Apparatus and method for operating a hydraulic suspension system of a crop sprayer

A hydraulic suspension system for a work machine, comprising:

• a first damping cylinder;
• a second damping cylinder;
• a first leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first leveling fluid line;
• a second leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second leveling fluid line;
• a first accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first damping fluid line;
• a second accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second damping fluid line;
• and
• a first check valve and a second check valve,
• wherein (i) said first leveling fluid line is restricted relative to said first damping fluid line, and (ii) said second leveling fluid line is restricted relative to said second damping fluid line,
• wherein said first check valve is fluidly interposed between said first damping cylinder and said first accumulator, and
• wherein said second check valve is fluidly interposed between said second damping cylinder and said second accumulator.

A method of operating a hydraulic suspension system of a work machine which includes (i) a first damping cylinder, (ii) a second damping cylinder, (iii) a first leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first leveling fluid line, (iv) a second leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second leveling fluid line, (v) a first accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first damping fluid line, and (vi) a second accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second damping fluid line, comprising the steps of:

• advancing first hydraulic fluid out of said first damping cylinder in response to retraction of said first damping cylinder;
• diverting a first portion of said first hydraulic fluid to said first accumulator;
• and
• diverting a second portion of said first hydraulic fluid to said first leveling cylinder, wherein said first portion of said first hydraulic fluid is greater than said second portion of said first hydraulic fluid.

A method of operating a hydraulic suspension system of a work machine which includes (i) a first damping cylinder, (ii) a second damping cylinder, (iii) a first leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first leveling fluid line, (iv) a second leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second leveling fluid line, (v) a first accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first damping fluid line, and (vi) a second accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second damping fluid line, comprising the steps of:

• advancing first hydraulic fluid out of said first damping cylinder in response to retraction of said first damping cylinder;
• diverting a first portion of said first hydraulic fluid to said first accumulator;
• diverting a second portion of said first hydraulic fluid to said first leveling cylinder, wherein said first portion of said first hydraulic fluid is greater than said second portion of said first hydraulic fluid;
• advancing second hydraulic fluid out of said second damping cylinder in response to retraction of said second damping cylinder;
• diverting a first portion of said second hydraulic fluid to said second accumulator;
• and
• diverting a second portion of said second hydraulic fluid to said second leveling cylinder, wherein said first portion of said second hydraulic fluid is greater than said second portion of said second hydraulic fluid,
• wherein said hydraulic suspension system further includes a first check valve and a second check valve,
• wherein said first check valve is fluidly interposed between said first damping cylinder and said first accumulator,
• wherein said second check valve is fluidly interposed between said second damping cylinder and said second accumulator,
• wherein said step of diverting said first portion of said first hydraulic fluid to said first accumulator includes the step of diverting said first portion of said first hydraulic fluid through said first check valve, and
• wherein said step of diverting said first portion of said second hydraulic fluid to said second accumulator includes the step of diverting said first portion of said second hydraulic fluid through said second check valve.

A hydraulic suspension system for a crop sprayer, comprising:

• a first damping cylinder;
• a second damping cylinder;
• a first leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first leveling fluid line;
• a second leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second leveling fluid line;
• a first accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first damping fluid line;
• and
• a second accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second damping fluid line,
• wherein (i) said first damping fluid line possesses a first diameter, (ii) said first leveling fluid line possesses a second diameter, (iii) said second damping fluid line possesses a third diameter, (iv) said second leveling fluid line possesses a fourth diameter, (v) said first diameter is greater than said second diameter, and (vi) said third diameter is greater than said fourth diameter.

A hydraulic suspension system for a crop sprayer, comprising:

• a first damping cylinder;
• a second damping cylinder;
• a first leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first leveling fluid line;
• a second leveling cylinder which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second leveling fluid line;
• a first accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said first damping cylinder via a first damping fluid line;
• and
• a second accumulator which is fluidly coupled to said second damping cylinder via a second damping fluid line,
• wherein (i) said first damping fluid line possesses a first diameter, (ii) said first leveling fluid line possesses a second diameter, (iii) said second damping fluid line possesses a third diameter, (iv) said second leveling fluid line possesses a fourth diameter, (v) said first diameter is greater than said second diameter, and (vi) said third diameter is greater than said fourth diameter,
• further comprising a first check valve and a second check valve,
• wherein said first check valve is fluidly interposed between said first damping cylinder and said first accumulator, and
• wherein said second check valve is fluidly interposed between said second damping cylinder and said second accumulator.

A crop sprayer, comprising:

• a chassis;
• a storage container supported by said chassis, said storage container defining a left container side and a right container side;
• a rear axle assembly;
• a hydraulic suspension system having a first fluid sub-circuit and a second fluid sub-circuit which are fluidly isolated from each other,
• wherein said first fluid sub-circuit includes (i) a left damping cylinder secured between said chassis and said rear axle assembly at said left container side, (ii) a right leveling cylinder secured between said chassis and said rear axle assembly at said right container side, and (iii) a first accumulator,
• wherein said left damping cylinder is in fluid communication with both said right leveling cylinder and said first accumulator, and
• wherein said second fluid sub-circuit includes (i) a right damping cylinder secured between said chassis and said rear axle assembly at said right container side, (ii) a left leveling cylinder secured between said chassis and said rear axle assembly at said left container side, and (iii) a second accumulator,
• wherein said right damping cylinder is in fluid communication with both said left leveling cylinder and said second accumulator.