Machine suspension and height adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9259986-B2
Application number	US-201314052831-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2013
Priority date	Oct 14, 2013
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

An assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on a wheel of the vehicle includes a frame pivotably connected to the vehicle chassis at a connection location and a wheel attachment component slidingly coupled with the frame. The wheel attachment component is positioned on a first side of the connection location and is configured to pivot in unison with the frame and to move between a plurality of operating positions relative to the frame. A suspension component is positioned on a second side of the connection location opposite the attachment component and is operably interposed between the frame and the attachment component for regulating motion transfer between the frame and the attachment component, the suspension component. An adjustment actuator is rigidly coupled with the frame and is configured to shift the attachment component between any of the plurality of operating positions relative to the frame.

First claim

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

1. An assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on a wheel of the vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a frame pivotably connected to the vehicle chassis at a connection location;
a wheel attachment component slidingly coupled with the frame, the wheel attachment component positioned on a first side of the connection location and configured to pivot in unison with the frame and to move between a plurality of operating positions relative to the frame;
a suspension component operably interposed between the frame and the attachment component for regulating motion transfer between the frame and the attachment component, the suspension component positioned on a second side of the connection location opposite the attachment component;
an adjustment actuator rigidly coupled with the frame and configured to shift the attachment component between any of the plurality of operating positions relative to the frame, the adjustment actuator being positioned between the attachment component and the suspension component; and
a pair of support members rigidly coupled with the wheel attachment component and slidingly engaging the frame, the support members being positioned on opposite sides of the connection location, the support members including mechanical locking mechanisms for locking the attachment component into any of the operating positions.

2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 , the frame configured to pivot about an axis of rotation, the wheel attachment component, suspension member and adjustment actuator all being positioned on a line that is parallel with the axis of rotation.

3. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 , the adjustment actuator and the suspension component being positioned between the support members.

4. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 , the locking mechanisms configured to lock the attachment component into any of at least three operating positions relative to the frame.

5. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a pivot actuator for pivoting the frame relative to the chassis.

6. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 , the adjustment actuator including a hydraulic actuator.

7. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 , the frame being pivotably coupled with a receptacle portion of an axle, the adjustment actuator being positioned within the receptacle portion.

8. An assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on a wheel of the vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a wheel attachment component for attaching the assembly to a wheel of the vehicle;
a frame pivotably attached to a receptacle of an axle of the vehicle, the frame including—
an upper spindle member positioned above the receptacle,
a lower spindle member positioned below the receptacle,
a suspension member rigidly connected to the upper spindle member and separated from the upper spindle member by a space, and
a pair of side members positioned on opposing sides of the receptacle and interconnecting the spindle members, each of the side members including a through hole;

a single height adjustment component configured to shift the wheel attachment component between a plurality of operating positions relative to the frame, the height adjustment component including—
an actuator housed in the receptacle, and
an adjustment member driven by the actuator and connected to the wheel attachment component;

a suspension component positioned between the suspension member and the upper spindle member; and
a pair of support members rigidly coupled with the wheel attachment component, slidably engaging the through holes of the side members, and rigidly engaging the suspension component such that motion transfer between the wheel attachment component and the frame is regulated by the suspension component.

9. The assembly as set forth in claim 8 , the support members including mechanical locking mechanisms for locking the attachment component into any of a plurality of operating positions relative to the frame.

10. The assembly as set forth in claim 9 , the support members being remotely controlled by a user.

11. The assembly as set forth in claim 9 , the mechanical locking mechanisms configured to lock the attachment component into any of at least three operating positions relative to the frame.

12. The assembly as set forth in claim 8 , further comprising a pivot actuator for pivoting the frame relative to the chassis.

13. An assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on a wheel of the vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a frame pivotably coupled with an axle of the vehicle chassis;
a wheel attachment component positioned below the axle;
a pair of support members rigidly coupled with the wheel attachment component and slidingly coupled with the frame such that the support members transfer torque between the frame and the wheel attachment component causing the wheel attachment component to pivot in unison with the frame;
a suspension component operably interposed between the frame and the wheel attachment component for regulating motion transfer between the frame and the wheel attachment component, the suspension component positioned above the axle; and
a pivot actuator for pivoting the frame relative to the chassis,
wherein the frame includes—
an upper spindle member positioned above a point of attachment with the vehicle chassis,
a lower spindle member positioned below the point of attachment,
a suspension member rigidly connected to the upper spindle member and separated from the upper spindle member by a space, and
a pair of side members positioned on opposing sides of the point of attachment and interconnecting the spindle members, each of the side members including a through hole for slidingly receiving one of the support members,
wherein the suspension component is positioned between the upper spindle member and the suspension member.

14. The assembly as set forth in claim 13 , the support members being removably coupled with the wheel attachment component and removably coupled with the suspension component.

Assignees

• Agco Corp

Inventors

• Slawson James

Classifications

• B62D7/06

  for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins · CPC title

• B60G2202/152

  Pneumatic spring · CPC title

• B62D5/14

  Rotary motor · CPC title

• B60G2202/41

  Fluid actuator · CPC title

• B60G3/01 Primary

  the wheel being mounted for sliding movement, e.g. in or on a vertical guide (camber maintaining means B60G3/26) · CPC title