Motor vehicle with multi-mode extreme travel suspension-suspension hydraulic design

A vehicle, comprising:

• at least a pair of tractive elements;
• and
• a hydraulic suspension system comprising:
• a pair of hydraulic cylinders, each of the hydraulic cylinders coupled with one of the pair of tractive elements, each of the hydraulic cylinders defining a cap end volume and a rod end volume separated by a piston;
• a hydraulic supply circuit for one of the pair of hydraulic cylinders including:
• a hydraulic source;
• a hydraulic drain;
• and
• a pair of hydraulic sub-circuits each coupled to one of the cap end volume or the rod end volume of a corresponding one of the hydraulic cylinders, the pair of hydraulic sub-circuits configured to permit independent movement of the pair of hydraulic cylinders without directly exchanging hydraulic fluid;
• and
• a suspension arm pivotably connected to a frame structure of the vehicle and coupled to a wheel end unit, the suspension arm coupled with one of the pair of hydraulic cylinders such that the one of the pair of hydraulic cylinders controls a position of the suspension arm and the wheel end unit relative to the frame structure, the wheel end unit coupled with one of the tractive elements.

A hydraulic suspension system for a motor vehicle having at least a pair of tractive elements, the hydraulic suspension system comprising,

• a pair of hydraulic cylinders, each of the hydraulic cylinders coupled with one of the tractive elements, each of the hydraulic cylinders defining a cap end volume and a rod end volume separated by a piston,
• a hydraulic supply circuit for one of the pair of hydraulic cylinders including,
• a hydraulic source, a hydraulic drain, a pair of hydraulic sub-circuits each coupled to one of the hydraulic cylinder cap and rod end volumes of a corresponding one of the hydraulic cylinders, each hydraulic sub-circuit including a proportional supply flow valve coupled with the hydraulic source and one of the cylinder end volumes, and an accumulator coupled to one of the hydraulic cylinder volumes through an accumulator fill control proportional valve, wherein the pair of hydraulic cylinders are fluidly de-coupled from each other,
• a suspension arm pivotably connected to a frame structure of the motor vehicle and coupled to a wheel end unit, the suspension arm coupled with a corresponding one of the pair of hydraulic cylinders such that the corresponding one of the pair of hydraulic cylinders controls a position of the suspension arm and the wheel end unit relative to the frame structure, and
• a linear travel suspension unit coupled to an end of the suspension arm and to one of the tractive elements.