Patent GB-1105051-A (GB)
Title: A method of adjusting the height of a vehicle relative to a surface and vehicles adapted for use with the method
Inventor: WELLS DONALD ARCHIE
IPC: B60P1/02
Filed: 1964-05-15
Abstract: 1,105,051. Vehicle suspension; endless track vehicles; rail vehicles. W. & C. FRENCH Ltd. 14 May, 1965 [15 May, 1964; 1 Feb., 1965], Nos. 20294/64 and 4259/65. Headings B7D, B7H and B7L. [Also in Division E1] A method of adjusting the height of the frame of a vehicle relative to a surface on which the vehicle is supported comprises supporting a first side, of the vehicle frame by means of at least one rotatable member which bears on said surface, sensing the height of the first side relative to a reference line disposed on or above said surface parallel or substantially parallel to the intended path of advance of the vehicle, and automatically adjusting the height of said first side relative to the rotatable member so as to maintain said first side at a predetermined level in relation to the reference line. The vehicle may be for laying concrete, trimming laid concrete or an earth-working vehicle and comprises on one side, a pair of transit wheels 54; 55 and a pair of guide wheels 60 for co-operation with an angle iron guide track 100. On the other side, the vehicle has a pair of endless tracks 51, 52. A pair of triangular plates 67, 68 are pivoted to the vehicle frame at 69 and to the endless track frames at 70 and each may be rotated about the pivot 70 by an hydraulic ram 73 whereby the side of the vehicle may be raised so as to work at an angle to the wheel base. Each ram 73 is connected in a fluid circuit including a valve 1 having means for connecting the ram to a source of fluid pressure or to exhaust according to the position of an arm 88 which has a roller 89 running along a guide rail 103, which in this case is the reference line, but which may alternatively be a taut wire, angle section, or an imaginary line defined by the tops of a series of stakes bridged by a shoe. Alternatively, the height control means may comprise photo-electric means monitoring the position of a reference line. An over-riding, manually-operated control (not shown) may be provided for adjusting the frame height and the wheels 54, 55 may be similarly mounted on triangular plates for height adjustment by manually - controlled means or by similar hydraulic devices controlled from the same reference line or from a similar reference line on the side of the vehicle adjacent to the wheels. The vehicle frame 57, 58 includes a side frame 53b in which the endless tracks are mounted for vertical adjustment on sub-frames 65, 66 and each endless track passes over track sprockets 64 and rollers 63. The hydraulic control valve 1 includes a pair of cam-operated poppet valves for connecting the ram cylinders to pressure or exhaust according to the position of the control arm 88, and is mounted on a guide plate 87 supported and urged against the reference rail 103 by a spring- controlled member 84 mounted in a block 82, itself mounted for vertical adjustment in a guide 83 attached to the side frame 53b. The endless track 52 and wheel 55 are driven by a prime mover 59 and the vehicle may comprise a concrete laying hopper 92 which traverse the vehicle transversely, or a concrete trimming device. To cover a sloping ground with concrete, a strip 96 is laid manually at the correct inclination, and a guide rail 102, 99 is affixed thereto, to support and guide the wheels 54, 55, 60. The guide rail 103 is positioned according to the slope required and the vehicle traverses the slope to be covered, the hopper 92 moving transversely and depositing concrete. The endless tracks move along the ground and height variations are accounted for by the height-sensing arrangement. A trimming device 93 shapes the upper edge. After the strip of concrete is laid, the guide rail 102, 99 may be transferred to the higher edge, the guide rail 103 positioned further up the slope, and the operation repeated. A similar machine having a concrete-trimming device may follow the first.