Grounds maintenance vehicle with adjustable suspension system
AssigneeThe Toro Company
InventorsDale A. Stover, Alexander E. Hoy, Derek S. Duchscherer, Patrick J. Shaver
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Abstract
Suspension systems and grounds maintenance vehicles incorporating the same are disclosed. The suspension system may include biasing elements or springs that may be adjusted to vary the preload and thus change the spring and dampening characteristics of the suspension system. In some embodiments, the system may include an adjustment mechanism that permits simultaneous adjustment of two springs via a single action. In other embodiments, features adapted to assist an operator with mounting/dismounting the vehicle are disclosed.
Claims2
A grounds maintenance vehicle comprising:
- a chassis comprising a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends;
- a support platform extending along the longitudinal axis, the support platform comprising a seat support portion;
- and
- a suspension system comprising:
- a first suspension apparatus operatively acting between the chassis and the seat support portion of the support platform, wherein the first suspension apparatus comprises first and second torsion springs, and wherein the torsion springs are adapted to elastically deflect when the support platform is displaced relative to the chassis;
- a second suspension apparatus longitudinally spaced-apart from the torsion springs, the second suspension apparatus operatively connected to both the support platform and the chassis;
- and
- an adjuster adapted to simultaneously adjust a preload applied to both of the first and second torsion springs.
-25. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.