Self leveling tractor seat

Claim 2

A self leveling seat assembly for a tractor vehicle and the like, comprising, self contained leveling unit, a seat mounted on one part of the unit, means on the unit for mounting the unit on the vehicle, said leveling unit being of generally sealed structure and including therewithin, a closed, fluid filled, loop, single opposed piston means connected in said loop and operable to displace the fluid selectively in either direction within the loop, valve means connected in said closed loop in series with the piston means and operable to normally prevent displacement of the fluid in said loop when the seat is substantially level, a tilt responsive actuator means operable upon tilting of the seat in either direction to open the valve means and permit the fluid in said loop to be displaced by said piston means in a direction to level said seat and said valve means being further operable to prevent displacement of the fluid in the opposite direction within said loop after the seat reaches the level position, and wherein said assembly is leveled by an operating force resulting from the weight upon the seat which is connected to the piston means whereby the weight causes the piston means to displace the fluid in the loop in a direction to level said seat, and wherein, said leveling unit includes therewithin, non-symmetrical damper means connected to said tilt responsive actuator means and operable to prevent synchronous oscillatory motion in the actuator means and thus assist in preventing the valve means from opening and closing in a frequency which would deter the seat from resuming the level position.

Claim 3

A self leveling seat assembly for a tractor vehicle and the like, comprising, self contained leveling unit, a seat mounted on one part of the unit, means on the unit for mounting the unit on the vehicle, said leveling unit being of generally sealed structure and including therewithin, a closed, fluid filled, loop, single opposed piston means connected in said loop and operable to displace the fluid selectively in either direction within the loop, valve means connected in said closed loop in series with the piston means and operable to normally prevent displacement of the fluid in said loop when the seat is substantially level, a tilt responsive actuator means operable upon tilting of the seat in either direction to open the valve means and permit the fluid in said loop to be displaced by said piston means in a direction to level said seat and said valve means being further operable to prevent displacement of the fluid in the opposite direction within said loop after the seat reaches the level position, and wherein said assembly is leveled by an operating force resulting from the weight upon the seat which is connected to the piston means whereby the weight causes the piston means to displace the fluid in the loop in a direction to level said seat, and wherein, said leveling unit includes therewithin, non-symmetrical damper means connected to said tilt responsive actuator means and operable to prevent synchronous oscillatory motion in the actuator means and thus assist in preventing the valve means from opening and closing in a frequency which would deter the seat from resuming the level position.

Claim 4

A self leveling seat assembly for a tractor vehicle and the like, comprising, self contained leveling unit, a seat mounted on one part of the unit, means on the unit for mounting the unit on the vehicle, said leveling unit being of generally sealed structure and including therewithin, a closed, fluid filled, loop, single opposed piston means connected in said loop and operable to displace the fluid selectively in either direction within the loop, valve means connected in said closed loop in series with the piston means and operable to normally prevent displacement of the fluid in said loop when the seat is substantially level, a tilt responsive actuator means operable upon tilting of the seat in either direction to open the valve means and permit the fluid in said loop to be displaced by said piston means in a direction to level said seat and said valve means being further operable to prevent displacement of the fluid in the opposite direction within said loop after the seat reaches the level position, and wherein said assembly is leveled by an operating force resulting from the weight upon the seat which is connected to the piston means whereby the weight causes the piston means to displace the fluid in the loop in a direction to level said seat, and wherein, said leveling unit includes therewithin, non-symmetrical damper means connected to said tilt responsive actuator means and operable to prevent synchronous oscillatory motion in the actuator means and thus assist in preventing the valve means from opening and closing in a frequency which would deter the seat from resuming the level position.

