Patent ID: 8682528

Claim:
A suspension system for a mobile machine, comprising: a seat operatively connected to a cabin floor of the mobile machine; a cylinder connected between the seat and the cabin floor; a spring associated with the cylinder; a valve configured to regulate fluid flow into and out of the cylinder, wherein the valve includes a valve element movable from a first position at which the fluid flow into and out of the cylinder is restricted by an amount that still allows fluid flow through the valve, to a second position at which the fluid flow is substantially unrestricted by the valve element, and wherein the valve element is biased toward a default position between the first and second positions and moveable to any position between the first and second positions; and a controller in communication with the valve, the controller being configured to: detect a failure condition of the suspension system; and in response to detection of the failure condition, cause the valve element to move to the default position at which fluid flow into and out of the cylinder is restricted by an amount that is less than the amount of restriction to fluid flow of the first position but more than the substantially unrestricted fluid flow of the second position.