# US 10,766,329 B2 · Vehicle with chassis height adjustment having floating strut rods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,329 B2 - Document ID: US10766329B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/757,388 - Filed: 2016-09-01 - Published: 2018-09-06 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-04 - Assignees: AGCO Corporation - Applicants: AGCO Corporation - Inventors: James Slawson; Kyle Chirpich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766329B2 ## CPC - B60G 17/005: Suspension locking arrangements {(for retractable wheels B62D61/12)} - B60G 3/01: the wheel being mounted for sliding movement, e.g. in or on a vertical guide (camber maintaining means B60G3/26) - B60G 17/0165: to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind - B60G 2200/44: steerable - B60G 2202/152: Pneumatic spring - B60G 2202/413: Hydraulic actuator - B60G 2202/42: Electric actuator - B60G 2204/4232: Sliding mounts - B60G 2204/43: Fittings, brackets or knuckles - B60G 2204/4605: hydraulically, e.g. interrupting communication between the chambers of a hydraulic cylinder - B60G 2300/083: Boom carrying vehicles, e.g. for crop spraying - B60G 2300/40: Variable track or wheelbase vehicles - B60G 2500/30: Height or ground clearance - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract A suspension module for supporting a vehicle chassis includes a module frame pivotably connected to an axle on the chassis and a wheelbox mounted to the wheel and slidingly coupled with the module frame by strut rods. The wheelbox and module frame pivot in unison with respect to the chassis, and the module frame is configured to move between a standard position and a high clearance position relative the wheelbox. The suspension module includes an adjustment actuator coupled with the module frame to shift the frame between the operating positions. The strut rods move from a first position in which bottom ends of the first and second strut rods are below the wheelbox when the module frame is in the standard position to a second position in which the bottom ends are in a higher position relative the first position when the module frame is in the high clearance position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A suspension module for supporting a vehicle chassis on a wheel of the vehicle, the suspension module comprising: a module frame pivotably connected to an axle on the vehicle chassis; a wheelbox mounted to the wheel and slidingly mounted to the module frame by first and second strut rods, the wheelbox and module frame being configured to pivot in unison with respect to the vehicle chassis, wherein the module frame is configured to move between a first operating position and a second operating position relative to the wheelbox; and an adjustment actuator coupled with the module frame and configured to shift the module frame between the first operating position and the second operating position, wherein the first and second strut rods move from a first position in which bottom ends of the first and second strut rods are below the wheelbox when the module frame is in the first operating position to a second position in which the bottom ends are in a higher position relative to the first position when the module frame is in the second operating position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The suspension module of claim 1, further comprising first and second stabilizers coupling the first and second strut rods, respectively, with the wheelbox, wherein the stabilizers are configured to stabilize the strut rods when the module frame is in the first operating position or the second operating position and move the strut rods such that the module frame travels between the first operating position and the second operating position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The suspension module of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second stabilizers comprises a gas spring, wherein a first end of each of the first and second stabilizers engages the bottom end of a respective strut rod, and wherein a second end of the stabilizer is attached to the wheelbox. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The suspension module of claim 3, wherein a piston rod end of each of the first and second stabilizers engages the bottom end of a respective strut rod, and wherein a cylinder body end of the stabilizer is attached to the wheelbox. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The suspension module of claim 1, further comprising a suspension assembly operably interposed between the module frame and the wheelbox for regulating motion of the module frame with respect to the wheelbox. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The suspension module of claim 5, wherein the wheelbox is positioned below the axle, the suspension assembly is positioned above the axle, and the adjustment actuator is positioned within a pivot element of the axle such that the wheelbox, the suspension assembly, and the adjustment actuator all lie on a line that corresponds to an axis of rotation of the suspension module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The suspension module of claim 6, wherein the wheelbox comprises a pair of wheelhub sleeves, wherein each one of the pair of wheelhub sleeves slidingly engages one of the strut rods. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The suspension module of claim 7, wherein the module frame comprises a spindle pivotably coupled with a pivot element of the axle, wherein the spindle has a lower attachment member and an upper attachment member with outer ends of the lower and upper attachment members being rigidly interconnected by a pair of spindle sleeves, and wherein each one of the spindle sleeves slidingly engages one of the strut rods. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The suspension module of claim 8, wherein the module frame further comprises a top suspension member separated from the upper attachment member, wherein a pair of suspension rods rigidly interconnect the upper attachment member to the top suspension member, and wherein the top suspension member defines a pair of through holes for slidingly receiving the strut rods. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The suspension module of claim 9, wherein the suspension assembly comprises an idler member and a suspension component, the suspension component coupled to an upper side of the idler member, wherein the adjustment actuator is coupled to a lower side of the idler member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The suspension module of claim 10, wherein the idler member comprises an elongated, rigid member that further defines a pair of cylindrical barrel portions at ends thereof for slidingly receiving the strut rods. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The suspension module of claim 11, wherein one of the wheelhub sleeves, one of the spindle sleeves, one of the barrel portions of the idler member, and one of the through holes in the top suspension member all align for slidingly receiving one of the strut rods. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The suspension module of claim 10, wherein the adjustment actuator comprises a hydraulic lift cylinder, wherein a lower end of the hydraulic lift cylinder is connected to the wheelbox, and wherein an upper end of the hydraulic lift cylinder is connected to the idler member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The suspension module of claim 1, wherein the bottom ends of the strut rods are connected with a bottom connector casting that joins the strut rods. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The suspension module of claim 1, wherein the wheelbox lies on a line that corresponds to an axis of rotation of the module frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The suspension module of claim 1, wherein the wheelbox is positioned below the axle and the adjustment actuator is positioned within a pivot element of the axle such that the wheelbox and the adjustment actuator lie on a line that corresponds to an axis of rotation of the suspension module. ### Claim 17 A vehicle, comprising: a chassis comprising at least one axle; a plurality of wheels supporting the chassis; a plurality of suspension modules, each suspension module coupling one of the plurality of wheels to the at least one axle, and each suspension module comprising: a module frame pivotably connected to the at least one axle; a wheelbox mounted to the wheel and slidingly mounted to the module frame by first and second strut rods, the wheelbox and module frame being configured to pivot in unison with respect to the chassis, wherein the module frame is configured to move between a first operating position and a second operating position relative to the wheelbox; and an adjustment actuator coupled with the module frame and configured to shift the module frame between the first operating position and the second operating position, wherein the first and second strut rods move from a first position in which bottom ends of the first and second strut rods are below the wheelbox when the module frame is in the first operating position to a second position in which the bottom ends are in a higher position relative to the first position when the module frame is in the second operating position.