Leveling and lockup system for wheel tractor suspension system
AssigneeCaterpillar Tractor Co.
InventorsDale H. Unruh, Jan B. Yates
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cushioning, leveling and lockup system for a suspended axle vehicle having a leveling control subsystem which automatically corrects any changes in the distance between a vehicle frame and axle by communicating pressurized fluid from a pressure source to reposition fluid suspension cylinder struts, and a lockup subsystem having a lockup valve which isolates spring cushioning devices from the suspension struts, to reduce suspension cushioning, the lockup subsystem permitting rotation about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle or roll oscillation during lockup by interconnecting the cylinders through a flow path across the lockup valve.
Claims11
A suspension system for a vehicle having a vehicle frame and an axle, comprising:
- means interconnecting the vehicle frame and axle for providing that the axle is movable generally toward and away from the vehicle frame, and rotatable about an axis disposed generally longitudinally of the vehicle;
- sensing means for determining relative positioning of the axle generally toward and away from the vehicle frame;
- leveling means responsive to said sensing means for positioning said axle relative to the frame generally toward and away from the vehicle frame upon determination by the sensing means of positioning of the axle relative to the vehicle frame generally toward and away from said vehicle frame;
- ride cushioning means for cushioning movement of the axle generally toward the vehicle frame;
- and
- means selectively actuatable to deactivate said ride cushioning means, and actuatable to activate the ride cushioning means;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.