Compact track loader with lockable suspension system
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B60G-017/018
B60G-023/00
B62C-003/00
B62D-055/108
E02F-003/34
E02F-009/20
출원번호
US-0877355
(2015-10-07)
등록번호
US-9694861
(2017-07-04)
발명자
/ 주소
Thomas, Galen C.
Whiteman, Steven R.
Fleischmann, Steve G.
Gross, Justin C.
Wentzloff, James
출원인 / 주소
Deere & Company
대리인 / 주소
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
12
초록▼
A suspension assembly of a work machine being movable in a forward direction. The work machine includes a frame, an undercarriage supporting the frame and at least one ground-engaging track. The suspension assembly includes a torsion assembly having an axle, a torsion bar adapted to be fixedly coupl
A suspension assembly of a work machine being movable in a forward direction. The work machine includes a frame, an undercarriage supporting the frame and at least one ground-engaging track. The suspension assembly includes a torsion assembly having an axle, a torsion bar adapted to be fixedly coupled to the frame, and an axle arm coupled at one end to the axle and at an opposite end thereof to the torsion bar. A locking arm has a first end and a second end, where the first end is coupled to the axle arm. A hydraulic actuator is coupled to the second end of the locking arm. The hydraulic actuator is operably controlled between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. In the unlocked configuration, the axle arm is pivotable relative to the frame, and in the locked configuration the axle arm is restricted from pivoting relative to the frame.
대표청구항▼
1. A suspension assembly of a work machine being movable in a forward direction, the work machine including a frame, an undercarriage supporting the frame, at least one boom arm pivotally coupled to the frame, and at least one ground-engaging track, comprising: a torsion assembly, the torsion assemb
1. A suspension assembly of a work machine being movable in a forward direction, the work machine including a frame, an undercarriage supporting the frame, at least one boom arm pivotally coupled to the frame, and at least one ground-engaging track, comprising: a torsion assembly, the torsion assembly including an axle adapted to be coupled to the undercarriage, a torsion bar adapted to be fixedly coupled to the frame, and an axle arm coupled at one end to the axle and at an opposite end thereof to the torsion bar;a locking arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the axle arm; anda hydraulic actuator coupled to the second end of the locking arm, the hydraulic actuator being operably controlled between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration;wherein:in the unlocked configuration, the axle arm is pivotable relative to the frame; andin the locked configuration, the axle arm is restricted from pivoting relative to the frame. 2. The suspension assembly of claim 1, wherein in the unlocked configuration, the torsional assembly is structured to absorb vibrational inputs. 3. The suspension assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bogie roller suspension assembly for absorbing vibrational inputs, the bogie roller suspension assembly including at least two pairs of bogie wheels. 4. The suspension assembly of claim 1, wherein the axle arm extends downward from the frame at an angle between 180 and 270 degrees from the forward direction. 5. The suspension assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second torsion assembly disposed near a rear end of the work machine, the second torsion assembly including a second axle coupled to the undercarriage, a second torsion bar fixedly coupled to the frame, and a second axle arm coupled at one end to the second axle and at an opposite end thereof to the second torsion bar. 6. The suspension assembly of claim 5, wherein the first axle arm has a first length and the second axle arm has a second length, where the first length is less than the second length. 7. The suspension assembly of claim 5, wherein: the first axle arm extends downward from the frame at an angle between 180 and 270 degrees from the forward direction; andthe second axle arm extends downward from the frame at an angle between 180 and 270 degrees from the forward direction. 8. The suspension assembly of claim 5, further comprising a first axle and a second axle, the first axle arm being coupled to the first axle about a first axle axis and the second axle arm being coupled to the second axle about a second axle axis; wherein, the first axle arm is coupled to the frame and locking arm about a first torsion axis, and the second axle arm is coupled to the frame about a second torsion axis;wherein, a first axis passes through a length of the first axle arm and intersects the first axle axis and the first torsion axis, and a second axis passes through a length of the second axle arm and intersects the second axle axis and the second torsion axis;further wherein, the first axis and the second axis intersect to define an instant center, the instant center continuously being located at a location in front of the machine. 9. The suspension assembly of claim 8, wherein in the unlocked configuration: the instant center is movable along an arc-shaped path based on a free state, an unloaded state, and a loaded state of the first and second axle arms; anda center of gravity of the machine is movable along a path defined by a pitch angle, the pitch angle being less than 2 degrees. 10. A work machine being movable in a forward direction of travel, comprising: a frame having a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side;at least one boom arm pivotably coupled to the frame;an undercarriage supporting the frame, the undercarriage including at least one ground-engaging track positioned around the undercarriage;a first torsion assembly disposed near the front end and adapted to reduce vibrational inputs, the first torsion assembly including a first axle coupled to the undercarriage, a torsion bar fixedly coupled to the frame, and a first axle arm coupled at one end to the first axle and at an opposite end thereof to the torsion bar;a second torsion assembly disposed near a rear end of the work machine and adapted to reduce vibrational inputs, the second torsion assembly including a second axle coupled to the undercarriage, a second torsion bar fixedly coupled to the frame, and a second axle arm coupled at one end to the second axle and at an opposite end thereof to the second torsion bar;a locking arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the first axle arm; anda hydraulic actuator coupled to the second end of the locking arm, the hydraulic actuator being operably controlled between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration;wherein:in the unlocked configuration, the first axle arm is pivotable relative to the frame; andin the locked configuration, the first axle arm is restricted from pivoting relative to the frame. 