cylinder.

8. A hydraulic suspension system for a work machine, comprising:

a first damping cylinder;

a second damping cylinder;

a first leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first leveling fluid line;

a second leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second leveling fluid line;

a first accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first damping fluid line;

a second accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second damping fluid line; and

a first check valve and a second check valve,

wherein (i) said first leveling fluid line is restricted relative to said first damping fluid line, and (ii) said second leveling fluid line is restricted relative to said second damping fluid line,

wherein said first check valve is fluidly interposed between said first damping cylinder and said first accumulator, and

wherein said second check valve is fluidly interposed between said second damping cylinder and said second accumulator.

9. A method of operating a hydraulic suspension system of a work machine which includes (i) a first damping cylinder, (ii) a second damping cylinder, (iii) a first leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first leveling fluid line, (iv) a second leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second leveling fluid line, (v) a first accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first damping fluid line, and (vi) a second accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second damping fluid line, comprising the steps of:

advancing first hydraulic fluid out of said first damping cylinder in response to retraction of said first damping cylinder;

diverting a first portion of said first hydraulic fluid to said first accumulator; and

diverting a second portion of said first hydraulic fluid to said first leveling cylinder, wherein said first portion of said first hydraulic fluid is greater than said second portion of said first hydraulic fluid.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

advancing second hydraulic fluid out of said second damping cylinder in response to retraction of said second damping cylinder;

diverting a first portion of said second hydraulic fluid to said second accumulator; and

diverting a second portion of said second hydraulic fluid to said second leveling cylinder, wherein said first portion of said second hydraulic fluid is greater than said second portion of said second hydraulic fluid.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said first damping cylinder is fluidly isolated from said second damping cylinder during each of said diverting steps.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

said first damping cylinder is fluidly isolated from said second damping cylinder and said second leveling cylinder during each of said diverting steps, and

said second damping cylinder is fluidly isolated from said first leveling cylinder during each of said diverting steps.

13. A method of operating a hydraulic suspension system of a work machine which includes (i) a first damping cylinder, (ii) a second damping cylinder, (iii) a first leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first leveling fluid line, (iv) a second leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second leveling fluid line, (v) a first accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first damping fluid line, and (vi) a second accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second damping fluid line, comprising the steps of:

advancing first hydraulic fluid out of said first damping cylinder in response to retraction of said first damping cylinder;

diverting a first portion of said first hydraulic fluid to said first accumulator;

diverting a second portion of said first hydraulic fluid to said first leveling cylinder, wherein said first portion of said first hydraulic fluid is greater than said second portion of said first hydraulic fluid;

advancing second hydraulic fluid out of said second damping cylinder in response to retraction of said second damping cylinder;

diverting a first portion of said second hydraulic fluid to said second accumulator; and

diverting a second portion of said second hydraulic fluid to said second leveling cylinder, wherein said first portion of said second hydraulic fluid is greater than said second portion of said second hydraulic fluid,

wherein said hydraulic suspension system further includes a first check valve and a second check valve,

wherein said first check valve is fluidly interposed between said first damping cylinder and said first accumulator,

wherein said second check valve is fluidly interposed between said second damping cylinder and said second accumulator,

wherein said step of diverting said first portion of said first hydraulic fluid to said first accumulator includes the step of diverting said first portion of said first hydraulic fluid through said first check valve, and

wherein said step of diverting said first portion of said second hydraulic fluid to said second accumulator includes the step of diverting said first portion of said second hydraulic fluid through said second check valve.

14. A hydraulic suspension system for a crop sprayer, comprising:

a first damping cylinder;

a second damping cylinder;

a first leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first leveling fluid line;

a second leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second leveling fluid line;

a first accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first damping fluid line; and

a second accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second damping fluid line,

wherein (i) said first damping fluid line possesses a first diameter, (ii) said first leveling fluid line possesses a second diameter, (iii) said second damping fluid line possesses a third diameter, (iv) said second leveling fluid line possesses a fourth diameter, (v) said first diameter is greater than said second diameter, and (vi) said third diameter is greater than said fourth diameter.

15. The suspension system of claim 14, further comprising a chassis and an axle assembly, wherein each of said first damping cylinder, said second damping cylinder, said first leveling cylinder, and said second leveling cylinder is mechanically interposed between said chassis and said axle assembly.

16. The suspension system of claim 15, wherein:

said first damping cylinder has a first damping housing with a first damping rod extending therefrom, said first damping housing of said first damping cylinder being secured to said chassis and said first damping rod of said first damping cylinder being secured to said axle assembly, and

said second damping cylinder has a second damping housing with a second damping rod extending therefrom, said second damping housing of said second damping cylinder being secured to said chassis and said second damping rod of said second damping cylinder being secured to said axle assembly.

17. The suspension system of claim 16, wherein:

said first leveling cylinder has a first leveling housing with a first leveling rod extending therefrom, said first leveling housing of said first leveling cylinder being secured to said axle assembly and said first leveling rod of said first leveling cylinder being secured to said chassis, and

said second leveling cylinder has a second leveling housing with a second leveling rod extending therefrom, said second leveling housing of said second leveling cylinder being secured to said axle assembly and said second leveling rod of said second leveling cylinder being secured to said chassis.

