Automatic levelling system

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to gravity,

• a plurality of jacks each disposed at an individual position relative to the vehicle and in displaced relationship to the other jacks for adjusting the vertical position of the vehicle at the individual positions relative to gravity,
• means disposed relative to the vehicle for sensing the tilting of the vehicle from a level disposition relative to gravity,
• means reponsive to the sensing means for operating the jacks in a particular sequence to obtain an adjustment in the vertical position of the vehicle at the individual positions and to obtain a resultant levelling of the vehicle relative to gravity,
• means responsive to a levelling of the vehicle for lowering to the ground any of the jacks still displaced from ground, and
• means responsive to each operation of at least one of the jacks for delaying the operation of any of the other jacks for a particular period of time to inhibit the levelling system from responding to transients.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to gravity,

• a plurality of jacks disposed at strategic positions in operatively coupled relationship to the vehicle to support the vehicle on the ground, the jacks being extensible to adjust the positioning of the vehicle relative to gravity,
• means for sensing the level of the vehicle at the strategic positions at each instant relative to gravity,
• means responsive to the sensing means for obtaining extensions of the jacks in a particular sequence and through particular vertical distances to level the vehicle relative to gravity,
• a plurality of supension means including inflatable air bags, and
• means for deflating the air bags before extending any of the jacks.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to gravity,

• a plurality of jacks disposed at strategic positions in operatively coupled relationship to the vehicle to support the vehicle on the ground, the jacks being extensible to adjust the positioning of the vehicle relative to gravity,
• means for sensing the level of the vehicle at the strategic positions at each instant relative to gravity, and
• means responsive to the sensing means for obtaining extensions of the jacks in a particular sequence and through particular vertical distances to level the vehicle relative to gravity, and
• means for delaying the extension of each jack for a particular period of time after the extension of the previously operated jack to prevent transients in the disposition of the vehicle from affecting the levelling of the vehicle relative to gravity.

In combination for levelling a vehicle relative to gravity,

• a plurality of jacks movable relative to gravity and supported by the vehicle for adjustment of the vehicle relative to gravity,
• a support member,
• a plurality of switches disposed on the support member, each of the switches being associated with a particular one of the jacks and being operative to indicate a downward tilting of the vehicle at the position of the associated jack, and
• means associated with the jacks and responsive to the operation of the switches and to the occurrence of a first particular pressure in the jacks for operating the jacks in sequence to level the vehicle relative to gravity.

In combination for levelling a vehicle relative to gravity,

• a plurality of jacks movable relative to gravity and supported by the vehicle for adjustment of the vehicle relative to gravity,
• a support member,
• a plurality of switches disposed on the support member, each of the switches being associated with a particular one of the jacks and being operative to indicate a downward tilting of the vehicle at the position of the associated jack, and
• means associated with the jacks and responsive to the operation of the switches for operating the jacks in sequence to level the vehicle relative to gravity,
• the jacks being hydraulic,
• means associated with the jacks for operating the jacks when the hydraulic pressures in the jacks exceed a particular value, and
• means for bleeding hydraulic fluid from the jacks to prevent the hydraulic pressure of the fluid in the jack from building above the particular value while the vehicle is travelling to prevent the jacks from becoming operative.

In combination for levelling a vehicle relative to gravity,

• a plurality of jacks movable relative to gravity and supported by the vehicle for adjustment of the vehicle relative to gravity,
• a support member,
• a plurality of switches disposed on the support member, each of the switches being associated with a particular one of the jacks and being operative to indicate a downward tilting of the vehicle at the position of the associated jack,
• means associated with the jacks and responsive to the operation of the switches for operating the jacks in sequence to level the vehicle relative to gravity,
• the jack being hydraulic,
• means associated with the jacks for operating the jacks when the hydraulic pressures in the jacks exceed a particular value, and
• means for bleeding the hydraulic fluid in the jacks to prevent hydraulic pressure from accumulating in the jacks while the vehicle is travelling.

In combination for levelling a vehicle,

• a plurality of jacks coupled to the vehicle at the underside of the vehicle at strategic positions around the periphery of the vehicle, each of the jacks being operative to raise or lower the vehicle relative to gravity at the strategic position at which it is disposed,
• a support member,
• a plurality of switches disposed on the support member, each of the switches having open and closed states and each being positioned to indicate the downward tilting of the vehicle relative to gravity in the direction of an individual one of the jacks in the plurality,
• circuit means including the switches and the jacks for activating individual ones of the jacks in accordance with the individual closure of the switches,
• means responsive to pressures greater than a particular value in the jacks for operating the jacks
• in sequence, in accordance with the vertical disposition of the vehicle relative to gravity at the positions of the jacks, to produce a levelling of the vehicle, and
• means responsive to the operation of the jacks in the sequence for initiating a new sequence in the operation of the jacks when the vehicle, still remains unlevel after the first sequence.

