Three point vehicle leveling with multi point stabilizing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11091130-B2
Application number	US-201916585773-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2019
Priority date	Jul 19, 2016
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

Aspects herein relate to using a three or more 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 defining a lateral pitch axis and a longitudinal roll axis, comprising:
a level sensor in electronic communication with a user interface and configured to measure the attitude of the structure;
at least three leveling zones configured to adjust the attitude of the structure based upon instructions received from the user interface operatively connected to each of the at least three leveling zones, wherein the first leveling zone is arranged at a front end of the structure and is configured to level the structure fore and aft about the lateral pitch axis based on the attitude of the structure as determined by the level sensor, and wherein the second and third leveling zones are configured to stabilize the structure about the lateral pitch axis and the longitudinal roll axis when deployed after the first leveling zone;
wherein the second leveling zone and the third leveling zone each comprise a stabilizer system having a pair of spaced apart stabilizer legs and a motor associated with each leg of the pair of stabilizer legs, the stabilizer motors being configured to extend and retract the stabilizer leg associated therewith in response to a stabilizer signal received from the user interface.

2. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the second and third leveling zones are further configured to adjust the attitude of the structure about the lateral pitch axis and the longitudinal roll axis when deployed after deployment of the first leveling zone.

3. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein each of the leveling zones are manually activated via the user interface.

4. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to control operation of the first leveling zone independent of the second and third leveling zones.

5. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to simultaneously control operation of the second and third leveling zones.

6. The leveling system of claim 5 , wherein the user interface includes a switch for extending or retracting the second leveling zone and the third leveling zone together.

7. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to control operation of the second leveling zone and the third leveling zone independent of each other.

8. The leveling system of claim 7 , wherein the user interface includes a first leveling switch for extending or retracting the second leveling zone and a second leveling switch for extending or retracting the third leveling zone.

9. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the first leveling zone comprises a jack arranged at a front end of the structure.

10. The leveling system of claim 9 , wherein the third leveling zone is arranged at a rear end of the structure and the second leveling zone is arranged on the structure between the first leveling zone and the third leveling zone.

11. The leveling system of claim 9 , further comprising at least one additional pair of jacks arranged between the jack and the rear end of the structure.

12. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the structure is a travel trailer and the first leveling zone comprises a tongue jack arranged at a front end of the travel trailer.

13. The leveling system of claim 12 , wherein the user interface is integrated into a housing assembly of the tongue jack.

14. The leveling system of claim 13 , wherein the housing assembly includes a lid and a locking mechanism configured to lock the housing assembly when the lid is in a closed position.

15. The leveling system of claim 12 , wherein the user interface is integrated into an exterior sidewall of an enclosure of the travel trailer and/or integrated inside an interior compartment of the enclosure.

16. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer motors each include a mechanical slip clutch configured to inhibit further extension of the stabilizer leg associated therewith after grounding of the stabilizer leg associated therewith.

17. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein each of the stabilizer systems is configured to cease extension of the first stabilizer leg and/or the second stabilizer leg upon sensing increasing amp draw.

18. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein the level sensor is configured to display an indication of the attitude of the structure.

19. The leveling system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second stabilizer systems comprise a stabilizer housing configured to house the each stabilizer motor therein, and wherein each leg of each pairs of stabilizer legs extends and retracts from the stabilizer housing.

20. A leveling system for adjusting an attitude of a structure defining a lateral pitch axis and a longitudinal roll axis, comprising:
a jack arranged at a front end of the structure configured to adjust the attitude of the structure based upon instructions received from an operatively connected user interface;
a first stabilizer system arranged at a rear end of the structure comprising:
a first stabilizer housing;
a first pair of stabilizer legs extending from the first stabilizer housing and,
a motor associated with each leg of the first pair of stabilizer legs and disposed within the first stabilizer housing;

a second stabilizer system arranged on the structure between the jack and the first stabilizer system and comprising a second pair of stabilizer legs and a motor associated with each leg of the second pair of stabilizer legs, wherein first and second stabilizer systems are configured to stabilize the structure about the lateral pitch axis and the longitudinal roll axis when deployed after the jack.

Assignees

• Norco Ind Inc

Inventors

• Garceau Bernard F

Classifications

• G05B11/01

  electric · CPC title

• B60S9/06

  of screw-and-nut type · 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

• B60S9/08

  the screw axis being substantially vertical · CPC title

• B60S9/02

  for only lifting or supporting · CPC title