11. The work machine of claim 10, wherein: the first torsion assembly comprises one torsion assembly on the first side of the frame and another torsion assembly on the second side thereof;the locking arm comprises a first locking arm and a second locking arm, the first locking arm being coupled to the first axle arm on the first side and the second locking arm being coupled to the first axle arm on the second side; andthe hydraulic actuator comprises a first hydraulic actuator and a second hydraulic actuator, the first hydraulic actuator being coupled to the first locking arm and the second hydraulic actuator being coupled to the second locking arm. 12. The work machine of claim 10, wherein the first axle arm has a first length and the second axle arm has a second length, where the first length is less than the second length. 13. The work machine of claim 10, wherein: the first axle arm extends downward from the frame at an angle between 180 and 270 degrees from the forward direction; andthe second axle arm extends downward from the frame at an angle between 180 and 270 degrees from the forward direction. 14. The work machine of claim 10, further comprising a first axle and a second axle, the first axle arm being coupled to the first axle about a first axle axis and the second axle arm being coupled to the second axle about a second axle axis; wherein, the first axle arm is coupled to the frame and locking arm about a first torsion axis, and the second axle arm is coupled to the frame about a second torsion axis;wherein, a first axis passes through a length of the first axle arm and intersects the first axle axis and the first torsion axis, and a second axis passes through a length of the second axle arm and intersects the second axle axis and the second torsion axis;further wherein, the first axis and the second axis intersect to define an instant center, the instant center continuously being located at a point forward of the machine. 15. The work machine of claim 14, further comprising a center of gravity of the machine defined at a location on the machine, wherein in the unlocked configuration the instant center is movable along a curved path and the center of gravity is movable along a path defined by a pitch angle, the pitch angle being less than 2 degrees. 16. The work machine of claim 10, further comprising: a controller;a main control valve in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator;a solenoid valve fluidly coupled to the main control valve, the solenoid valve including a solenoid disposed in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the solenoid valve is movable between a first position and a second position; anda damping orifice for damping fluid flow to and from the hydraulic actuator, the orifice being fluidly coupled to the hydraulic actuator and solenoid valve;wherein, the solenoid is operably controlled between at least a first state and a second state;further wherein, in the first state, the solenoid valve is movable to a first position to fluidly couple the main control valve and the hydraulic actuator, and in the second state the solenoid valve is movable to a second position to restrict any fluid coupling between the main control valve and the hydraulic actuator. 17. A method of controlling a suspension assembly of a work machine being movable in a forward direction, the machine including a frame, a cab mounted to the frame, operator controls in the cab for operating the machine, an undercarriage, and at least one boom arm pivotally coupled to the frame, the method comprising: providing a controller, a locking arm, a hydraulic actuator, and a torsion assembly including an axle coupled to the undercarriage, a torsion bar coupled to the frame, and an axle arm coupled at one end to the axle and at an opposite end thereof to the torsion bar such that the axle arm extends downward from the frame at an angle between 180 and 270 degrees from the forward direction;operating the machine in a first operating mode or a second operating mode, the first operating mode being characteristic of a rigid mode and the second operating mode being characteristic of a suspension mode;detecting a change between the first operating mode and the second operating mode; andcontrolling the hydraulic actuator between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration based on the detecting state;wherein in the first operating mode: controlling the hydraulic actuator to its locked configuration; andrestricting pivotal movement between the axle arm and the frame;further wherein in the second operating mode: controlling the hydraulic actuator to its unlocked configuration; andpermitting pivotal movement between the axle arm and the frame. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the detecting step comprises: receiving an input from the operator controls; orsensing a machine characteristic with a sensor, comparing the sensed characteristic to a threshold, and determining the sensed characteristic satisfies the threshold;wherein, the machine characteristic includes vehicle speed or boom arm height position. 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising continuously maintaining the axle arm at an angle between 180 and 270 degrees from the forward direction in the second operating mode. 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: providing a second torsion assembly disposed near a rear end of the work machine, the second torsion assembly including a second axle coupled to the undercarriage, a second torsion bar fixedly coupled to the frame, and a second axle arm coupled at one end to the second axle and at an opposite end thereof to the second torsion bar such that the axle arm extends downward from the frame at an angle between 180 and 270 degrees from the forward direction, where the second axle arm is longer than the first axle arm;defining a center of gravity at a location on the machine;maintaining the instant center at a location spaced from a front end of the machine in the forward direction; andlimiting a pitching motion of the center of gravity in the second operating mode to an angle of less than 2°.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (12)
Albright,Larry E.; Frederick,Dan, Drive track support with vibration isolation.
Albright, Larry E.; Homola, Gary J.; Homola, legal representative, Maria C; Koch, Rodney; Tuhy, Lance; Roan, Thomas J., Track vehicle having drive and suspension systems.
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