US 4,061,309 AGranted

Vehicle leveling system and device therefor

AssigneeHWH Corporation

InventorPaul Edmond Hanser

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Abstract

A vehicle leveling system utilizing a plurality of support assemblies mounted on the bottom of the vehicle for rotative movement between an upper storage position and a lower operating position. Each support assembly includes two hydraulically extendable plungers which are operated in automatic sequence, the first plunger extending to rotate the support assembly into a vertical operating position and the second plunger then extending into engagement with the ground. Retraction of the plungers and return of the support assembly to its upper storage position are accomplished by spring means. The support assembly also includes structure which will respond automatically to excessive internal pressure to permit its rotation without damage either to the system or vehicle should the vehicle be moved inadvertently while the second plunger is in engagement with the ground.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A device for use in a system of leveling a trailer, camper, truck or other similar vehicle relative to the terrain on which it is standing, said device comprising

A. a support assembly mounted on the lower portion of said vehicle for rotative movement thereon between an upper storage position and a lower operating position, said support assembly providing
i. a first power unit defining a first chamber from which a first plunger is axially extendable in one direction to rotate said assembly from its upper to its lower position and
ii. a second power unit fixed relative to said first power unit and defining a second chamber from which a second plunger is axially extendable in another direction to engage said terrain after said assembly has been rotated to its lower position,
B. means for sequentially extending said first plunger and then said second plunger, said extending means comprising
i. a port opening into said first chamber,
ii. a passage communicating between said first and second chambers,
iii. means for isolating said port from said passage when said first plunger is retracted,
iv. a power fluid,
v. means for selectively delivering said power fluid into said first chamber through said port to move said first plunger from its retracted to its extended position,
vi. means for bypassing said isolating means after extension of said first plunger, said bypass means diverting fluid from said first chamber through said first plunger and said passage and into said second chamber to move said second plunger from its retracted position to its extended position, and
C. means for retracting said plungers and rotating said assembly to its upper position upon rendering said extending means ineffective.

8 more elements

A leveling device comprising

A. a mounting bracket having a pair of side plates disposed in a relatively parallel spaced relation,
B. pivot means supported between said side plates,
C. a support assembly mounted for rotative movement around said pivot means relative to said bracket between an upper storage position and a lower operating position,
D. said support assembly comprising
i. a first hydraulic cylinder having a first barrel portion and a first plunger mounted for relative reciprocal movement generally tangentially of said pivot means between retracted and extended positions,
ii. a second hydraulic cylinder having a second barrel portion and a second plunger mounted for relative reciprocal movement generally radially of said pivot means between retracted and extended positions,
iii. said first and second hydraulic cylinders being secured together with said plungers disposed in a spaced generally parallel relationship and positioned for movement in opposite directions,
E. stop means mounted on said bracket and disposed in the line of travel of said first plunger,
F. a fluid port extending into said first barrel portion,
G. a fluid passage between said barrels,
H. means for delivering fluid through said port into said first barrel to move said first plunger between its retracted and extended positions, the outer end of said first plunger reacting against and rotating around said stop means during its said movement to rotate said support assembly around said pivot means between its upper and lower positions,
I. means responsive to extension of said first plunger for diverting fluid from said first barrel through said passage into said second barrel to move said second plunger between its retracted and extended positions sequentially after extension of said first plunger, and
J. means for biasing said support assembly toward its upper position whereby said plungers are retracted and said support assembly is moved to its upper storage position upon rendering said fluid injecting means ineffective.

10 more elements

A system for leveling a trailer, camper, truck or other similar vehicle, relative to the terrain on which it is standing, said system comprising

A. a plurality of leveling devices mounted in a spaced relation with each other on the lower portion of said vehicle, each of said leveling devices comprising
i. a mounting bracket secured to said vehicle,
ii. a support assembly pivoted on said bracket for rotative movement relative to said vehicle between an upper generally horizontal position and a lower generally vertical position,
iii. a first hydraulic cylinder provided by said support assembly and having a first plunger extendable to rotate said support assembly from said upper to said lower position,
iv. a second hydraulic cylinder provided by said support assembly and having a second plunger extendable into engagement with said terrain,
v. said first and second cylinders being connected in a parallel relationship with their plungers being extendable in opposite directions,
vi. said first cylinder defining a fluid port for the ingress of fluid thereinto,
vii. a fluid passage extending between the cylinders, and
viii. means within said first cylinder for diverting fluid into said second cylinder after said first plunger is extended,
B. an hydraulic pump mounted on said vehicle,
C. a manually operable valve assembly having a control for individually operating each of said leveling devices,
D. a conduit extending between said pump and said valve assembly and between each said valve control and the fluid port of each of said leveling devices,
E. means for operating said pump for delivery of fluid to said valve assembly whereby one or more of said valve controls may be selectively operated to deliver fluid to the first cylinder of a selected support assembly,
F. said first plunger being extended to rotate said selected support assembly from its upper to its lower position,
G. said second plunger of said selected support assembly being extended into contact with said terrain following extension of said first plunger, and
H. a resilient member connected between each said bracket and each said second plunger and biasing said first and second plungers into their retracted positions and said support assemblies into their upper horizontal position upon rendering said pump ineffective and opening said valve controls.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.