Abstract: Methods and systems for hydraulic vehicle suspension are provided. A hydraulic suspension system, in one example, includes a first manifold including a piston-side interface and a rod-side interface fluidically coupled to a piston chamber and a rod chamber, respectively, for each of a first hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder. In the system, the first manifold includes a first electrically activated valve fluidically coupled to the piston-side interfaces, a first damping device, and a second damping device, the first electrically activated valve is configured to lock and unlock vertical motion of the first and second hydraulic cylinders and, while vertical motion of the first and second hydraulic cylinders is locked, the first electrically activated valve permits fluidic communication between the first and second hydraulic cylinders to permit free roll motion in the hydraulic suspension system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for vehicle suspension are provided. A leveling manifold includes, in one example, a plurality of electrically-activated valves arranged between, on a first end, a rod-side and a piston-side of one or more hydraulic cylinders, and on a second end, a pressure source and a tank, wherein the plurality of electrically-activated valves include a first valve, a second valve, a third valve, and a fourth valve. The leveling manifold further includes a first flow path extending through the first and second valves and from the rod-side to the second end and a second flow path extending through the third and fourth valves and from the piston-side to the second end, the leveling manifold is designed to manage operation of the first, second, third, and/or fourth valves to independently adjust a position and a stiffness of the one or more hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: A vehicle including a control valve to lift and lower a boom. The vehicle further includes a control circuit to control a speed of the boom lowering via a pressure compensator that balances a first pressure signal downstream of a control valve during the boom lowering and a second pressure signal from a hydraulic user interface so that, upon increasing of the first pressure signal during the boom lowering, the control valve progressively closes.

Abstract: A method of steering an articulated wheel loader including a front body portion and a rear body portion, the front body portion including a bucket and a pair of front wheels. The rear body portion is pivotally coupled to the front body portion and includes a pair of rear wheels. The method includes steps of: providing a steering command to steer the wheel loader; detecting an angle that a front longitudinal axis of the front body portion forms with a rear longitudinal axis of the rear body portion; and when the detected angle is greater than a threshold automatically implementing a steering brake function to independently brake one of the pair of front wheels or rear wheels that is on a steering side to reduce a speed of the braked wheel to zero so that the braked wheel becomes a pivot point to minimize a turning radius.

Abstract: A power-takeoff (PTO) unit for a work vehicle includes a planetary gear driven by an engine of the work vehicle; a PTO spline connected in power transmission to the planetary gear and defining a gear ratio; a hydrostatic transmission driven by the planetary gear to control the gear ratio; a pressure sensor unit for sensing a differential pressure across a loop of the hydrostatic transmission; and a control unit. The control unit is configured to calculate a differential pressure in the loop from a calibration mathematical model representing an unloaded functioning of the PTO spline. The control unit is also configured to calculate a PTO spline torque from a further mathematical model. The model is based on the pressure drop, on pressure signals from the sensor unit, and on kinematic or hydraulic factors of the planetary gear and the hydrostatic transmission.

Abstract: A hydraulic arrangement for distributing a fluid in pressure coming from a source among multiple hydraulic units of a work vehicle. At least one of the hydraulic units provides an electronic load sensing signal and of the hydraulic units provides a hydraulic load sensing signal. The hydraulic arrangement includes a priority valve configured to divide the flow of fluid between the hydraulic units. The priority valve and source are hydraulically controlled by a first hydraulic load sensing signal resulting as the greatest of a plurality of hydraulic load pressure signals taken from the hydraulic unit. The hydraulic arrangement also includes a conversion unit configured to transform an electronic load sensing signal of at least one of the hydraulic units in an equivalent hydraulic load sensing signal so as to define the first hydraulic load sensing signal.

Abstract: A system for automatically performing an earthmoving operation may include a work vehicle having an implement that is articulable by the work vehicle over a stroke length, a user interface, and a controller communicatively coupled to the user interface. The controller may be configured to receive an operator input via the user interface associated with performing an earthmoving operation with the implement of the work vehicle according to one of a plurality of earthmoving styles. Additionally, the controller may be configured to control the operation of the work vehicle to perform the earthmoving operation with the implement within the worksite based at least in part on the one of the plurality of earthmoving styles.

Abstract: A motor grader having an articulated frame that includes a first front frame portion and a second rear frame portion that is angularly moving with respect to the first frame portion around a pivoting axis. A front steering system includes front wheels that are movable around a steering axis with respect to the articulated frame and around leaning axis transversal to the steering axis so that the front wheels may turn and lean during steering operation. A control unit receives as an input a control signal representing a steering angle and outputs steering actuation commands for an hydraulic actuating system of the front steering system and for a hydraulic actuating system of the articulated frame realizing synchronized and proportional angular movements of the front wheels around the steering and leaning axes and of the first and second portions of the frame around the pivoting axis.

Abstract: A hydraulic energy management system for hydrostatic transmission for a work vehicle includes a pump carried by an engine and at least a hydraulic motor. The pump and the motor are configured to operate with a fluid in pressure passing through themselves. The hydraulic energy management system also includes a first and a second accumulator configured to store fluid in pressure, and a hydraulic connection module fluidly connecting together the pump, the motor and the first and second accumulators. The hydraulic connection module includes at least seven ON-OFF valves and a peculiar layout configured to allow a versatile control of the transmission.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a valve assembly, in particular for use in a tire inflation system, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body comprising a first fluid port and a second fluid port; a piston disposed at least partially within the valve body and configured to be moved relative to the valve body between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the piston is in the open position the first fluid port is fluidly connected with the second fluid port, and wherein when the piston is in the closed position the first fluid port is fluidly isolated from the second fluid port, wherein when the piston is in the open position the first fluid port and the second fluid port are fluidly connected with one another via a fluid channel extending through the piston. The present disclosure further relates to a tire inflation system including said valve assembly.

