Position/height-based hydraulic suspension system and methods of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10485174-B2
Application number	US-201715429950-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2017
Priority date	Feb 10, 2017
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a ride height adjustment system useful for self-adjusting casters on suspension systems of harvesters, such as self-propelled windrowers. The suspension system utilizes sensors and hydraulic actuators operably linked to each caster, the hydraulic actuators responding to a detected ride height of the harvester to adjust the position of the casters to achieve the preferred ride height.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A harvester, comprising:
a vehicle frame configured for attachment to an implement to be moved in a longitudinal working direction across the ground;
at least one rear axle positioned transversely to the longitudinal working direction of the harvester and operably attached to the vehicle frame;
first and second casters pivotally mounted to the rear axle; and
first and second hydraulic actuators, each in fluid communication with at least one hydraulic circuit, operably mounted to the rear axle and configured for adjusting a ride height of the harvester during operation of the harvester in one or more operable modes.

2. The harvester of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operable modes comprise a first operable mode in which the harvester operates with the implement at normal speeds, a second operable mode in which the ride height of the harvester is adjusted up or down, and a third operable mode in which the implement is removed from the harvester.

3. The harvester of claim 2 , wherein the one or more operable modes comprise a fourth operable mode in which the harvester undergoes rapid deceleration, and a fifth operable mode in which the harvester is services.

4. The harvester of claim 1 , comprising one or a plurality of sensors configured to detect the ride height of the harvester.

5. The harvester of claim 4 , wherein the sensors are rotational potentiometers.

6. The harvester of claim 1 , comprising one or a plurality of sensors configured to detect a magnitude of extension or retraction of the first and second hydraulic actuators.

7. The harvester of claim 6 , wherein the sensors are linear sensors internal to the first and second hydraulic actuators.

8. The harvester of claim 1 , wherein barrel ends of the first and second hydraulic actuators are in fluid communication, and rod ends of the first and second hydraulic actuators are in fluid communication.

9. The harvester of claim 1 , comprising an accumulator in fluid communication with the first and second hydraulic actuators.

10. The harvester of claim 9 , wherein the accumulator is in fluid communication with the first and second hydraulic actuators via a hydraulic valve manifold.

11. The harvester of claim 10 , wherein the hydraulic valve manifold is in fluid communication with a pump and a tank.

12. The harvester of claim 1 , comprising a first pair of ground wheels mounted on the first and second casters.

13. The harvester of claim 1 , comprising a ballast box mounted to a rear edge of the vehicle frame.

14. The harvester of claim 1 , wherein the harvester is chosen from: a windrower, a lawn mower, a forage harvester, or a tractor.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Fay Ii Jeffrey B
• Fasick Gregory
• Pankaj Madhu
• Fackler Robert L

Classifications

• B60G2202/413

  Hydraulic actuator · CPC title

• B60G21/073

  between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected · CPC title

• B60G2204/8304

  using a fluid · CPC title

• A01D67/00 Primary

  Undercarriages or frames specially adapted for harvesters or mowers (coupling arrangements between animal or tractor and harvester or mower A01B59/00); Mechanisms for adjusting the frame (adjusting devices for the cutter-bar A01D34/28); Platforms · CPC title

• B60G2300/08

  Agricultural vehicles · CPC title