Hydraulic leveling selection circuit for a work machine

Abstract

A support system for a work machine is provided that includes a front support assembly configured to perform one of stabilization and leveling control, a rear support assembly configured to perform the other of stabilization and leveling control, and a hydraulic circuit configured to selectively switch leveling control between the front and rear support assemblies.

1 . A support system for a work machine, comprising: 
 a front support assembly configured to perform one of stabilization and leveling control;    a rear support assembly configured to perform the other of stabilization and leveling control; and    a hydraulic circuit configured to selectively switch leveling control between the front and rear support assemblies.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the front support assembly further includes first and second hydraulic cylinders; and    the rear support assembly further includes third and fourth hydraulic cylinders.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second hydraulic cylinders are operatively connected by a front valve device and the third and fourth hydraulic cylinders are operatively connected by a rear valve device.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein when the front valve device is in an open position, the first and second hydraulic cylinders are hydraulically connected, and the third and fourth hydraulic cylinders perform leveling control.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein when the rear valve device is in an open position, the third and fourth hydraulic cylinders are hydraulically connected, and the first and second hydraulic cylinders perform leveling control.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic circuit supplies a first hydraulic flow to the support assembly that performs stabilization.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic circuit supplies first and second hydraulic flows to the support assembly that performs leveling control.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic circuit includes an electronic controller configured to direct first and second hydraulic flows to the support assembly that performs leveling control.  
   
   
       9 . A method of switching leveling control for a work machine, comprising: 
 providing a front support assembly configured to perform one of stabilization and leveling control;    providing a rear support assembly configured to perform the other of stabilization and leveling control; and    selectively switching leveling control between the front and rear support assemblies.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein selectively switching leveling control further includes: 
 opening a first valve to assign leveling control to the rear support assembly; and    closing the first valve to assign leveling control to the front support assembly.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein opening the first valve permits a low pressure flow to actuate one or more selector valves to permit entry of first and second hydraulic flows into the rear support assembly.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein closing the first valve permits the entrance of first and second hydraulic flows into the front support assembly.  
   
   
       13 . A work machine configured to perform work on a surface, comprising: 
 a frame having a front portion and a rear portion;    a front support assembly including first and second hydraulic cylinders supporting the frame, configured to adjust the height of the front portion of the frame relative to the surface;    a rear support assembly including third and fourth hydraulic cylinders supporting the frame, configured to adjust the height of the rear portion of the frame relative to the surface;    a first valve device operatively connected between the first and second hydraulic cylinders; and    a second valve device operatively connected between the third and fourth hydraulic cylinders;    wherein when one of the first and second valves in is an open position, the other of the first and second valves is in a closed position.    
   
   
       14 . The work machine of  claim 13 , further including a hydraulic circuit configured to selectively supply hydraulic flow to the front and rear support assemblies.  
   
   
       15 . The work machine of  claim 14 , wherein the hydraulic circuit supplies a first hydraulic flow to the support assembly that has the open valve device.  
   
   
       16 . The work machine of  claim 14 , wherein the hydraulic circuit supplies first and second hydraulic flows to the support assembly that has the closed valve device.  
   
   
       17 . The work machine of  claim 13 , wherein when the first valve device is in an open position, the first and second hydraulic cylinders fluidly communicate to form a vertex of a three point machine configuration.  
   
   
       18 . The work machine of  claim 17 , wherein when the first valve device is in the open position, the third and fourth hydraulic cylinders form two vertices of the three point machine configuration.  
   
   
       19 . The work machine of  claim 13  wherein when the second valve device is in an open position, the third and fourth hydraulic cylinders fluidly communicate to form a vertex of a three point machine configuration.  
   
   
       20 . The work machine of  claim 19 , wherein when the second valve device is in the open position, the first and second hydraulic cylinders form two vertices of the three point machine configuration.  
   
   
       21 . The work machine of  claim 13 , wherein the work machine is a cold planer.