System and method of adjusting the chassis height of a machine

Abstract

A vehicle includes a chassis, a plurality of ground engaging elements supporting the chassis above a ground surface, a motor for driving at least one of the ground engaging elements to thereby propel the machine along the ground surface, and a chassis height adjustment system for selectively raising and lowering the chassis relative to the ground surface. A track width adjustment system is configured to shift the position of at least one of the ground engaging elements laterally relative to the chassis and a controller is configured to automatically actuate the track width adjustment system when the chassis height adjustment system is actuated to preserve a constant track width as the chassis moves up and down relative to the ground surface.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A vehicle comprising:
 a chassis;   a plurality of ground engaging elements supporting the chassis above a ground surface;   a motor for driving at least one of the ground engaging elements to thereby propel the machine along the ground surface;   a chassis height adjustment system for selectively raising and lowering the chassis relative to the ground surface;   a track width adjustment system for shifting the position of at least one of the ground engaging elements laterally relative to the chassis; and   a controller configured to automatically actuate the track width adjustment system when the chassis height adjustment system is actuated to preserve a constant track width as the chassis moves up and down relative to the ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , the track width adjustment system including a telescoping axle coupled with each of the ground engaging elements and an actuator associated with each of the telescoping axles for moving each axle between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of support assemblies, each of the support assemblies supporting the chassis on one of the ground engaging elements and defining a line of connection between a ground engaging element attachment point and a chassis attachment point, each line of connection defining an angle θ corresponding to an angle of deviation from a direction of vertical travel of the chassis. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 3 , the controller configured to actuate the track width adjustment system to shift the at least one ground engaging element a distance that is proportional to a change in the distance between the ground engaging element attachment point and the chassis attachment point. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 3 , the controller configured to actuate the track width adjustment system to shift the at least one ground engaging element a distance ΔW, wherein ΔW=sin(θ)×ΔH and ΔH is a change in the distance between the wheel attachment point and the chassis attachment point along the line of connection. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 3 , each of the support assemblies comprising—
 a first attachment component for attaching the assembly to the ground engaging element at the ground engaging element attachment point; 
 a second attachment component for attaching the assembly to the chassis at the chassis attachment point; 
 an adjustment component for shifting the first attachment component between a plurality of operating positions relative to the second attachment component, each of the operating positions corresponding to a different distance of separation between the first attachment component and the second attachment component; and 
 a suspension component operably interposed between the first attachment component and the second attachment component, the suspension component configured to regulate motion transfer between the first attachment component and the second attachment component, the suspension component functioning independently of the operating position. 
 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , the machine being a sprayer including a liquid holding tank and a delivery system for applying contents of the holding tank. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , the controller configured to simultaneously actuate the chassis height adjustment system and the track width adjustment system to preserve the constant track width as the chassis moves up and down relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface for allowing a user to actuate the chassis height adjustment system, the controller configured to automatically actuate the track width adjustment system as the user actuates the chassis height adjustment system to preserve the constant track width as the chassis moves up and down relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         10 . An agricultural applicator comprising:
 a chassis;   four wheels supporting the chassis above a ground surface, the four wheels including two left wheels and two right wheels;   a motor for driving at least one of the wheels to thereby propel the machine along the ground surface;   a chassis height adjustment system for selectively raising and lowering the chassis relative to the ground surface;   a track width adjustment system for shifting each of the wheels laterally relative to the chassis; and   a controller for automatically actuating the track width adjustment system when the chassis height adjustment system is actuated to shift the wheels laterally relative to the chassis to thereby preserve a constant track width as the chassis is raised or lowered, wherein shifting the wheels laterally involves shifting the two left wheels in a first direction and shifting the two right wheels in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 10 , the track width adjustment system including a telescoping axle coupled with each of the wheels and an actuator associated with each of the telescoping axles for moving each axle between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of support assemblies, each of the support assemblies supporting the chassis on one of the wheels and defining a line of connection between a wheel attachment point and a chassis attachment point, each line of connection defining an angle θ corresponding to an angle of deviation from a direction of vertical travel of the chassis. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 12 , the controller configured to actuate the track width adjustment system to shift each of the wheels a distance that is proportional to a change in the distance between the wheel attachment point and the chassis attachment point. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 12 , the controller configured to actuate the track width adjustment system to shift each of the wheels a distance ΔW, wherein ΔW=sin(θ)×ΔH and ΔH is a change in the distance between the wheel attachment point and the chassis attachment point along the line of connection. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 12 , each of the support assemblies comprising—
 a first attachment component for attaching the assembly to the ground engaging element at the ground engaging element attachment point; 
 a second attachment component for attaching the assembly to the chassis at the chassis attachment point; 
 an adjustment component for shifting the first attachment component between a plurality of operating positions relative to the second attachment component, each of the operating positions corresponding to a different distance of separation between the first attachment component and the second attachment component; and 
 a suspension component operably interposed between the first attachment component and the second attachment component, the suspension component configured to regulate motion transfer between the first attachment component and the second attachment component, the suspension component functioning independently of the operating position. 
 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 10 , controller configured to simultaneously actuate the chassis height adjustment system and the track width adjustment system to preserve the constant track width as the chassis moves up and down relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising a user interface for allowing a user to actuate the chassis height adjustment system, the controller configured to automatically actuate the track width adjustment system as the user actuates the chassis height adjustment system to preserve the constant track width as the chassis moves up and down relative to the ground surface.