Three point vehicle leveling with multi point stabilizing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10427654-B2
Application number	US-201715654364-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2017
Priority date	Jul 19, 2016
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

Aspects herein relate to using a three points to control the angular orientation of a structure via three or more jacks, and then stabilizing the structure via one or more stabilizers. In some aspects, the foregoing structure may include, for example, a motor home, recreational vehicle, travel trailer or fifth wheel trailer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A leveling system for adjusting an attitude of a structure, comprising:
a controller configured to send and receive at least one signal indicative of the attitude of the structure;
a first leveling zone having at least one first motor and at least one first leveler operatively connected to the first motor, the at least one first motor being configured to extend or retract the at least one first leveler corresponding therewith in response to a first signal received from the controller;
a second leveling zone having a second motor and at least one second leveler operatively connected to the second motor, the second motor being configured to extend or retract the at least one second leveler in response to a second signal received from the controller; and
a third leveling zone having a third motor and at least one third leveler operatively connected to the third motor, the third motor being configured to extend or retract the at least one third leveler in response to a third signal received from the controller;
wherein the controller sends the first signal directing the first leveling zone to adjust the attitude of the structure about a lateral pitch axis of the structure and then simultaneously sends the second signal and third signal to further adjust the attitude of the structure about the lateral pitch axis,
wherein, after the first, second, and third leveling zones have adjusted the attitude of the structure about the lateral pitch axis based on readings from a level sensor, the controller determines which of the second and third leveling zones is a lower zone relative to each other about a longitudinal roll axis of the structure and which of the second and third leveling zones is an upper zone relative to each other about the longitudinal roll axis, and then the controller directs the lower zone to adjust the attitude of the structure about the longitudinal roll axis, and then the controller directs the upper zone to adjust the attitude of the structure about the longitudinal roll axis, and
wherein, after the second and third leveling zones have adjusted the attitude of the structure about the longitudinal roll axis based on reading from the level sensor, the controller successively ensures grounding of the first, second, and third leveling zones by causing extension of each leveler, one after another, until the level sensor detects movement in the structure.

2. The leveling system of claim 1 , further comprising a remote device having a user interface, a memory configured to store one or more instructions received from the user interface, and a processor that is configured to communicate the one or more instructions to the controller, thereby resulting in an extension or a retraction, wherein the processor is configured to calculate an angular orientation of a selected portion of the structure and generate a signal indicative of the angular orientation, and wherein the level sensor is integral with the remote device.

3. The leveling system of claim 2 , wherein the selected portion of the structure is identified by placement of the remote device, and wherein the controller is configured to calculate a leveling sequence based on the one or more instructions received from the user interface and the signal indicative of the angular orientation.

4. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first leveler is a front jack.

5. The leveling system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one second leveler is a first rear jack, and the at least one third leveler is a second rear jack.

6. The leveling system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one second leveler is a first leg of a stabilization system and the at least one third leveler is a second leg of the stabilization system, the stabilization system having at least one stabilizer motor configured to extend or retract the first and second legs in response to a stabilizer signal received from the controller.

7. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first leveler is a front landing gear operatively connected to a landing gear motor that extends or retracts the front landing gear in response to a landing gear signal received from the controller.

8. The leveling system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one second leveler is a first leg of a stabilization system and the at least one third leveler is a second leg of the stabilization system, the stabilization system having at least one stabilizer motor configured to extend or retract the first and second legs in response to a stabilizer signal received from the controller.

9. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first leveler is a pair of front landing gear each of which is operatively connected to a landing gear motor that extends or retracts the front landing gear associated therewith in response to a landing gear signal received from the controller.

10. The leveling system of claim 9 , further comprising a mechanical slip clutch assembly configured to inhibit extension of the pair of front landing gear when the landing gear motor associated therewith is operating to extend or retract.

11. The leveling system of claim 9 , wherein the controller directs the leveler of the first leveling zone that is located on a side of the structure corresponding with the lower zone to adjust the attitude of the structure about the longitudinal roll axis together with the leveler of the low zone, and then the controller directs the leveler of the first leveling zone that is located on an opposite side of the structure corresponding with the upper zone to adjust the attitude of the structure about the longitudinal roll axis together with the leveler of the upper zone.

12. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first leveler is a tongue jack, the at least one second leveler is a first rear jack, and the at least one third leveler is a second rear jack, wherein a user interface is connected to the tongue jack.

13. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one second leveler is a first leg of a stabilization system and the at least one third leveler is a second leg of the stabilization system, the stabilizer stabilization having at least one stabilizer motor configured to extend or retract the first and second legs in response to a stabilizer signal received from the controller.

14. The leveling system of claim 1 , further comprising a stabilization system having at least one stabilizer leg and a stabilizer motor operatively connected to the stabilizer leg, the stabilizer motor being configured to extend or retract the respective stabilizer leg in response to a stabilizer signal received from the controller.

15. The leveling system of claim 14 , the at least one stabilization system further comprising a relay configured communicate with the controller and activate the stabilizer motor in response to the stabilizer signal.

16. The leveling system of claim 14 , the at least one stabilization system further comprising a mechanical slip clutch assembly configured to inhibit extension of one or more stabilizer legs when the stabilizer motor is operating to extend or retract.

17. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the controller dynamically changes a rate at which the levelers are actuated.

18. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the controller operates in an auto level mode where it automatically sends the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal according to an optimal sequence calculated by the controller.

19. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein opera

Assignees

• Norco Ind Inc

Inventors

• Garceau Bernard F

Classifications

• B60S9/08

  the screw axis being substantially vertical · CPC title

• B60S9/06

  of screw-and-nut type · CPC title

• B60S9/02

  for only lifting or supporting · CPC title

• B60G17/017

  characterised by their use when the vehicle is stationary, e.g. during loading, engine start-up or switch-off · CPC title

• G05B11/01

  electric · CPC title