Cab suspension system for an off-road vehicle

• US 8,807,633 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Milburn, Rowland James, Virgilio, Salvatore, Tveito, David Larry, Booth, David Sheldon, Rasset, John Thomas, Novacek, Jason Keith, Jorgenson, Dallas Lee, Bautz, Chad Alry, Scott, Shane Michael, Stoltman, Russell, Bakken, Michael, Bunnell, Michael, Zurn, Daniel John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daniels, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US13/528,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20130341966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 296/1.03, 296/35.1, 296/190.01, 296/190.03, 296/190.07, 280/756, 180/89.12, 267/33, 267/195, 267/225, 267/248, 267/292, 248/560, 248/565, 248/618, 248/624, 248/638
• US Class Current: 296/190.07
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/131 Protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors means for preventing overturning or tipping of tractors B62D49/08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0604 Cabs insulated against vibrations or noise, e.g. with elastic suspension resilient connections between superstructure sub-units B62D27/04; damping noise in general G10K11/00; for vehicles in general B60R13/08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0617 for tractors or off-the-road vehicles protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors B60R21/131
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/065 Multi-track vehicles, i.e. more than two tracks soil-shifting machines E02F; mining machines E21C
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making

Abstract

A suspension system for a cab of an off-road vehicle includes a superstructure configured to receive a cab frame. The superstructure forms a framework, the corners of which receive suspension assemblies and dampers. The suspension assemblies include one or more springs or resilient elements to resist suspension motion, and the dampers provide dampening of the motion. Lateral and longitudinal suspension motions are resisted by links between the corners of the superstructure. An anti-roll bar reduces roll. The entire suspension system may be pre-assembled and then joined to the vehicle chassis frame. The cab frame may then be placed on the suspension system. Parts of the suspension system may interface with and be housed by roll-over protective structures.

Claims

1. A cab suspension system for an off-road vehicle, comprising:

a superstructure having a plurality of pad assemblies for receiving and supporting the cab, wherein each pad assembly comprises a housing and a pad rigidly coupled to the housing;

a plurality of suspension assemblies secured to the pad assemblies and configured to be mounted on a chassis frame of the vehicle, each suspension assembly comprising at least one compression spring for receiving loading of the cab;

a plurality of motion dampening elements, a motion dampening element being associated with each of the suspension assemblies; and

links extending between pad assemblies for resisting lateral and longitudinal suspension motion, wherein at least one of the links comprises;

a first end rotatably coupled to a pad or a housing of a first pad assembly of the plurality of pad assemblies; and

a second end rotatably coupled to a pad or a housing of a second pad assembly of the plurality of pad assemblies.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the superstructure comprises four pad assemblies, disposed generally at corners of the superstructure.

3. The system of claim 1, where at least two of the pad assemblies comprise alignment pins for locating the cab for attachment on the superstructure.

4. The system of claim 1, where each suspension assembly comprises a compression spring and a stop, the spring and stop providing end of travel resistance to suspension motion.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the stop has a non-uniform spring constant as it is compressed.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each suspension assembly comprises a tension bolt holding the compression spring and end components on either end of the compression spring in compressive loading.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each suspension assembly is housed at least partially in a roll-over protective structure.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising a side-to-side antiroll bar extending between corners of the superstructure.

9. The system of claim 8, comprising droplinks coupling the antiroll bar to the superstructure.

10. An off-road vehicle comprising:

a chassis frame;

a cab frame; and

a cab suspension system disposed between and coupled to the chassis frame and the cab frame, wherein the cab suspension system comprises;

a superstructure having a plurality of pad assemblies for receiving and supporting the cab, wherein each pad assembly comprises a housing and a pad rigidly coupled to the housing;

a plurality of suspension assemblies secured to the pad assemblies and configured to be mounted on a chassis frame of the vehicle, each suspension assembly comprising at least one compression spring for receiving loading of the cab;

a plurality of motion dampening elements, a motion dampening element being associated with each of the suspension assemblies;

links extending between pad assemblies for resisting lateral and longitudinal suspension motion, wherein at least one of the links comprises;

a first end rotatably coupled to a pad or a housing of a first pad assembly of the plurality of pad assemblies; and

a second end rotatably coupled to a pad or a housing of a second pad assembly of the plurality of pad assemblies;

an anti-roll bar configured to reduce roll of the cab; and

drop links each extending from a respective pad assembly of the plurality of pad assemblies and rotatably coupled to a respective end of the anti-roll bar.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the chassis frame and the cab suspension system comprise interfacing roll-over protective structures.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein at least part of the cab suspension system is housed at least partially in the roll-over protective structures.

13. A method for supporting a cab on an off-road vehicle, comprising:

pre-assembling a cab suspension system, wherein the cab suspension system comprises;

a superstructure having a plurality of pad assemblies for receiving and supporting the cab, wherein each pad assembly comprises a housing and a pad rigidly coupled to the housing;

a plurality of suspension assemblies secured to the pad assemblies and configured to be mounted on a chassis frame of the vehicle, each suspension assembly comprising at least one compression spring for receiving loading of the cab;

a plurality of motion dampening elements, a motion dampening element being associated with each of the suspension assemblies; and

links extending between pad assemblies for resisting lateral and longitudinal suspension motion, wherein at least one of the links comprises;

a first end rotatably coupled to a first pad assembly of the plurality of pad assemblies; and

a second end rotatably coupled to a second pad assembly of the plurality of pad assemblies

an anti-roll bar configured to reduce roll of the cab; and

drop links each extending from a respective pad assembly of the plurality of pad assemblies and rotatably coupled to a respective end of the anti-roll bar.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising mounting the cab suspension system to a vehicle chassis frame.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the cab suspension system is secured to the vehicle chassis frame at corners of the cab suspension system.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the cab suspension system is mounted to the vehicle chassis frame by interfacing roll-over protective system components of the cab suspension system and the vehicle chassis frame.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the roll-over protective system components house at least a part of the cab suspension system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the suspension assemblies are housed in the roll-over protective system components.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising securing a cab frame to the superstructure of the cab suspension system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the cab frame is lowered onto alignment pins provided on the superstructure of the cab suspension system to align the cab frame on the pads of the superstructure.