In combination for levelling a vehicle,

• a plurality of jacks coupled to the vehicle at the underside of the vehicle at strategic positions around the periphery of the vehicle, each of the jacks being operative to raise of lower the vehicle relative to gravity at the strategic position at which it is disposed,
• a support member,
• a plurality of switches disposed on the support member, each of the switches having open and closed states and each being positioned to indicate the downward tilting of the vehicle relative to gravity in the direction of an individual one of the jacks in the plurality,
• circuit means including the switches and the jacks for activating individual ones of the jacks in accordance with the individual closure of the switches,
• means responsive to pressures greater than a particular value in the jacks for operating the jacks in sequence, in accordance with the vertical disposition of the vehicle relative to gravity at the positions of the jacks, to produce a levelling of the vehicle,
• means for providing for a discontinuance in the operation of each individual jack to lower that jack when that jack experiences a second particular pressure greater than the first particular pressure,
• means responsive to the occurrence of the second particular pressure in any one of the jacks in the plurality for initiating the operation of the next one of the jacks in the sequence, and
• means responsive to a levelling of the vehicle for lowering the jacks still displaced from the ground until such jacks receive a third particular pressure less than the first and second particular pressures.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to gravity,

• a plurality of jacks each disposed at an individual position relative to the vehicle and in displaced relationship to the other jacks for adjusting the vertical position of the vehicle relative to gravity at the individual positions,
• a plurality of needle members each associated with an individual one of the jacks,
• means including a plurality of valve seats each associated with an individual one of the needle members to define a valve with the associated needle member,
• a plurality of solenoids each associated with an individual one of the needle members,
• means associated with each of the solenoids for actuation by the individual solenoids and coupled to the associated needle members for movement from the associated valve seat to open the associated valve,
• a pump,
• means responsive to the opening of each individual one of the valves for providing for a flow of fluid from the pump to the jack associated with the opened valve to obtain an operation of that jack,
• means operatively coupled to the solenoids in the different valves for energizing the solenoids in the different valves in a particular sequence, and
• means for repeating sequences in the operation of the jacks until the vehicle becomes level.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to gravity,

• a plurality of jacks each disposed at an individual position relative to the vehicle and in displaced relationship to the other jacks for adjusting the vertical position of the vehicle relative to gravity at the individual positions,
• a plurality of needle members each associated with an individual one of the jacks,
• means including a plurality of valve seats each associated with an individual one of the needle members to define a valve with associated needle member,
• a plurality of solenoids each associated with an individual one of the needle members,
• means associated with each of the solenoids for actuation by the individual solenoids and coupled to the associated needle members for movement from the associated seat to open the associated valve,
• means responsive to the opening of each individual one of the valves for providing for a flow of fluid from the pump to the jack associated with the opened valve to obtain an operation of that jack,
• means operatively coupled to the solenoids in the different valves for energizing the solenoids in the different valves in a particular sequence, and
• means responsive to the production of a particular fluid pressure in each of the jacks for providing for an energizing of the solenoid associated with the next valve in the sequence.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to gravity,

• a support member,
• a plurality of switches on the support member, the switches being operative in open and closed states and being disposed relative to the vehicle and being constructed to detect the tilting of the vehicle in different directions relative to gravity in accordance with the opening and closure of the switches,
• a plurality of jacks each supported by the vehicle and disposed at a strategic position on the vehicle to support the vehicle on the ground, each of the jacks being operative vertically to become extended and retracted,
• an additional switch included on the support member and being operative in open and closed states and being connected to at least a particular one of the switches in the plurality to resolve any ambiguities in favor of an initial operation of the jack disposed in a particular one of the strategic positions on the vehicle, and
• means responsive to the opening and closing of the switches in the plurality and the opening and closure of the additional switch for operating the jacks in a particular sequence related to the tilting of the vehicle relative to gravity.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to gravity,

• a support member supported by the vehicle for tilting relative to gravity in accordance with the tilting of the vehicle relative to gravity,
• a plurality of switches on the support member, the switches being operative in open and closed states and being constructed to become opened and closed in accordance with the tilting of the support member,
• a plurality of jacks each supported by the vehicle and disposed at a strategic position on the vehicle to support the vehicle on the ground, each of the jacks being operative vertically to become extended and retracted,
• each of the switches being disposed on the support member to indicate the tilting of the vehicle relative to gravity at one of the strategic positions,
• means responsive to the opening and closing of the different switches in the plurality in accordance with the tilting of the vehicle relative to gravity for operating the jacks vertically in a particular sequence related to the directions in which the vehicle is tilted relative to gravity,
• means for interrupting the operation of each of the jacks vertically when the pressure in each of the jacks reaches a first particular value and for instituting the operation of the next jack in the sequence, and
• means responsive to a levelling of the vehicle for operating vertically any of the jacks still remaining unextended after the levelling of the vehicle and for interrupting the vertical operation of each such jack when the pressure in the jack has second particular pressure less than the first particular pressure.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to gravity,

