Abstract: A suspension system with an oscillating, rigid axle, particularly for tractors, is described; the axle is supported on a sub-frame with oscillating arms which in turn can be mounted for oscillating on a load-bearing structure of the tractor by suspension means interposed between the axle and the load-bearing structure, the sub-frame comprising at least two pairs of arms arranged so as to form a so-called pantograph-like kinematic linkage.

Abstract: An industrial vehicle has a body frame and an axle, which supports wheels and is pivotally supported by the body frame. A potentiometer is supported on the body frame and is spaced apart from the pivot axis of the axle by a predetermined distance. The potentiometer detects the pivot angle of the axle. A link mechanism amplifies motion of axle pivot and converts the axle motion into rotational or linear motion. The link mechanism then actuates the potentiometer in accordance with the converted motion.

Abstract: A levelling valve actuating apparatus is provided for converting a linear displacement resulting from a vehicular height change into a rotational displacement and controlling operation of a levelling valve, the apparatus positioned between a wheel-side suspension and the levelling valve, the valve being supplied with operating air from an air source and the air supply to an air spring adjusted by means of actuation of a rotary plate for intermittently interrupting a hydraulic fluid passage within the valve body, comprising a lever for adjusting vehicle height one end of which is connected to the rotating plate of the levelling valve outside of the valve body, a connecting slot being formed at an opposite end of the lever in a longitudinal direction, a rack being formed on the inside of the connecting slot along the longitudinal direction; a rod for adjusting vehicular height having an arcuate external shape, an end of the rod being mounted on a side of the suspension through a ball joint, an arcuate slot bein

Abstract: A working apparatus includes a body, an engine, a front axle and a rear axle, the axles each carrying ground engaging wheels or tracks on which the apparatus may move over the ground, the apparatus further including an operator's cab mounted on the body, and there being at least one working arm supported at or adjacent one end on the body at a position for movement relative to the body, the arm being adapted to carry a working implement at or adjacent a second end thereof, and wherein one of the front and rear axles is suspended from the body by suspension means which is adjustable independently of the other axle to raise the body to a fully raised position in which a plane in which an uppermost part of the body lies, is at a maximum height above the ground and a fully lowered position in which the is at a minimum height above the ground.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of filling a pressurized medium chamber of a level control system which includes a pressurized medium store and a compressor. The pressurized medium chamber is filled from the pressurized medium store over a time span during which the pressurized medium difference between the pressurized medium store and the pressurized medium chamber exceeds a threshold value. When the pressurized medium difference between the pressurized medium store and the pressurized medium chamber reaches the threshold value, a further filling of the pressurized medium chamber is necessary and takes place by means of the compressor of the level control system.

Abstract: A vehicle height adjust control apparatus that increases the durability or service life of a fluid system, including a fluid supply-discharge device and a fluid actuator, can have a pressure sensor and vehicle height sensors. If a microcomputer determines that the pressure detected by the pressure sensor is greater than a predetermined pressure, the microcomputer changes a target vehicle height to a vehicle height presently detected by the vehicle height sensors. In a preferred construction, the target vehicle height is changed to the vehicle height presently detected, if it is determined that the detected pressure remains greater than the predetermined pressure for at least a predetermined length of time. The predetermined length of time is changed to a longer time when the fluid temperature is relatively low. These additional determination conditions prevent unnecessary or ineffective changes of the target vehicle height due to by a sensor abnormality or a fluid temperature change.

Abstract: A pitch angle calculating device includes a height sensor 11 arranged in either one of a front position Pf and the rear position Pr separated from the front position Pf by a predetermined distance w, detecting either one of a front vehicle height hf and a rear vehicle height hr and a controller 7 calculating a pitch angle of the vehicle on the basis of the detected vehicle height hr, the predetermined distance w and a designated virtual height hfk established as the other vehicle height hr which is not detected by the height sensor 11. The designated virtual height hfk is corrected into a corrected height (hfk+&agr;) by both number and positions of passengers on the vehicle and both weight and position of loads on the vehicle in advance of calculating the pitch angle by the controller 7.

