Air strut suspension system for a self-propelled high ground clearance product applicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10493798-B2
Application number	US-201715468403-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2017
Priority date	Mar 24, 2017
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method for controlling the height of a frame of a self-propelled high ground clearance, agricultural product applicator above a ground surface utilize a trailing link suspension system including an extensible air strut, for connecting ground engaging wheels of the applicator to the frame of the applicator. The trailing arm suspension system includes an upper suspension arm attached to the frame, a lower suspension arm providing sole support of a ground engaging wheel attached to the lower arm, and the extensible air strut interconnected between the upper and lower arms. Height of the applicator above the ground surface is controlled by regulating a flow of pressurized air to the air strut, to thereby control extension of the air strut.

First claim

I claim:

1. A trailing-arm suspension system for operatively connecting a ground engaging wheel to a frame of a self-propelled agricultural product applicator, where the frame is adapted for supporting at least one product container and defines forward and rear ends of the frame, a longitudinally extending central axis of the frame extending from the rear to the front of the frame in a direction of travel of the applicator, and a vertical axis of the frame, the suspension system comprising, an upper suspension arm, a lower suspension arm, and an air strut operatively interconnected to one another and disposed between the ground engaging wheel and the frame:
the upper suspension arm defining a frame attachment point thereof, adapted for fixed attachment to the frame;
the lower suspension arm defining a rolling axis of the ground engaging wheel and adapted for supportive attachment thereto of the ground engaging wheel for rotation of the ground engaging wheel about the rolling axis of the wheel;
the upper and lower suspension arms also defining respective forward and aft ends thereof, with the forward ends being adapted for operative pivoting connection to one another about a suspension pivot axis extending generally parallel to the rolling axis of the wheel and disposed forward of the rolling axis of the wheel, and the aft ends of the upper and lower suspension arms being disposed respectively aft of the frame attachment point and rolling axis, and with the aft ends of the upper and lower suspension arms being respectively adapted for operative attachment thereto of the air strut; and
the air strut having an upper end thereof adapted for operative attachment to the aft end of the upper suspension arm, and also having a lower end thereof adapted for operative attachment to the aft end of the lower suspension arm;
with the air strut being configured for receiving a flow of pressurized air from an air power source, and for extending and retracting in response to the flow of pressurized air, to thereby respectively lower and raise the rolling axis of the wheel with respect to the frame attachment point.

2. The suspension system of claim 1 , wherein the upper suspension arm is rigid, does not articulate vertically with respect to the frame, and the forward end of the upper suspension arm is disposed below the frame attachment point.

3. The suspension system of claim 1 , wherein the suspension system provides sole support for the ground engaging wheel attached thereto.

4. The suspension system of claim 3 further comprising a hydraulic motor drive unit operatively attaching the wheel to the lower suspension arm.

5. The suspension system of claim 1 , further including an electronic control unit operatively connected for controlling the flow of pressurized air to the air strut from the air power source, to thereby control extension and retraction of the air strut.

6. The suspension system of claim 5 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to receive an input signal indicative of a desired height of the frame of the applicator above a ground surface beneath the applicator, and for controlling the air power source in a manner causing the air strut to support the frame at the desired height.

7. The suspension system of claim 1 , wherein the air strut further includes a shock absorber.

8. A self-propelled agricultural product applicator, having a ground engaging wheel operatively connected to a frame by a trailing-arm suspension system, with the frame being adapted for supporting at least one product container, the frame defining forward and rear ends of the frame, a longitudinally extending central axis of the frame extending from the rear to the front of the frame in a direction of travel of the applicator, and a vertical axis of the frame, and the suspension system comprises:
an upper suspension arm, a lower suspension arm, and an air strut which includes a shock absorber operatively interconnected to one another and disposed between the ground engaging wheel and the frame;
the upper suspension arm defining a frame attachment point thereof, adapted for fixed attachment to the frame;
the lower suspension arm defining a rolling axis of the ground engaging wheel and adapted for supportive attachment thereto of the ground engaging wheel for rotation of the ground engaging wheel about the rolling axis of the wheel;
the upper and lower suspension arms also defining respective forward and aft ends thereof, with the forward ends being adapted for operative pivoting connection to one another about a suspension pivot axis extending generally parallel to the rolling axis of the wheel and disposed forward of the rolling axis of the wheel, and the aft ends of the upper and lower suspension arms being disposed respectively aft of the frame attachment point and rolling axis, and with the aft ends of the upper and lower suspension arms being respectively adapted for operative attachment thereto of the air strut; and
the air strut having an upper end thereof adapted for operative attachment to the aft end of the upper suspension arm, and also having a lower end thereof adapted for operative attachment to the aft end of the lower suspension arm;
with the air strut being configured for receiving a flow of pressurized air from an air power source, and for extending and retracting in response to the flow of pressurized air, to thereby respectively lower and raise the rolling axis of the wheel with respect to the frame attachment point.

9. The self-propelled agricultural product applicator of claim 8 having a two, or more, ground engaging wheels each operatively attached to the frame by individual trailing arm suspension systems comprising:
an upper suspension arm, a lower suspension arm, an air strut and a hydraulic motor drive unit operatively interconnected to one another and disposed between the ground engaging wheel and the frame for providing sole support of the ground engaging wheel respectively attached to that suspension system;
the upper suspension arm defining a frame attachment point thereof, adapted for fixed attachment to the frame, and being rigid and non-articulable vertically with respect to the frame, with the forward end of the upper suspension arm being disposed below the frame attachment point;
the lower suspension arm defining a rolling axis of the ground engaging wheel and adapted for supportive attachment thereto of the ground engaging wheel for rotation of the ground engaging wheel about the rolling axis of the wheel;
the upper and lower suspension arms also defining respective forward and aft ends thereof, with the forward ends being adapted for operative pivoting connection to one another about a suspension pivot axis extending generally parallel to the rolling axis of the wheel and disposed forward of the rolling axis of the wheel, and the aft ends of the upper and lower suspension arms being disposed respectively aft of the frame attachment point and rolling axis, and with the aft ends of the upper and lower suspension arms being respectively adapted for operative attachment thereto of the air strut;
the air strut having an upper end thereof adapted for operative attachment to the aft end of the upper suspension arm, and also having a lower end thereof adapted for operative attachment to the aft end of the lower suspension arm; and
the air strut being configured for receiving a flow of pressurized air from an air power source, and for extending and retracting in response to the flow of pressurized air, to thereby respectively lower and raise the rolling axis of the wheel with respect to the frame attachment point.

10. The self-propelled agricultural product applicator of claim 9 , further including an el

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Moen Richard A

Classifications

• B60G3/12

  the arm being essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle · CPC title

• B60G2400/252

  vertical · CPC title

• B60G11/27

  wherein the fluid is a gas · CPC title

• B60B19/003 Primary

  Multidirectional wheels · CPC title

• B60G2300/08

  Agricultural vehicles · CPC title