Articulated vehicle stabilization system

A transport vehicle configured to transport a load including:

• a first transport vehicle frame;
• a first transport vehicle wheel assembly operably coupled to the first transport vehicle frame, the first transport vehicle wheel assembly providing rolling support for the first transport vehicle frame;
• a second transport vehicle frame defining a longitudinal transport vehicle frame axis;
• a second transport vehicle wheel assembly operably coupled to the second transport vehicle frame, the second transport vehicle wheel assembly providing rolling support for the second transport vehicle frame, the second transport vehicle wheel assembly including
• a transport vehicle tandem pivotally coupled to the second transport vehicle frame at a tandem pivot coupling,
• a front tandem wheel rotatably coupled to the transport vehicle tandem of the second transport vehicle wheel assembly to provide rolling support of the transport vehicle tandem of the second transport vehicle wheel assembly, and
• a rear tandem wheel rotatably coupled to the transport vehicle tandem of the second transport vehicle wheel assembly to provide rolling support of the transport vehicle tandem of the second transport vehicle wheel assembly;
• a load bin supported by the second transport vehicle frame, the load bin being configured to support a load transported by the transport vehicle;
• a transport vehicle frame coupling between the first transport vehicle frame and the second transport vehicle frame, the transport vehicle frame coupling being configured to provide pivoting movement between the first transport vehicle frame and the second transport vehicle frame about a vertical pivot axis;
• a transport vehicle condition sensor, the transport vehicle condition sensor being configured to detect a condition of the transport vehicle;
• a transport vehicle controller, the transport vehicle controller being in communication with the transport vehicle condition sensor;
• and
• a transport vehicle stabilizer operably coupled to the second transport vehicle frame and the transport vehicle tandem of the second transport vehicle wheel assembly, the transport vehicle stabilizer including
• a fluid cylinder configured to restrict pivoting movement of the transport vehicle tandem of the second transport vehicle wheel assembly in response to the condition of the transport vehicle sensed by the transport vehicle condition sensor,
• a fluid pump, the fluid pump being configured to supply fluid under pressure,
• a fluid reservoir configured to hold the fluid,
• at least one fluid valve being configured to control the flow of fluid, and
• at least one fluid line, the at least one fluid line communicating fluid between the fluid cylinder, the fluid pump, the fluid reservoir, and the at least one fluid valve, the at least one fluid valve being configured to control the flow of fluid between the fluid pump and the fluid cylinder and the supply of fluid between the fluid reservoir and the fluid cylinder, the at least one fluid valve being configured to receive an input from the controller based on the transport vehicle condition of the transport vehicle sensed by the transport vehicle condition sensor to control the proportion of the fluid flowing through the at least one fluid line between the fluid pump and the fluid cylinder and the proportion of fluid flowing through the at least one fluid line between the fluid reservoir and the fluid cylinder.

A vehicle including:

• a first frame;
• a first wheel assembly operably coupled to the first frame;
• a second frame defining a longitudinal axis;
• a second wheel assembly operably coupled to the second frame, the second wheel assembly including a tandem pivotally coupled to the second frame at a pivot coupling, a front wheel operably coupled to the tandem, and a rear wheel operably coupled to the tandem;
• a bin supported by the second frame and configured to support a load;
• a frame coupling between the first frame and the second frame, the coupling configured to provide pivoting movement between the first frame and the second frame about a vertical axis;
• a vehicle condition sensor configured to detect a condition of the vehicle;
• a controller in communication with the vehicle condition sensor;
• and
• a stabilizer operably coupled to the second frame and the tandem, the stabilizer including a cylinder configured to restrict pivoting movement of the tandem in response to the condition sensed by the vehicle condition sensor, the stabilizer further including a valve controlling the supply of pressurized fluid to the cylinder.