Yieldable suspension device for a track laying vehicle

Claim 1

A YIELDABLE SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR A TRACK SUPPORTING WHEEL MOUNTED ON THE CHASSIS OF A TRACK LAYING VEHICLE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A WHEEL; MOVABLE MOUNTING MEANS SUPPORTING SAID WHEEL VARIABLY POSITIONABLE IN REFERENCE TO SAID CHASSIS; A HYDRAULICALLY OPERABLE CONTROL MEANS (10) COUPLED TO SAID MOUNTING MEANS TO CONTROL THE SAME FOR POSITIONING SAID WHEEL AND CONTROLLABLE BY THE PRESSURE OF FLUID THEREIN; PRESSURE FLUID STORAGE MEANS (11) FOR DAMPING THE ACTION OF SAID CONTROL MEANS; A DAMPING VALVE MEANS (41) INTERCONNECTING SAID CONTROL MEANS AND SAID STORAGE MEANS, OPENING AND CLOSING OF SAID DAMPING VALVE MEANS CONTROLLING THE FLUID PRESSURE IN SAID CONTROL MEANS; A FIRST CONDUIT (58) CONNECTED TO SAID DAMPING VALVE MEANS FOR FEEDING PRESSURE FLUID TO SAID DAMPING VALVE MEANS FOR FEEDING PRESSURE THEREOF THEREBY CORRESPONDINGLY VARYING THE FLUID PRESSURE IN THE CONTROL MEANS; A SECOND CONDUIT (25) CONNECTED TO SAID DAMPING VALVE MEANS FOR DISCHARGING PRESSURE FLUID THEREFROM; COOLING MEANS (70) INTERCONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONDUITS FOR COOLING PRESSURE FLUID PRIOR TO FEEDING THE SAME TO THE DAMPING VALVE MEANS THROUGH SAID FIRST CONDUIT; CONTROL VALVE MEANS (51) INCLUDED IN SAID FIRST CONDUIT FOR CONTROLLING THE FLUID FLOW THERETHROUGH; AND ACTUATING MEANS (80, 78, 79) FOR SELECTIVELY OPERATING SAID CONTROL VALVE MEANS.