# US 2019/0315413 A1 · Vehicle with pneumatically suspended operator compartment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0315413 A1 - Document ID: US20190315413A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/953,836 - Filed: 2018-04-16 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-16 - Assignees: Howe and Howe Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Howe and Howe Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Geoffrey Howe; Michael Howe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190315413A1 ## CPC - B62D 33/0608: {pneumatic or hydraulic suspension} - B62D 55/06: with tracks without ground wheels - B62D 55/108: with mechanical springs, e.g. torsion bars - B62D 55/14: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers - B62D 55/24: of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts - F16F 15/0232: {with at least one gas spring (F16F15/027 takes precedence)} - F16F 2230/0011: Balancing, e.g. counterbalancing to produce static balance - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract An overland vehicle is provided which includes a chassis with a roll-over protection structure, a powertrain configured to generate power to drive the overland vehicle, a first suspension system configured as a chassis to ground suspension system, and an operator compartment. The vehicle may also include a second suspension system configured to pneumatically suspend the operator compartment within the chassis, where the second suspension system includes a plurality of pneumatic couplers, including at least a first pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the chassis along a first vector extending in a first direction, and a second countering pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the chassis along a second vector extending in a second direction, where the second direction is generally opposite the first direction. In another embodiment, the second suspension system may include a plurality of spaced apart pneumatic couplers, including at least a first pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to a first side of the chassis, and a second pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to a second side of the chassis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An overland vehicle comprising: a chassis including a roll-over protection structure; a powertrain coupled to the chassis, wherein the powertrain is configured to generate power to drive the overland vehicle; a first suspension system configured as a chassis to ground suspension system; an operator compartment; and a second suspension system configured to pneumatically suspend the operator compartment within the chassis, wherein the second suspension system includes a plurality of pneumatic couplers, including at least a first pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the chassis along a first vector extending in a first direction, and a second countering pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the chassis along a second vector extending in a second direction, wherein the second direction is generally opposite the first direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The overland vehicle recited in claim 1, wherein the first vector extends in a generally upward direction and the second vector extends in a generally opposite downward direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The overland vehicle recited in claim 1, wherein the first vector extends in a generally fore direction and the second vector extends in a generally opposite aft direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The overland vehicle recited in claim 1, wherein the first vector extends in a generally left direction and the second vector extends in a generally opposite right direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The overland vehicle recited in claim 1, wherein the second suspension system further includes at least a third pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the chassis along a third vector extending in a third direction, and a fourth countering pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the chassis along a fourth vector extending in a fourth direction, wherein the fourth direction is generally opposite the third direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The overland vehicle recited in claim 5, wherein the first vector extends in a generally upward direction and the second vector extends in a generally opposite downward direction, and wherein the third vector extends in a generally fore direction and the fourth vector extends in a generally opposite aft direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The overland vehicle recited in claim 5, wherein the second suspension system further includes at least a fifth pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the chassis along a fifth vector extending in a fifth direction, and a sixth countering pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the chassis along a sixth vector extending in a sixth direction, wherein the sixth direction is generally opposite the fifth direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The overland vehicle recited in claim 7, wherein the first vector extends in a generally upward direction and the second vector extends in a generally opposite downward direction, wherein the third vector extends in a generally fore direction and the fourth vector extends in a generally opposite aft direction, and wherein the fifth vector extends in a generally left direction and the sixth vector extends in a generally opposite right direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The overland vehicle recited in claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of wheels coupled to the powertrain, wherein the plurality of wheels are configured to selectively move the overland vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The overland vehicle recited in claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of tracks coupled to the powertrain, wherein the plurality of tracks are configured to selectively move the overland vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The overland vehicle recited in claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of wheels coupled to the powertrain; and a plurality of tracks coupled to the powertrain, wherein the plurality of wheels and the plurality of tracks are configured to selectively move the overland vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The overland vehicle recited in claim 1, wherein the operator compartment is configured to hold one or more passengers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The overland vehicle recited in claim 1, further comprising: a backup system mechanically coupling the operator compartment to the chassis in the event of pneumatic coupler failure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The overland vehicle recited in claim 13, wherein the backup system includes a plurality of limit straps. