Suspension system

• US 7,726,665 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Bitter, Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US11/924,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20080100017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.501, 280/5.502, 280/5.504, 280 5506- 5508, 280/5.513, 280/6.154, 280/6.157, 280/6.159, 280/124.16, 280/124.161, 280/755, 180/41
• US Class Current: 280/5.502
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/005 Suspension locking arrangements for retractable wheels B62D61/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/322 with a single pivot point and a straight axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/46 Means for locking the suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4605 hydraulically, e.g. interrupting communication between the chambers of a hydraulic cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/022 Fork lift trucks, Clark
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/082 Tractors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0511 Roll angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/50 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/51 in suspension unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/5122 Fluid spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/60 Load
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0122 Roll rigidity ratio; Warping
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0194 transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/22 Hydraulic devices or systems

Abstract

A suspension system for an agricultural or construction industry vehicle is described. The suspension system comprises two hydraulic cylinders, which support a frame in relation to an axle of the vehicle, the hydraulic cylinders each having a piston-side chamber and a piston rod-side chamber and each of the chambers of the hydraulic cylinders being connectable to one another via connecting lines provided with a switch valve, a first supply line, which can be connected via a switch valve to the piston-side connecting line of the first hydraulic cylinder, a second supply line, which can be connected via a switch valve to the piston-side connecting line of the second hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic accumulator, in each case connectable to the supply lines via proportionally adjustable orifices, a hydraulic source, a hydraulic tank, a control valve device, and an electronic control unit. In order to prevent the activation of a suspension state in critical vehicle states, means for the detection and compensation of load states of the vehicle are provided in the suspension system.

Claims

1. A suspension system for an agricultural or construction industry vehicle, having a first and a second hydraulic cylinder, which support a frame of the vehicle in relation to an axle of the vehicle, the hydraulic cylinders each having a piston-side chamber and a piston rod-side chamber and each of the chambers of the hydraulic cylinders being hydraulically connectable to one another via a piston rod-side connecting line and a piston-side connecting line, the piston rod-side connecting lines each opening into the piston-side connecting lines and being provided with a switch valve, a first supply line connected via a switch valve to the piston-side connecting line of the first hydraulic cylinder, a second supply line connected via a switch valve to the piston-side connecting line of the second hydraulic cylinder, a first and a second hydraulic accumulator connected to the first and second supply line respectively, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic tank, a control valve device, the control valve device being connected via the respective supply lines to the respective connecting lines, and an electronic control unit, wherein the hydraulic accumulators are connected via adjustable orifices and means for a detection and compensation of load states of the vehicle are provided in the suspension system.

2. A suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the means for the detection and compensation of load states comprises pressure transducers and means for registering a position of a pressure transducer, the pressure transducers in each case being arranged between the piston-side and piston rod-side chambers of each of the hydraulic cylinders.

3. A suspension system according to claim 2, wherein an area ratio of the pressure-generating areas in the chambers of the pressure transducer essentially corresponds to an area ratio of the pressure-generating areas in the chambers of the hydraulic cylinder.

4. A suspension system according to claim 2, wherein the means for registering the position of a pressure transducer comprises one of a switch and sensor.

5. A suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the means for the detection and compensation of load states comprises pressure sensors, which serve to register a pressure in the individual chambers of the first and second hydraulic cylinders.

6. A suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the means for the detection and compensation of load states comprises pressure switches, which are in each case connected to one of the chambers of the hydraulic cylinders.

7. A suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the means for the detection and compensation of load states comprises force sensors, which serve to detect forces acting on the hydraulic cylinders.

8. A suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the switch valves have a flow position and a closed position, the closed position of the switch valves arranged in the supply lines comprising a non-return valve opening in the direction of the respective hydraulic cylinders.

9. A suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the supply lines are provided with pressure switches.

10. A suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the control valve device comprises a first admission line opening into one of the first and second supply line and a second admission line opening into the other one of the first and second supply line, and a first discharge line opening into one of the first and second supply line and a second discharge line opening into the other one of the first and second supply line, the admission lines being connectable via admission control valves to one of the hydraulic pump or the hydraulic tank and the discharge lines being connectable via discharge control valves to the hydraulic tank.

11. A suspension system according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the admission control valves and the discharge control valves comprise switch valves.

12. A suspension system according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the admission control valves and the discharge control valves comprise proportional valves.

13. A suspension system according to claim 10, wherein a load-sensing device is provided, which registers a pressure in at least one of the first and second admission line.

14. A suspension system according to claim 10, wherein the admission lines are provided with a non-return valve opening in the direction of the supply lines.

15. A suspension system according to claim 10, wherein the discharge lines are provided with one of a restrictor and orifice.

16. A suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the piston-side and the piston rod-side chambers of the hydraulic cylinders are each provided with a resettable non-return valve, the non-return valve opening in the direction of the respective chamber.