Suspension system for a utility vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11413995-B2
Application number	US-202017609349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2020
Priority date	May 9, 2019
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

A utility vehicle includes a frame, a first ground-engaging element coupled to a first portion of the frame, a second ground-engaging element coupled to a second portion of the frame, an operator platform supported by the frame, and a suspension system coupled between the operator platform and the frame to accommodate motion of the frame relative to the operator platform. The suspension system includes a first linkage assembly coupled to the operator platform and operable to accommodate motion of the second portion of the frame relative to the operator platform and a second linkage assembly having a first end coupled to the frame to secure the suspension system to the frame and a second end coupled to the first linkage assembly. The second linkage assembly being operable independent of the first linkage assembly to accommodate motion of the first portion of the frame relative to the operator platform.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A utility vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a first ground-engaging element coupled to a first portion of the frame;
a second ground-engaging element coupled to a second portion of the frame;
an operator platform supported by the frame; and
a suspension system coupled between the operator platform and the frame to accommodate motion of the frame relative to the operator platform, the suspension system comprising:
a first linkage assembly coupled to the operator platform and operable to accommodate motion of the second portion of the frame relative to the operator platform; and
a second linkage assembly having a first end coupled to the frame to secure the suspension system to the frame and a second end coupled to the first linkage assembly such that the first and second linkage assemblies are connected to each other in series, the second linkage assembly being operable independent of the first linkage assembly to accommodate motion of the first portion of the frame relative to the operator platform;

wherein the first portion of the frame is one of a front portion of the frame and a rea portion of the frame and the second portion of the frame is the other of the front and rear portion of the frame.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first ground-engaging element includes a front wheel, and wherein the second ground-engaging element includes a rear wheel.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each of the first linkage assembly and the second linkage assembly includes a four-bar linkage.

4. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second linkage assemblies includes a four-bar linkage.

5. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the first linkage assembly defines a first instant center located to a first side of the operator platform, a top link of the first linkage assembly pivoting about the first instant center,
the second linkage assembly defines a second instant center located to a second side of the operator platform, a top link of the second linkage assembly pivoting about the second instant center, and
the first side of the operator platform is toward one of the front portion and rear portion of the frame md die second side of the operator platform is toward the other of the front portion and rear portion of the frame.

6. The utility vehicle of claim 5 , wherein
the first instant center is located now the first ground-engaging element such that the top link of the first linkage assembly pivots about the first instant center in response to a pitching force applied to the second ground-engaging element; and
the second instant center is located near the second ground-engaging element such that the top link of the second linkage assembly pivots about the second instant center in response to a pitching force applied to the first ground-engaging element.

7. The utility vehicle of claim 6 , wherein substantially all vertical movement of the frame in response to die pitching force on one or both of the first and second ground-engaging dements is offset by pivoting of the top link of the first linkage assembly about the first instant center, pivoting of the top link of the second linkage assembly about die second instant center, or simultaneous pivoting of the top link of the respective first mid second linkage assemblies about the respective first and second instant centers.

8. The utility vehicle of claim 5 , wherein dew top link of the second linkage assembly comprises a connecting link and the second linkage assembly further comprises:
the frame;
a first lower link having a first and pivotally coupled to the frame and a second end pivotally coupled to the connecting link; and
a second lower link having a first end pivotally coupled to the frame and a second end pivotally coupled to the connecting link.

9. The utility vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the top link of the first linkage assembly comprises the operator platform md the first linkage assembly further comprises:
the connecting link;
a first upper link having a first end pivotally coupled to the operator platform and a second end pivotally coupled to the connecting link;
and a second upper link having a first end pivotally coupled to the operator platform and a second end pivotally coupled to the connecting link.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first linkage assembly comprises a vertical seat suspension module that is connected to the second linkage assembly.

11. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a first biasing member biasing the first linkage assembly to n extended position; and a second biasing member biasing the second linkage assembly to an extended position.

12. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a first resistance assembly coupled to the first linkage assembly to dampen motion and absorb at least a portion of the energy transferred to the utility vehicle when the first linkage assembly pivots towards a compressed position and approaches an end of a predetermined range of motion.

13. The utility vehicle of claim 12 , wherein:
the first resistance assembly comprises a support structure, an engagement structure formed on the operator platform and opposing the support structure, and a first resilient member between the engagement structure and the support structure; and
the first resilient member is configured to compress between the engagement structure and support structure to absorb at least a portion of the energy transferred to the utility vehicle as the first linkage assembly pivots towards the compressed position.

14. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a second resistance assembly secured to the frame and coupled to the second linkage assembly to dampen motion and absorb at least a portion of the energy transferred to the utility vehicle when the second linkage assembly pivots towards an extended position or a compressed position.

15. The utility vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the second resistance assembly comprises:
a support linkage having a first end rigidly coupled to the frame and a second end defining first and second arms;
first and second resilient members supported by the respective first and second arms; and
an engagement member coupled to the second linkage assembly and separated from each resilient member by a gap so the second linkage assembly freely moves within a limited range of motion without engaging with the second resistance assembly;
wherein the first resilient member is configured to compress against the engagement member to dampen motion and absorb at least a portion of the energy transferred to the utility vehicle when the second linkage assembly pivots towards an extended position, and
wherein the second resilient member is configured to compress against the engagement member to dampen motion and absorb at least a portion of the energy transferred to the utility vehicle when the second linkage assembly pivots towards a compressed position.

16. The utility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a seat coupled to the operator platform; and
a lateral suspension system coupled between the seat and the operator platform to absorb energy transferred to the operator platform in response to roll forces received by the utility vehicle.

17. A utility vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a first ground-engaging element coupled to a first portion of the frame;
a second ground-engaging element coupled to a second portion of the frame;
an operator platform supported by the frame; and
a suspension system coupled between the operator

Assignees

• Ariens Co

Inventors

• Berglund Brent P
• Berchem Jeffrey M
• Gindt Daniel J

Classifications

• B60N2/506

  Seat guided by rods · CPC title

• B60N2/38

  specially constructed for use on tractors or like off-road vehicles · CPC title

• B60N2/544

  Compression or tension springs (B60N2/542 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60G2204/13

  with the spring, i.e. coil spring, or damper horizontally mounted · CPC title

• A01D34/00

  Mowers (combined with apparatus performing additional operations while mowing A01D37/00 - A01D41/00, A01D43/00; convertible to apparatus for purposes other than mowing or capable of performing operations other than mowing A01D42/00); Mowing apparatus of harvesters · CPC title