Independent suspension for lawnmowers, cutting decks and off-road vehicles
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A01D-075/28
B60S-009/08
출원번호
US-0482808
(2009-06-11)
등록번호
US-8196936
(2012-06-12)
발명자
/ 주소
Cheek, Elworth
Daye, Tony D.
출원인 / 주소
Cheek, Elworth
대리인 / 주소
James Ray & Assoc
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
14
초록▼
A suspension apparatus for off-road vehicle includes a plurality of linear actuators, each coupled to a power source and attached to a respective one of the plurality of wheels and frame or body of the vehicle for moving the respective one of the plurality of wheels away from the frame or the body u
A suspension apparatus for off-road vehicle includes a plurality of linear actuators, each coupled to a power source and attached to a respective one of the plurality of wheels and frame or body of the vehicle for moving the respective one of the plurality of wheels away from the frame or the body upon receiving a first command signal or moving the respective one of the plurality of wheels toward the frame or the body upon receiving a second command signal. Tilt sensors are provided with each tilt sensor mounted directly on or in close proximity to the respective one of the plurality of wheels for sensing its vertical attitude relative to a predetermined level condition and selectively generating each of a first and second position signals. A control device receives first and second position signals and outputs respective first and second command signals.
대표청구항▼
1. In combination with at least one of a tractor, lawnmower and cutting deck having one of a frame and a body and a plurality of wheels disposed underneath thereof, a suspension apparatus for independently controlling attitude of each wheel, said suspension apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of s
1. In combination with at least one of a tractor, lawnmower and cutting deck having one of a frame and a body and a plurality of wheels disposed underneath thereof, a suspension apparatus for independently controlling attitude of each wheel, said suspension apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of screw drive assemblies, each of said plurality of screw drive assemblies having a stationary portion thereof attached to said one of said frame and said body, an end of a moveable portion thereof connected to a respective wheel and an electric motor coupled to a source of electric power and rotatable in a first direction for moving said respective wheel away from said one of said frame and said body upon receiving a first command signal, said electric motor rotatable in an opposite direction for moving said respective wheel toward said one of said frame and said body upon receiving a second command signal; and(b) at least one tilt sensor mounted in a predetermined position on said at least one of tractor, lawnmower and cutting deck, said at least one tilt sensor enabling each of said first and second command signals. 2. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said at least one tilt sensor is a double throw mercury switch. 3. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said at least one tilt sensor is an inclinometer. 4. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said at least one tilt sensor is a plurality of tilt sensors, each of said plurality of tilt sensors positioned directly on or in close proximity to said respective wheel for sensing vertical attitude of said respective wheel relative to a horizontal level condition and selectively enabling each of said first and second command signals. 5. In combination with at least one of a tractor, lawnmower and cutting deck having one of a frame and a body and a plurality of wheels disposed underneath thereof, a suspension apparatus for independently controlling attitude of each wheel, said suspension apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of powered means, each of said plurality of powered means coupled to a power source and operatively attached to each of a respective one of said plurality of wheels and said one of said frame and said body for moving said respective one of said plurality of wheels away from said one of said frame and said body upon receiving a first command signal or moving said respective one of said plurality of wheels toward said one of said frame and said body upon receiving a second command signal;(b) a plurality of tilt sensors, each of said plurality of tilt sensors mounted directly on or in close proximity to said respective one of said plurality of wheels for sensing vertical attitude of said respective one of said plurality of wheels relative to a predetermined level condition and selectively generating each of a first and second position signals; and(c) a control device receiving said each of said first and second position signals and generating a respective one of said first and second command signals. 6. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said each tilt sensor is one of a double through mercury switch and an inclinometer. 7. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said suspension apparatus includes said power source. 8. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said suspension apparatus includes a plurality of resilient compressible members, each of said plurality of resilient compressible members mounted in a predetermined relationship relative to each of said respective one of said plurality of wheels and a respective one of said plurality of powered means. 9. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said each powered means is a linear actuator. 10. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said linear actuator is a screw drive assembly having each of a stationary portion thereof attached to said one of said frame and said body, an end of a moveable portion thereof connected to said respective one of said plurality of wheels and an electric motor coupled to a source of electric power rotatable in a first direction upon receiving said first command signal for moving said movable portion outwardly relative to said stationary portion and rotatable in an opposed direction upon receiving said second command signal for moving said movable portion inwardly relative to said stationary portion. 11. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said apparatus includes a coiled spring caged between said respective one of said plurality of wheels and said stationary portion of said screw drive assembly. 12. In combination with at least one of a tractor, lawnmower and cutting deck having one of a frame and a body and a plurality of wheels disposed underneath thereof, a suspension apparatus for independently controlling attitude of each wheel, said suspension apparatus comprising: (d) a power source generating a predetermined voltage; and(e) a plurality of devices, each of said plurality of devices adjustably controlling attitude of a respective one of said plurality of wheels relative to said one of said frame and said body, said each device including: (i) a power operated screw drive assembly having a stationary portion thereof attached to said one of said frame and said body, an end of a moveable portion thereof connected to said wheel and an electric motor coupled to said power source and having an output shaft thereof rotatable in a first direction upon receiving a first command signal for reciprocally moving said movable portion outwardly relative to said stationary portion and rotatable in an opposed direction upon receiving a second command signal for moving said movable portion inwardly relative to said stationary portion,(ii) a coiled spring encasing at least said movable portions of said screw drive and having one end thereof abuttingly engaging a portion of said respective wheel, and(iii) a tilt sensor mounted one of directly on and in close proximity to said respective wheel, said tilt sensor operable for sensing vertical attitude of said respective one of said plurality of wheels relative to a predetermined level condition and selectively generating each of a first and second position signals;(f) a control device adapted to receive said each of said first and second position signals and output each of said first and second command signals; and(g) a manually operable user switch electrically coupled to said control device. 13. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein said control device is a microprocessor controller. 14. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 13, wherein said tilt sensor is an inclinometer. 15. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein said tilt sensor is mounted on said stationary portion of said power operated screw drive assembly. 16. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein said tilt sensor is mounted directly on said respective wheel. 17. The suspension apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein said suspension apparatus includes a manually operable pitch selector control device. 18. In combination with at least one of a tractor, lawnmower and cutting deck having one of a frame and a body and a plurality of wheels disposed underneath thereof, a suspension apparatus for independently controlling attitude of each wheel, said suspension apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of powered means, each of said plurality of powered means operatively attached to each of a respective wheel and said one of said frame and said body for moving said respective wheel away from said one of said frame and said body upon receiving a first command signal or moving said respective wheel toward said one of said frame and said body upon receiving a second command signal; and(b) a plurality of tilt sensors, each of said plurality of tilt sensors positioned directly on or in close proximity to said respective wheel for sensing vertical attitude of said respective wheel relative to a horizontal level condition and selectively enabling each of said first and second command signals, wherein said plurality of tilt sensors are mounted in a predetermined position on said at least one of tractor, lawnmower and cutting deck, said plurality of tilt sensors enabling each of said first and second command signals.
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