18. The suspension system of claim 14, wherein said first damping cylinder is fluidly isolated from said second damping cylinder.

19. The suspension system of claim 14, wherein:

said first damping cylinder is fluidly isolated from said second damping cylinder and said second leveling cylinder, and

said second damping cylinder is fluidly isolated from said first leveling cylinder.

20. A hydraulic suspension system for a crop sprayer, comprising:

a first damping cylinder;

a second damping cylinder;

a first leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first leveling fluid line;

a second leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second leveling fluid line;

a first accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first damping fluid line; and

a second accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second damping fluid line,

wherein (i) said first damping fluid line possesses a first diameter, (ii) said first leveling fluid line possesses a second diameter, (iii) said second damping fluid line possesses a third diameter, (iv) said second leveling fluid line possesses a fourth diameter, (v) said first diameter is greater than said second diameter, and (vi) said third diameter is greater than said fourth diameter,

further comprising a first check valve and a second check valve,

wherein said first check valve is fluidly interposed between said first damping cylinder and said first accumulator, and

wherein said second check valve is fluidly interposed between said second damping cylinder and said second accumulator.

21. A crop sprayer, comprising:

a chassis;

a storage container supported by said chassis, said storage container defining a left container side and a right container side;

a rear axle assembly;

a hydraulic suspension system having a first fluid sub-circuit and a second fluid sub-circuit which are fluidly isolated from each other,

wherein said first fluid sub-circuit includes (i) a left damping cylinder secured between said chassis and said rear axle assembly at said left container side, (ii) a right leveling cylinder secured between said chassis and said rear axle assembly at said right container side, and (iii) a first accumulator,

wherein said left damping cylinder is in fluid communication with both said right leveling cylinder and said first accumulator, and

wherein said second fluid sub-circuit includes (i) a right damping cylinder secured between said chassis and said rear axle assembly at said right container side, (ii) a left leveling cylinder secured between said chassis and said rear axle assembly at said left container side, and (iii) a second accumulator,

wherein said right damping cylinder is in fluid communication with both said left leveling cylinder and said second accumulator.

22. The crop sprayer of claim 21, wherein:

said left damping cylinder is fluidly coupled to said right leveling cylinder with a first leveling fluid line,

said left damping cylinder is also fluidly coupled to said first accumulator with a first damping fluid line,

said right damping cylinder is fluidly coupled to said left leveling cylinder with a second leveling fluid line,

said right damping cylinder is also fluidly coupled to said second accumulator with a second damping fluid line.

23. The crop sprayer of claim 22, wherein:

said first damping fluid line possesses a first diameter,

said first leveling fluid line possesses a second diameter,

said second damping fluid line possesses a third diameter,

said second leveling fluid line possesses a fourth diameter,

said first diameter is greater than said second diameter, and

said third diameter is greater than said fourth diameter.

24. The crop sprayer of claim 22, wherein:

said first leveling fluid line is restricted in relation to said first damping fluid line, and

said second leveling fluid line is restricted in relation to said second damping fluid line.

25. The crop sprayer of claim 21, wherein:

said chassis has a left upper mounting flange and a right upper mounting flange,

said rear axle assembly has a left lower mounting flange and a right lower mounting flange,

one end of said left damping cylinder is coupled to said left upper mounting flange and another end of said left damping cylinder is coupled to said left lower mounting flange,

one end of said left leveling cylinder is coupled to said left upper mounting flange and another end of said left leveling cylinder is coupled to said left lower mounting flange,

one end of said right damping cylinder is coupled to said right upper mounting flange and another end of said right damping cylinder is coupled to said right lower mounting flange, and

one end of said right leveling cylinder is coupled to said right upper mounting flange and another end of said right leveling cylinder is coupled to said right lower mounting flange.

26. The crop sprayer of claim 21, further comprising a left rear wheel and a right rear wheel, wherein:

said left damping cylinder and said left leveling cylinder are both interposed between said storage container and said left rear wheel, and

said right damping cylinder and said right leveling cylinder are both interposed between said storage container and said right rear wheel.

27. The crop sprayer of claim 22, wherein:

said first leveling fluid line includes a first end and a second end,

said left damping cylinder includes a left damping cylinder housing,

said right leveling cylinder includes a right leveling cylinder housing, and

said first end of said first leveling fluid line is secured to said left damping cylinder housing and said second end of said first leveling fluid line is secured to said right leveling cylinder housing.

28. The crop sprayer of claim 27, wherein said first leveling fluid line is free of fluid openings between its first end and its second end.

29. The crop sprayer of claim 28, wherein:

said second leveling fluid line includes a first end and a second end,

said right damping cylinder includes a right damping cylinder housing,

said left leveling cylinder includes a left leveling cylinder housing, and

said first end of said second leveling fluid line is secured to said right damping cylinder housing and said second end of said second leveling fluid line is secured to said left leveling cylinder housing.

30. The crop sprayer of claim 29, wherein said second leveling fluid line is free of fluid openings between its first end and its second end.

31. The crop sprayer of claim 21, wherein said storage container is configured to contain diluted chemicals therein.