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The overland vehicle recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of pneumatic couplers includes a plurality of air springs. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The overland vehicle recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of pneumatic couplers includes a plurality of pneumatic pistons. ### Claim 17 An overland vehicle comprising: a chassis including a roll-over protection structure having a plurality of sides, including at least a first side and a second side; a powertrain coupled to the chassis, wherein the powertrain is configured to generate power to drive the overland vehicle; a first suspension system configured as a chassis to ground suspension system; an operator compartment; and a second suspension system configured to pneumatically suspend the operator compartment within the chassis such that the operator compartment is positioned between the first side and the second side of the chassis, wherein the second suspension system includes a plurality of spaced apart pneumatic couplers, including at least a first pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the first side of the chassis, and a second pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the second side of the chassis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The overland vehicle recited in claim 17, wherein the first side of the chassis is generally opposite the second side of the chassis such that the second pneumatic coupler counters the first pneumatic coupler. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The overland vehicle recited in claim 18, wherein the first pneumatic coupler is positioned on an upper portion of the chassis and the second pneumatic coupler is positioned on a lower portion of the chassis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The overland vehicle recited in claim 18, wherein the first pneumatic coupler is positioned on a front portion of the chassis and the second pneumatic coupler is positioned on a rear portion of the chassis. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The overland vehicle recited in claim 18, wherein the first pneumatic coupler is positioned on a left portion of the chassis and the second pneumatic coupler is positioned on a right portion of the chassis. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The overland vehicle recited in claim 17, wherein the chassis further includes at least a third side and a fourth side, and wherein the second suspension system further comprises a third pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the third side of the chassis, and a fourth pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the fourth side of the chassis. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The overland vehicle recited in claim 22, wherein the first pneumatic coupler is positioned on an upper portion of the chassis and the second pneumatic coupler is positioned on a lower portion of the chassis, and wherein the third pneumatic coupler is positioned on a right portion of the chassis and the fourth pneumatic coupler is positioned on a left portion of the chassis. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The overland vehicle recited in claim 18, wherein the chassis further includes at least a fifth side and a sixth side, and wherein the second suspension system further comprises a fifth pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the fifth side of the chassis, and a sixth pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the sixth side of the chassis. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The overland vehicle recited in claim 24, wherein the first pneumatic coupler is positioned on an upper portion of the chassis and the second pneumatic coupler is positioned on a lower portion of the chassis, wherein the third pneumatic coupler is positioned on a right portion of the chassis and the fourth pneumatic coupler is positioned on a left portion of the chassis, and wherein the fifth pneumatic coupler is positioned on a front portion of the chassis and the sixth pneumatic coupler is positioned on a rear portion of the chassis. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The overland vehicle recited in claim 17, further comprising: a plurality of wheels coupled to the powertrain, wherein the plurality of wheels are configured to selectively move the overland vehicle. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The overland vehicle recited in claim 17, further comprising: a plurality of tracks coupled to the powertrain, wherein the plurality of tracks are configured to selectively move the overland vehicle. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The overland vehicle recited in claim 17, further comprising: a plurality of wheels coupled to the powertrain; and a plurality of tracks coupled to the powertrain, wherein the plurality of wheels and the plurality of tracks are configured to selectively move the overland vehicle. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The overland vehicle recited in claim 17, wherein the operator compartment is configured to hold one or more passengers. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The overland vehicle recited in claim 17, further comprising: a backup system mechanically coupling the operator compartment to the chassis in the event of pneumatic coupler failure. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The overland vehicle recited in claim 30, wherein the backup system includes a plurality of limit straps. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) The overland vehicle recited in claim 17, wherein the plurality of pneumatic couplers includes a plurality of air springs. ### Claim 33 (depends on 17) The overland vehicle recited in claim 17, wherein the plurality of pneumatic couplers includes a plurality of pneumatic pistons.