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US 2016/0096407 A1Published application
Agricultural vehicle with ride height adjustment
OwnerMatthew W. Damesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for raising and lowering a vehicle. The system includes a four-bar linkage provided for each wheel. The four-bar linkage includes a first three linkage assembly and a second three linkages assembly. The first three linkage assembly maintains the orientation of the vehicle relative to the wheel during the lifting and lowering while the second linkage assembly provides the power to lift and lower the vehicle. Power provided by a hydraulic cylinder is pivotably coupled to the second linkage assembly. A steering assembly is provided between the four-bar linkage assembly and the wheel. The four-bar linkage vehicle lifting assembly may be provided on agricultural vehicles, construction vehicles, or any desired vehicle.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a wheel;
- (c) a leg coupled to the wheel;
- (d) a closed chain linkage assembly comprising:
- (i) a first linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the frame at a first point and coupled to the leg at a second point;
- (ii) a second linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the frame at a third point and coupled to the leg at a fourth point;
- (iii) wherein the first point is above the third point;
- (iv) wherein the second point is above the fourth point;
- (v) wherein the second linkage extends from the first point below the first linkage, to a connection point above the first linkage, to the second point below the second linkage;
- and
- (e) a linear actuator coupled to the first linkage and to the connection point in a manner that lifts the frame relative to the wheel when the linear actuator is actuated in a first direction, and that lowers the frame relative to the wheel when the linear actuator is actuated in a second direction.
8 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a first wheel;
- (c) a first leg coupled to the first wheel;
- (d) a first closed chain linkage assembly comprising:
- (i) a first linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the frame at a first point and coupled to the first leg at a second point;
- (ii) a second linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the frame at a third point and coupled to the first leg at a fourth point;
- (iii) wherein the first point is above the third point;
- (iv) wherein the second point is above the fourth point;
- (v) wherein the second linkage extends from the third point below the first linkage, to a first connection point above the first linkage, to the second point below the first linkage;
- (e) a first linear actuator coupled to the first linkage and to the first connection point in a manner that lifts the frame relative to the first wheel when the first linear actuator is actuated in a first direction, and that lowers the frame relative to the first wheel when the first linear actuator is actuated in a second direction;
- (f) a second wheel;
- (g) a second leg coupled to the second wheel;
- (h) a second closed chain linkage assembly comprising:
- (i) a third linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the frame at a fifth point and coupled to the second leg at a sixth point;
- (ii) a fourth linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the frame at a seventh point and coupled to the second leg at an eighth point;
- (iii) wherein the fifth point is above the seventh point;
- (iv) wherein the sixth point is above the eighth point;
- (v) wherein the fourth linkage extends from the seventh point below the third linkage, to a second connection point above the third linkage, to the eighth point below the third linkage;
- (i) a second linear actuator coupled to the third linkage and to the second connection point in a manner that lifts the frame relative to the second wheel when the second linear actuator is actuated in a third direction, and that lowers the frame relative to the second wheel when the second linear actuator is actuated in a third direction;
- and
- (j) wherein the first closed chain linkage assembly and second closed chain linkage assembly are provided on one side of the frame, facing in opposite directions.
18 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a first wheel;
- (c) a first leg coupled to the first wheel;
- (d) a first closed chain linkage assembly comprising:
- (i) a first linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the frame at a first point and coupled to the first leg at a second point;
- (ii) a second linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the frame at a third point and coupled to the first leg at a fourth point;
- (iii) wherein the first point is above the third point;
- (iv) wherein the second point is above the fourth point;
- (v) wherein the second linkage extends from the third point below the first linkage, to a first connection point above the first linkage, to the second point below the first linkage;
- (e) a first linear actuator coupled to the first linkage and to the first connection point in a manner that lifts the frame relative to the first wheel when the first linear actuator is actuated in a first direction, and that lowers the frame relative to the first wheel when the first linear actuator is actuated in a second direction;
- (f) a second wheel;
- (g) a second leg coupled to the second wheel;
- (h) a second closed chain linkage assembly comprising:
- (i) a third linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the frame at a fifth point and coupled to the second leg at a sixth point;
- (ii) a fourth linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the frame at a seventh point and coupled to the second leg at an eighth point;
- (iii) wherein the fifth point is above the seventh point;
- (iv) wherein the sixth point is above the eighth point;
- (v) wherein the fourth linkage extends from the seventh point below the third linkage, to a second connection point above the third linkage, to the eighth point below the third linkage;
- (i) a second linear actuator coupled to the third linkage and to the second connection point in a manner that lifts the frame relative to the second wheel when the second linear actuator is actuated in a third direction, and that lowers the frame relative to the second wheel when the second linear actuator is actuated in a third direction;
- (j) wherein the first closed chain linkage assembly and second closed chain linkage assembly are provided on one side of the frame, facing in opposite directions;
- (k) a third wheel;
- (l) a third leg coupled to the third wheel;
- (m) a third closed chain linkage assembly comprising:
- (i) a fifth linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the frame at a ninth point and coupled to the third leg at a tenth point;
- (ii) a sixth linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the frame at an eleventh point and coupled to the third leg at a twelfth point;
- (iii) wherein the ninth point is above the eleventh point;
- (iv) wherein the tenth point is above the twelfth point;
- (v) wherein the sixth linkage extends from the eleventh point below the fifth linkage, to a third connection point above the fifth linkage, to the twelfth point below the fifth linkage;
- and
- (n) a third linear actuator coupled to the fifth linkage and to the second connection point in a manner that lifts the frame relative to the third wheel when the third linear actuator is actuated in a fifth direction, and that lowers the frame relative to the third wheel when the third linear actuator is actuated in a sixth direction.
27 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.