Hydro-pneumatic driven axle suspension

US6145859A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Deere & Company · US

Inventors

• August Altherr · Kaiserslautern, DE
• Fritz Glaser · Zweibrücken, DE
• Werner Heim · Friedelsheim, DE
• Ewald Rudy · Sinsheim, DE
• Heinz Schwegler · Neulußheim, DE
• Michael Teich · Mannheim, DE
• Martin Trinler · Mannheim, DE
• Klaus Zahn · Östringen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 27, 1998
• Grant date: Nov 14, 2000
• Expiry date: Oct 27, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60G2500/02
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A hydro-pneumatic axle spring suspension system for the driven axle of an agricultural utility vehicle, in particular for the front axle of an agricultural tractor, is described, which contains at least one hydraulic cylinder arranged between the vehicle chassis and axle body. The rod end chamber and the piston end chamber of the hydraulic cylinder are each connected with at least one accumulator. Furthermore a valve circuit supplied by a hydraulic pump is provided for the control of the level, which controls the pressure of the accumulators as a function of the load on the axle body. To improve the operating and spring characteristics of the utility vehicle it is proposed that the mechanical and hydraulic components be designed for a spring suspension under maximum load of the axle body. The valve circuit is configured and controlled in such a way that in the accumulators an adequate pressure is constantly maintained in order to make possible a spring suspension of the axle body under all load and operating conditions of the vehicle.