Articulated dozer with suspension and suspension lockout
First Claim
1. An articulated dozer, comprising:
- a front chassis portion;
an articulation joint;
a rear chassis portion connected to the front chassis portion via the articulation joint;
a first A-frame;
a second A-frame, a length of the second A-frame frame being approximately equal to a length of the first A-frame frame, the front chassis portion and the rear chassis portion, respectively suspended above the first and second A-frames;
a first ball joint;
a second ball joint, a narrow portion of the first A-frame connected to the front chassis portion via the first ball joint, a narrow portion of the second A-frame connected to the rear chassis via the second ball joint, the first ball joint and the second ball joint in proximity to the articulation joint;
at least one accumulator;
a first suspension cylinder operatively attached to the front chassis portion and the first A-frame;
a second suspension cylinder operatively attached to the front chassis portion and the first A-frame; and
at least one valve, the at least one valve capable of stopping hydraulic flow from and to the at least one accumulator, the first and second suspension cylinders hydraulically connected to the at least one accumulator via the at least one valve.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An articulated loader has an articulated chassis and two A-frames. The points of the A-frames face each other. The articulated chassis includes a front portion and a rear portion. Likewise, there is a front or first A-frame and a rear or second A-frame. The A-frames are connected to the overall chassis at points close to but offset from the point of vehicle articulation via ball joints and via hydraulic suspension cylinders toward the wider portions of the “A”s. The vehicle is propelled along the ground by tracks that are independently suspended. The invention includes a suspension lockout feature to, effectively lockout the suspension system, i.e., render it rigid. One or more valves may are used to prevent hydraulic flow from and two the hydraulic suspension cylinders.
72 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An articulated dozer, comprising:
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a front chassis portion; an articulation joint; a rear chassis portion connected to the front chassis portion via the articulation joint; a first A-frame; a second A-frame, a length of the second A-frame frame being approximately equal to a length of the first A-frame frame, the front chassis portion and the rear chassis portion, respectively suspended above the first and second A-frames; a first ball joint; a second ball joint, a narrow portion of the first A-frame connected to the front chassis portion via the first ball joint, a narrow portion of the second A-frame connected to the rear chassis via the second ball joint, the first ball joint and the second ball joint in proximity to the articulation joint; at least one accumulator; a first suspension cylinder operatively attached to the front chassis portion and the first A-frame; a second suspension cylinder operatively attached to the front chassis portion and the first A-frame; and at least one valve, the at least one valve capable of stopping hydraulic flow from and to the at least one accumulator, the first and second suspension cylinders hydraulically connected to the at least one accumulator via the at least one valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A dozer, comprising:
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a chassis portion; an A-frame, the A-frame capable of motion relative to the chassis portion; a first track system; a second track system; at least one accumulator; a first suspension cylinder operatively attached to a first part of the chassis portion and a first part of the A-frame, the first track system attached to the A-frame in proximity to the first suspension cylinder; a second suspension cylinder operatively attached to a second part of the chassis portion and a second part of the A-frame, the second track system attached to the A-frame in proximity to the second suspension cylinder; and at least one valve, the at least one valve capable of stopping hydraulic flow from and to the at least one accumulator, the first and second suspension cylinders hydraulically connected to the at least one accumulator via the at least one valve. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification