Suspension system with a floating axle lock

摘要

A suspension system for a vehicle includes a right front wheel, a left front wheel, a right rear wheel and a left rear wheel. A suspension system for the vehicle includes a first cylinder supporting the vehicle at the right front wheel in fluid communication with a second cylinder supporting the vehicle at the left front wheel, wherein the first and second cylinders form a virtual articulated front axle. The suspension system also includes a third cylinder supporting the vehicle at the right rear wheel and a fourth cylinder supporting the vehicle at the left rear wheel. The suspension system includes two spool valves in fluid communication with the first and second cylinders and intermediate the first and second cylinders. When one of the rear wheels is unweighted, an associate one of the spool valves closes and fluid flow between the first and second cylinders is blocked to create a virtual locked axle.

主权项

1. A suspension system for a vehicle having a right front wheel, a left front wheel, a right rear wheel and a left rear wheel; the system comprising:
a first cylinder supporting the vehicle at the right front wheel in fluid communication with a second cylinder supporting the vehicle at the left front wheel, wherein the first and second cylinders form a virtual articulated front axle; a third cylinder supporting the vehicle at the right rear wheel and a fourth cylinder supporting the vehicle at the left rear wheel; at least one locking valve in fluid communication with the first and second cylinders and intermediate the first and second cylinders; and a sensor associated with the rear wheels sensing whether weight is on the wheels, wherein the sensor closes the locking valve when the sensor senses that there is a substantial decrease in weight on one of the rear wheels.