Abstract: A modified racing vehicle having dimensions such that it can run on a track suitable for a conventional go-kart and which has substantially the characteristics of a single seater formula racing car. The vehicle has no differential on its rear axle (2) and no suspension on its rear and front axles (5) but is provided with weight transfer structure to compensate therefor. The steering geometry of the vehicle is arranged such that, for the radially outer steerable wheel with reference to a turning centre, a castor angle of the kingpin axis increases and the kingpin axis is inclined into the turn as the steering member (6) pivots and the outer steerable wheel is lifted upwards forcing the chassis (1) down whereby a downward force is exerted through the chassis (1) to a non-steerable wheel (4) that is the radially outer with reference to the turning center.

Abstract: In a suspension system with ride-height control, the movements of the body to be expected on the basis of longitudinal and/or transverse accelerations of the vehicle are not eliminated. For this purpose, set values are specified for the level of the body in a manner analogous to the movements of the body to be expected.

Abstract: A vehicle (10) includes a suspension system controlled by a suspension controller (12). The system further comprises a user interface unit (18) which includes a series of symbols (26, 28, 30) which remain secret until illuminated and each of which is associated with a particular operating mode of the suspension system. The symbols are illuminated only when their associated mode is available to a user for selection. The operating modes are selected by a series of push button switches (20, 22, 24) which are associated with the symbols (26, 28, 30) and are disabled unless their associated symbol is illuminated.

Abstract: An independent vehicle suspension in which the height change which can be made while the vehicle is stationary is limited so as to prevent the system from having to make too great an associated track change. This prevents the system from becoming locked during a height change due to stiction between the wheels and ground which opposes the track change. The height change is completed when the vehicle is detected as starting to move.

Abstract: A level control system controls the distance between the vehicle axles and the vehicle frame of a vehicle. The suspension is a full or partial air suspension, wherein the vehicle frame over the vehicle axles is supported via air suspension bellows. A vehicle inclination, i.e. a non-parallel alignment between vehicle frame and one or more of vehicle axles may occur as a result of various situations which may be dramatically different from one another. Uneven support of the vehicle represents one cause of vehicle inclination, for example, when one wheel of a vehicle axle is standing on the sidewalk. In order to avoid air losses, a vehicle level is not compensated for while the vehicle is stopped. Instead, the existing inclination is maintained and is entered into the control system as a target level. All level changes which occur due to changes in the load of the vehicle are compensated for by means of this prescribed target value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting a dynamic load relative to a foundation, such as a vehicle relative to the road, by a hydraulic system that monitors the movement of the load and adds or removes hydraulic fluid from the system to compensate for the load change. The hydraulic system is preferably one or more hydraulic cylinders that have a first chamber operably connected to the load and a second chamber operably connected to the foundation. The first and second chamber are connected by a valve. The valve is connected to the second chamber and a source of pressurized fluid with a reservoir. The first chamber senses the load change and the valve adds fluid from the pressurized fluid source to the second chamber or removes fluid from the second chamber to the reservoir to compensate for the change in the load and maintain the load in substantially the same position relative to the foundation.

Abstract: A load distribution unit for a hydraulic vehicle suspension system has a pair of cylinders with each cylinder defined by a block which is common to the cylinders and four cylinder sleeves, two sleeves for each cylinder extending from opposite sides of the block. The sleeves are fixed to the block by an end cap for each sleeve, with fasteners extending from the end cap to the block to compress the associated sleeve between the end cap and the block and estalish a seal between the block and the sleeve and the end cap and the sleeve. The LDU is mounted to the vehicle with a three point mounting, and with the cylinder sleeve cantilevered from the block. A clam shell compartment is mounted and sealed to one of the end caps of each cylinder, which is covered so that its interior is accessible without breaking the seal of the clam shell compartment with the end cap.

