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Skid steer vehicle having anti-rolling system

  • US 6,650,985 B2
  • Filed: 12/28/2001
  • Issued: 11/18/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A skid steer vehicle comprising:

  • a chassis having a left side and a right side;

    at least one loader arm pivotally coupled to the chassis to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis;

    at least one hydraulic cylinder coupled to the at least one loader arm to raise and lower the at least one loader arm with respect to the chassis;

    an engine coupled to the chassis;

    first and second variable displacement hydraulic pumps coupled to the engine to provide two separately controllable sources of hydraulic fluid under pressure;

    four non-steerable and ground-engaging wheels coupled to the chassis to drive the vehicle over the ground, wherein the wheels are disposed two on each side of the chassis in a fore-and-aft relation;

    four control arms pivotally coupled to the chassis and coupled to the four wheels to permit the wheels to pivot at least in a vertical direction with respect to the chassis;

    at least two hydraulic motors for driving the wheels wherein at least one motor is driven by fluid from the first pump and in turn drives the wheels on the left side of the chassis and at least another motor is driven by fluid from the second pump and in turn drives the wheels on the right side of the chassis;

    four hydraulic cylinders, each cylinder operably coupled to one of the wheels to control at least the vertical position of the wheels with respect to the chassis;

    a means for indicating the lateral acceleration of the vehicle; and

    an electronic controller operably coupled to the means for indicating and responsive to the means for indicating to (a) lock two wheels of the four wheels on the left side of the vehicle when the vehicle experiences rightward acceleration greater than a predetermined level of lateral acceleration, and (b) to lock two wheels of the four wheels on the right side of the vehicle when the vehicle experiences leftward acceleration greater than the predetermined level of lateral acceleration.

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