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US 2014/0210184 A1Published application
Hydraulic suspension hitch system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsDavid E. Ault, Jeffrey L. Kuehn
Life of this patent
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AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsDavid E. Ault, Jeffrey L. Kuehn
Estimating the term…
The present disclosure provides a hitch suspension system that reduces a transfer of energy (e.g., provides a smoother ride) between two bodies hitched together, such as between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle/trailer. In an embodiment, the suspension system includes a hydraulic cylinder with an extendable rod in fluid communication with a fluid pump. A control valve is fluidly coupled between the hydraulic cylinder and the fluid pump and is configured to adjust an extension length of the rod. Additionally, a variable orifice that adjusts resistance to extension and retraction of the rod is fluidly coupled between the hydraulic cylinder and the control valve. A first fixed restrictive element is fluidly coupled in series with the variable orifice to dissipate energy ad the rod extends and a second fixed restrictive element is fluidly coupled in series with the variable orifice to dissipate energy as the rod retracts.
A suspension system comprising:
A hitch that couples a towed vehicle to a drive vehicle, the hitch comprising:
15-20. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.