• a support member supported by the vehicle for tilting relative to gravity in accordance with the tilting of the vehicle relative to gravity,
• a plurality of switches on the support member, the switches being operative in open and closed states and being constructed to become opened and closed in accordance with the tilting of the support member,
• a plurality of jacks each supported by the vehicle and disposed at a strategic position on the vehicle to support the vehicle on the ground, each of the jacks being operative vertically to become extended and retracted,
• each of the switches being disposed on the support member to indicate the tilting of the vehicle relative to gravity at one of the strategic positions,
• means responsive to the opening and closing of the different switches in the plurality in accordance with the tilting of the vehicle relative to gravity for operating the jacks vertically in a particular sequence related to the directions in which the vehicle is titled relative to gravity,
• each of the switches including a housing and a pair of spaced contacts in the housing at one end of the housing and a conductive fluid disposed in the housing and movable in the housing to establish an electrical continuity with the spaced contacts dependent upon the direction of tilting of the support member relative to gravity,
• each switch in the plurality being disposed at the end of the support member opposite the position of the associated jack and the pair of spaced contacts in that switch being disposed at the end of the switch closest to the associated jack, and
• an additional switch disposed on the support member and connected to at least a particular one of the switches in the plurality to resolve any ambiguities in the priorities in which the jack are operated.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to gravity,

• a pump for delivering hydraulic fluid,
• means responsive to the operation of the pump for providing for the introduction of fluid from the pump for fluid pressures above a particualr value,
• a plurality of jacks disposed at strategic positions on the vehicle and hydraulically operative to raise or lower the vehicle at the strategic positions,
• means responsive to the dispositions of the vehicle relative to gravity at the strategic positions on the vehicle for providing signals indicating the particular jack to be hydraulically operated at each instant,
• means responsive to the signal means and the fluid-introducing means for obtaining a hydraulic operation of the jacks in a particular sequence, in accordance with the introduction of hydraulic fluid from the pump, dependent upon the characteristics of the signals provided by the signal means, and
• means responsive to the operation of the jacks in the sequence for obtaining a hydraulic operation of the jacks in a subsequent sequence if the vehicle has not been levelled after the first sequence.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to gravity,

• a pump for delivering hydraulic fluid,
• means responsive to the operation of the pump for providing for the introduction of fluid from the pump for fluid pressure above a particular value,
• a plurality of jacks disposed at strategic positions on the vehicle and hydraulically operative to raise or lower the vehicle at the strategic positions,
• means responsive to the dispositions of the vehicle relative to gravity at the strategic positions on the vehicle for providing signals indicating the particular jack to be hydraulically operated at each instant,
• means responsive to the signal means and the fluid-introducing means for obtaining a hydraulic operation of the jacks in a particular sequence, in accordance with the introduction of hydraulic fluid from the pump, dependent upon the characteristics of the signals provided by the signal means, and
• means responsive to a particular pressure in the jack being operated at each instant for obtaining an interruption in the operation of that jack and for initiating an operation of the next jack in the sequence.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to gravity,

• a pump for delivering hydraulic fluid,
• means responsive to the operation of the pump for providing for the introduction of fluid from the pump for fluid pressures above a particular value,
• a plurality of jacks disposed at strategic positions on the vehicle and hydraulically operative to raise or lower the vehicle at the strategic positions,
• means responsive to the dispositions of the vehicle relative to gravity at the strategic positions on the vehicle for providing signals indicating the particular jack to be hydraulically operated at each instant,
• means responsive to the signal means and the fluid-introducing means for obtaining a hydraulic operation of the jacks in a particular sequence, in accordance with the introduction of hydraulic fluid from the pump, dependent upon the characteristics of the signals provided by the signal means, and
• means for providing a priority to an initial operation of the jacks in the plurality at the end of the vehicle with the greatest load distribution and a subsequent operation of the jacks in the plurality at the end of the vehicle with the lightest load distribution.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to the ground,