Abstract: A work vehicle including an articulated vehicle chassis having a front frame portion and a rear frame portion pivotally coupled together at a generally vertical pivot axis. The front frame portion carries a front axle and the rear frame portion carries a rear axle. A steering system includes at least one steering cylinder connected between the front frame portion and the rear frame portion. A power plant provides motive power to the work vehicle, and a transmission receives power from the power plant and provides power to the front axle and rear axle. The work vehicle further includes a secondary clutch interconnected between the transmission and the rear axle. The steering system is configured to disengage the secondary clutch to provide reactive steering, whereby the front frame portion tows the rear frame portion. The rear frame portion freely articulates relative to the front frame portion.

Abstract: A vehicle including a control valve to lift and lower a boom. The vehicle further includes a control circuit to control a speed of the boom lowering via a pressure compensator that balances a first pressure signal downstream of a control valve during the boom lowering and a second pressure signal from a hydraulic user interface so that, upon increasing of the first pressure signal during the boom lowering, the control valve progressively closes.

Abstract: An inching system for a vehicle having a hydrostatic transmission and an engine that drives the transmission. The transmission has a pilot pressure port with a pressure of hydraulic fluid at the pilot pressure port controlling a level of power from the transmission, a beginning of draining of the hydraulic fluid from the pilot pressure port defining an inching starting point. The system includes a brake pedal and an electrohydraulic valve coupled to the pilot pressure port of the transmission, the valve being configured to drain the hydraulic fluid at the pilot pressure port. A sensor is coupled to the pedal to detect an input from the operator, the sensor producing a signal indicative of the input from the operator. A controller receives the signal and a speed of the engine. The controller controls the electrohydraulic valve dependent upon the signal and the engine speed so that the inching starting point is unchanged regardless of the speed of the engine.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle includes a tyre and a rim for supporting the tyre. A chamber is defined between the tyre and the rim for receiving pressurized air. The wheel further includes a detecting device located inside the chamber for detecting presence of water in the wheel.

Abstract: A transmission system includes a power take-off for driving an implement and a hydrostatic unit for transmitting power from the engine to the power take-off. The hydrostatic unit includes a first hydraulic power unit having a first connection line and a second connection line, and a second hydraulic power unit having a first connection line and a second connection line. The hydrostatic unit also includes a valve for connecting the first hydraulic power unit and the second hydraulic power unit, the valve being positionable at least in a first position a first position and in a second position.

Abstract: An articulated tractor comprises a front frame, a rear frame articulated to the front frame by a central articulation, and a pivotable hitch carried by one of the front frame and the rear frame. The hitch is pivoted during steering. Front wheels are offset from the rear part of the tractor.

Abstract: An agricultural system includes a baler with a plunger and a sensor for sensing a plunger-related value; a vehicle including a power source operable to convey power to the plunger; and a CVT arranged to drive the plunger. In order to balance a fluctuating load of the plunger over the working cycle, an electronic control unit (ECU) is coupled to the sensor and to the CVT and is configured to receive the signal from the sensor and to cause the CVT to modify a gear ratio of the CVT based on the signal from the sensor and on a mathematical model defining a CVT gear ratio variation profile derived from an expected load applied by crop on the plunger over its operating cycle.

Abstract: A control circuit for controlling the pressure of a wheel enclosing a first volume and a second volume includes a controlled pressure line, a first line, connectable to the controlled pressure line and connected to the first volume for introducing air inside the first volume, and a second line, connectable to the controlled pressure line and connected to the second volume for introducing air inside the second volume. The control circuit further includes a first spool valve, which is a three way-two positions valve, having a first position in which the controlled pressure line is connected to the first line, and a second position, in which the controlled pressure line is connected to the second line. The first spool valve switches from the first position to the second position if the pressure in the first volume exceeds a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A transmission system includes a power take-off for driving an implement and a hydrostatic unit for transmitting power from the engine to the power take-off. The hydrostatic unit includes a first hydraulic power unit having a first connection line and a second connection line, and a second hydraulic power unit having a first connection line and a second connection line. The hydrostatic unit also includes a valve for connecting the first hydraulic power unit and the second hydraulic power unit, the valve being positionable at least in a first position, in a second position and in a neutral position.

Abstract: A power-takeoff (PTO) unit for a work vehicle includes a planetary gear driven by an engine of the work vehicle; a PTO spline connected in power transmission to the planetary gear and defining a gear ratio; a hydrostatic transmission driven by the planetary gear to control the gear ratio; a pressure sensor unit for sensing a differential pressure across a loop of the hydrostatic transmission; and a control unit. The control unit is configured to calculate a differential pressure in the loop from a calibration mathematical model representing an unloaded functioning of the PTO spline. The control unit is also configured to calculate a PTO spline torque from a further mathematical model. The model is based on the pressure drop, on pressure signals from the sensor unit, and on kinematic or hydraulic factors of the planetary gear and the hydrostatic transmission.