Abstract: A vehicle height adjust control apparatus and method precisely performs vehicle height adjustment while preventing unnecessary vehicle height adjustment. In the apparatus, a microcomputer compares the amount of shift of a vehicle height detected by a vehicle height sensor with a first predetermined value. If the amount of shift is greater than the first predetermined value, the microcomputer integrates the amount of shift. The integral of the amount of shift is compared with a second predetermined value. If the integral is greater than the second predetermined value, the microcomputer determines that vehicle height adjustment should be started. The first and/or second predetermined values used in an initial period immediately after an engine is started are smaller than the first and/or second predetermined values used after the initial period.

Abstract: A micromechanical capacitive accelerometer is provided from a single silicon wafer. The basic structure of the micromechanical accelerometer is etched in the wafer to form a released portion in the substrate, and the released and remaining portions of the substrate are coated with metal under conditions sufficient to form a micromechanical capacitive accelerometer. The substrate is preferably etched using reactive-ion etching for at least the first etch step in the process that forms the basic structure, although in another preferred embodiment, all etching is reactive-ion etching. The accelerometer also may comprise a signal-conditioned accelerometer wherein signal-conditioning circuitry is provided on the same wafer from which the accelerometer is formed, and VLSI electronics may be integrated on the same wafer from which the accelerometer is formed.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes a first hydraulic circuit, a second hydraulic circuit and a connection between the first hydraulic and the second hydraulic circuit. The first hydraulic circuit is operatively coupled to a first side of the vehicle, and is selectively controllable to move the first side of the vehicle. The second hydraulic circuit is operatively coupled to a second side of the vehicle, and is selectively controllable to move the second side of the vehicle. The first hydraulic circuit and the second hydraulic circuit operate together in a first mode when the connection between the first hydraulic circuit and the second hydraulic circuit is opened to move the first and second sides of the vehicle in a same direction. The first hydraulic circuit and the second hydraulic circuit operate independently of each other in a second mode when the connection is closed.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension gas supply system comprises valve means having a central chamber to which pressurised gas may be admitted and from which pressurised gas may be exhausted, gas communication paths for extending from said central chamber each to communicate with a respective gas suspension unit, and interposed in each gas communication path a valve unit operable to lie either in a closed condition in which an associated gas spring is isolated from the central chamber or to lie in an open position in which the gas spring communicates with said central chamber, a compressor for supply of pressurised gas, a gas dryer interposed between said compressor and central chamber, a remotely operable supply valve operable to allow pressurised gas to be admitted to said central chamber, and a remotely operable exhaust control valve operable to control a pair of slave valves thereby to cause pressurised gas to be exhausted from the central chamber via said dryer.

Abstract: An arrangement for vertically adjustably supporting an individual wheel carrier disposed by way of control arms or an axle beam on the body of a motor vehicle. An actuator is fastened on the vehicle body, constructed as a hydraulic motor with at least one pressure space. The actuator has a swivellable actuating shaft which acts upon the wheel carrier, its control arms or the axle beam, by way of a linkage which contains at least one lever arm. The lever arm, upon which the hydraulic actuator acts directly, is designed as a mechanical spring. Also, at least one loaded pressure space of the actuator is hydraulically connected by way of at least one return valve, with a less loaded or unloaded pressure space or a return flow. As an alternative or in addition to the return valve, the loaded pressure space can be connected to a hydraulic accumulator.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle suspension system includes a respective gas leveler (42) at each of multiple wheels. A compressor (12) and reservoir (46) serve the gas levelers. The compressor has an internal gas compressing mechanism (26) for charging the reservoir, an internal electric-operated exhaust valve (20), and a port (30) through which the gas compressing mechanism and the exhaust valve communicate with the reservoir and gas levelers. A respective branch (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) from each gas leveler and the reservoir to the compressor port contains a respective electric-operated valve (44, 48) in series with the respective gas leveler and reservoir. An electric pressure sensor (50) provides an actual pressure measurement within a range of pressures at a node that is common to the branches and to the compressor port. Apparent hoisting or jacking of the vehicle is detected (FIG.