• an energizable solenoid,
• an armature responsive to the energizing of the solenoid for movement in accordance with such energizing,
• a passage,
• a needle member movable in the passage in accordance with the movement of the armature,
• a valve seat disposed in the passage and cooperative with the needle member to define a valve,
• the needle member being movable in accordance with the energizing of the solenoid to open the valve,
• a pump,
• a jack supported by the vehicle at a strategic position in the vehicle to become operated for extension or retraction and to adjust the vertical position of the vehicle relative to gravity at such strategic position in accordance with such extension or contraction,
• means operatively coupled to the passage to obtain a flow of fluid through the passage from the pump to the jack to operate the jack when the valve becomes opened,
• means for biasing the armature to a position for closing the valve, and
• means operatively coupled to the solenoid for energizing the solenoid when the fluid to flow through the passage has at least a particular pressure in the jack.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to the ground,

• an energizable solenoid,
• an armature responsive to the energizing of the solenoid for movement in accordance with such energizing,
• a passage,
• a needle member movable in the passage in accordance with the movement of the armature,
• a valve seat disposed in the passage and cooperative with the needle member to define a valve,
• the needle member being movable in accordance with the energizing of the solenoid to open the valve,
• a jack supported by the vehicle at a strategic position in the vehicle to become operated for extension or retraction and to adjust the vertical position of the vehicle relative to gravity at such strategic position in accordance with such extension or contraction,
• means operatively coupled to the passage to obtain a flow of fluid through the passage from the pump to the jack to operate the jack when the valve becomes opened, and
• means for biasing the armature to a position for closing the valve,
• the armature being formed from at least a pair of members and the needle member being formed from at least a pair of members and the pair of members in the armature being disposed relative to the pair of members in the needle member to provide for a soft return of the needle member against the valve seat, independent of the movement of the armature, when the energizing of the solenoid becomes interrupted.

In combination

• a housing,
• a reservoir,
• a fluid passage in the housing, the fluid passage being open at first and second opposite ends and communicating with the reservoir at the second end,
• a valve seat in the passage,
• a plunger disposed in the passage for movement in the passage, the plunger being provided with dimensions to obtain a flow of fluid through the passage,
• a sealing member disposed in the passage and operatively coupled to the plunger for movement with plunger in the passage, the sealing member being provided with a configuration relative to the valve seat to define with the valve seat a valve having open and closed positions,
• means disposed in the passage for biasing the plunger to a position displaced from the valve seat to obtain a bleeding of the fluid through the passage to the reservoir when the pressure of the fluid in the passage is less than a particular value, and
• means for introducing fluid to the passage to obtain a closure of the valve defined by the valve seat and the sealing member when the pressure of the fluid exceeds a particular value.

In combination for use in a vehicle to level the vehicle relative to gravity,

• a plurality of jacks, each attached to the recreational vehicle at a strategic position on the recreational vehicle to cooperate with the other jacks in the plurality in retaining the vehicle on a level basis relative to gravity, each of the jacks in the plurality being hydraulic and being extensible and being responsive to the introduction of fluid to become extended,
• a plurality of switches each associated with an individual one of the jacks in the plurality for indicating whether the vehicle is tilted downwardly relative to gravity at the position of the associated jack,
• means for providing an introduction of fluid,
• means responsive to the production of pressures in the fluid from the introducing means above a first particular value for providing for the introduction of fluid to the jacks to operate the jacks in a direction to level the vehicle relative to gravity, and
• means responsive to the production of fluid pressures in the jacks below the first particular value for bleeding fluid from the jacks at a relatively slow rate to prevent the jacks from becoming extended while the vehicle is travelling.

In combination,

• energizing means,
• an armature actuatable by the energizing means from a first position to a second position,
• means operatively coupled to the armature for biasing the armature to the first position,
• a needle separated from the armature and disposed in coupled relationship to the armature,
• the needle having a tapered end,
• means defining a passage and defining a valve seat in the passage to define with the tapered end of the needle a valve having open and closed positions,
• the armature being biased in the first position to move the needle in a direction for closing the valve and being actuatable to move the needle to the position for opening the valve, and
• means for providing for the flow of fluid through the passage when the armature is actuated to the second position.

In combination,

• means defining a passage,
• these being a valve seat in the passage,
• a needle movably disposed in the passage and shaped relative to the valve seat to define with the valve seat a valve having open and closed positions dependent upon the positioning of the needle in the passage,
• an armature operatively coupled to the needle at one end of the needle for moving the needle in a direction to close the valve,
• means operatively coupled to the armature for biasing the armature in a first direction to close and valve,
• means for providing an electrical signal,
• means responsive to the electrical signal for obtaining the movement of the armature in a second direction opposite to the first direction to open the valve,
• means for providing for a flow of fluid through the passage with armature in the second position,
• the interior of the armature being hollow, and
• means disposed in the hollow interior of the armature for damping the movements of the armature between the first and second positions.