Vehicle leveling system
AssigneeVersa Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRobert H. Schneider, Jon D. Jacobs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for leveling a vehicle, such as a recreational vehicle, includes three extendable and retractable fluid-operated jacks. The jacks are spring-biased to their retracted position. Supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure extends the jacks, and the jacks are retracted by relieving the supply of hydraulic fluid pressure to the jacks to allow the springs to expel fluid from the jacks. A number of unique aspects are incorporated in the leveling system for providing highly advantageous construction, operation and installation.
Claims14
A vehicle leveling system, comprising:
- a plurality of extendible and retractable fluid-operated jacks;
- a selectively operable source of pressurized fluid for supplying pressurized fluid from a reservoir;
- a supply line for supplying pressurized fluid upon operation of the pressurized fluid source;
- a primary supply/return line in communication with the supply line for receiving pressurized fluid therefrom upon operation of the pressurized fluid source;
- a plurality of secondary supply/return lines, each of which communicates between the primary supply/return line and one of the jacks;
- a supply/return control valve disposed in each secondary supply/return line, each supply/return control valve being movable between a first position providing communication between the primary supply/return line and a jack through a secondary supply/return line to provide supply or return flow of fluid to the supply/return control valve, and a second position cutting off communication between the primary supply/return line and the jack;
- a return line communicating between the primary supply/return line and the reservoir;
- and
- a return control valve disposed in the return line and movable between a first position allowing return flow from the primary supply/return line to the reservoir, and a second position preventing return flow from the primary supply/return line to the reservoir.
A vehicle leveling system for use in a vehicle having a suspension including one or more inflatable and deflatable air bags and a source of pressurized air, comprising:
- a plurality of extendable and retractable fluid-operated jacks;
- an arrangement for selectively extending the jacks to level the vehicle and for retracting the jacks;
- one or more air pressure supply valves interposed between the source of pressurized air and the air bags, each supply valve being movable between a first position for supplying pressurized air to the air bags, and a second position for cutting off supply of pressurized air to the air bags;
- one or more relay valves interposed between each supply valve and the air bags, each relay valve being movable between a first position establishing communication between a supply valve and one or more air bags, and a second position for exhausting air from one or more air bags;
- and
- a control valve for selectively moving the relay valves between their first and second positions, the control valve being interconnected with the leveling arrangement for moving the relay valves to their second position to exhaust the air bags prior to leveling of the vehicle, and for moving the relay valves to their first position to fill the air bags after retraction of the legs and prior to operation of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.