Independent wheel suspension for a spring-mounted steerable wheel

• US 9,278,594 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2011
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Horsch Maschinen GmbH (Horsch Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Horsch Maschinen GmbH (Horsch Holding AG)
• Inventors: Horsch, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilhelm, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US13/700,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20130069336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 180/8.3, 180/8.5, 180/900, 280/6.154, 280/6.155, 280/6.157
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/30 having pressure fluid accumulator therefor, e.g. accumulator arranged in vehicle frame dampers accumulating utilisable energy B60G13/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/10 Independent suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/44 steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/154 with an accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4232 Sliding mounts
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/08 Agricultural vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/01 the wheel being mounted for sliding movement, e.g. in or on a vertical guide camber maintaining means B60G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/22 Agricultural vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/06 for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins

Abstract

Disclosed is an independent wheel suspension (1) for a steerable wheel (37) having a motor (3). The motor is connected via a linear guide (5), which is movable in an approximately vertical direction (A), to a revolute joint (7) which produces a steering connection, pivotable about an at least approximately vertically running axis of rotation (B), to a vehicle frame (39). The linear guide (5) is coupled to a fluidic spring and/or damping element (9) which forms a load-bearing constituent part of the revolute joint (7).

Claims

1. An independent wheel suspension (1) for a steerable wheel (37) of a vehicle having a steering column (17) which cooperates with a linear guide (5) movable in an approximately vertical direction (A) via a fork crown (7), wherein the fork crown (7) creates a steering connection to a vehicle frame (39) pivotable around an at least approximately vertically running axis of rotation (B) and wherein the linear guide (5) is coupled to a fluidic spring and/or damping element (9) which forms a load-bearing component of the fork crown(7);

wherein

the steering column extends through the fork crown and forms a portion of the damping element;

the portion of the damping element that is the steering column comprises a damping cylinder; and

the damping element (9) comprises one or a plurality of pressure reservoirs (11) with connections (13), wherein the pressure reservoirs (11) have a fluidic connection with the damping cylinder by way of line systems.

2. An independent wheel suspension according to claim 1 in which the fluidic spring and/or damping element (9) is arranged in the steering column (17) as an integrated component.

3. An independent wheel suspension according to claim 1 in which the linear guide (5) is equipped with a drive motor (3) for driving the steerable wheel (37).

4. An independent wheel suspension according to claim 1 in which the fork crown (7) comprises two linear guide elements (25) with two guide rods (23) running through it.

5. An independent wheel suspension according to claim 1 in which the steering column (17) is designed to transmit a torque to the fork crown (7).

6. An independent wheel suspension according to claim 1 in which the damping cylinder or the spring and/or damping element (9) comprises an air bellows (15) which has a spring-mounted connection with a prop (31) of a slide (5a).

7. An agricultural utility vehicle (35) having at least one independent wheel suspension (1) according to claim 1, a vehicle frame (39) which the at least one independent wheel suspension (1) is arranged on and at least one or a plurality of ground treatment or semi-mounted devices (41) attached on the vehicle frame.