Claim 5

A self leveling seat assembly for a tractor vehicle and the like, comprising, self contained leveling unit, a seat mounted on one part of the unit, means on the unit for mounting the unit on the vehicle, said leveling unit being of generally sealed structure and including therewithin, a closed, fluid filled, loop, single opposed piston means connected in said loop and operable to displace the fluid selectively in either direction within the loop, valve means connected in said closed loop in series with the piston means and operable to normally prevent displacement of the fluid in said loop when the seat is substantially level, a tilt responsive actuator means operable upon tilting of the seat in either direction to open the valve means and permit the fluid in said loop to be displaced by said piston means in a direction to level said seat and said valve means being further operable to prevent displacement of the fluid in the opposite direction within said loop after the seat reaches the level position, and wherein said assembly is leveled by an operating force resulting from the weight upon the seat which is connected to the piston means whereby the weight causes the piston means to displace the fluid in the loop in a direction to level said seat, and wherein, said leveling unit includes therewithin, fluid reservoir means operable to transmit minor amounts of fluid to and from said closed fluid filled loop through minor amounts of leakage within said loop and thereby gases are prevented from becoming trapped in the loop and lessening the reliability thereof, and non-symmetrical damper means connected to said tilt responsive actuator means and operable to prevent synchronous oscillatory motion in the actuator means and thus assist in preventing the valve means from opening and closing in a frequency which would deter the seat from resuming the level position.

Claim 6

A self leveling seat assembly for a tractor vehicle and the like, comprising, self contained leveling unit, a seat mounted on one part of the unit, means on the unit for mounting the unit on the vehicle, said leveling unit being of generally sealed structure and including therewithin, a closed, fluid filled, loop, single opposed piston means connected in said loop and operable to displace the fluid selectively in either direction within the loop, valve means connected in said closed loop in series with the piston means and operable to normally prevent displacement of the fluid in said loop when the seat is substantially level, a tilt responsive actuator means operable upon tilting of the seat in either direction to open the valve means and permit the fluid in said loop to be displaced by said piston means in a direction to level said seat and said valve means being further operable to prevent displacement of the fluid in the opposite direction within said loop after the seat reaches the level position, and wherein said assembly is leveled by an operating force resulting from the weight upon the seat which is connected to the piston means whereby the weight causes the piston means to displace the fluid in the loop in a direction to level said seat, and wherein, said leveling unit includes therewithin, fluid reservoir means operable to transmit minor amounts of fluid to and from said closed fluid filled loop through minor amounts of leakage within said loop and thereby gases are prevented from becoming trapped in the loop and lessening the reliability thereof, and non-symmetrical damper means connected to said tilt responsive actuator means and operable to prevent synchronous oscillatory motion in the actuator means and thus assist in preventing the valve means from opening and closing in a frequency which would deter the seat from resuming the level position.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 2 wherein, said piston means is double ended with a fluid chamber at each end thereof, said valve means includes two spring biased check valves each one of which communicates with one of said fluid chambers at one end of said piston means, said check valves being actuated by rod members which are pushed outwardly in opposite directions from the tilt responsive actuator means.

Claim 8

A self leveling assembly for a device required to be kept in a level position relative to a moving base member, comprising, self contained leveling unit, means for mounting the device on one part of the unit, means on the unit for mounting the unit on the base member, said leveling unit being of generally sealed structure and including therewithin, a closed, fluid filled, loop, single opposed fluid displacement means connected in said loop and operable to displace the fluid selectively in either direction within the loop, valve means connected in said closed loop in series with the displacement means and operable to normally prevent displacement of the fluid in said loop when the device is substantially level, a tilt responsive actuator means operable upon tilting of the device in either direction to open the valve means and permit the fluid in said loop to be displaced by said displacement means in a direction to level said device and said valve means being further operable to prevent displacement of the fluid in the opposite direction within said loop after the device reaches the level position, and wherein the device is leveled by an operating force resulting from the weight upon the device which is connected to the displacement means whereby the weight causes the displacement means to displace the fluid in the loop in a direction to level the device, and wherein, said leveling unit includes therewithin, non-symmetrical damper means connected to said tilt responsive actuator means and operable to prevent synchronous oscillatory motion in the actuator means and thus assist in preventing the valve means from opening and closing in a frequency which would deter the device from resuming the level position.

Claim 9

A self leveling assembly for a device required to be kept in a level position relative to a moving base member, comprising, self contained leveling unit, means for mounting the device on one part of the unit, means on the unit for mounting the unit on the base member, said leveling unit being of generally sealed structure and including therewithin, a closed, fluid filled, loop, single opposed fluid displacement means connected in said loop and operable to displace the fluid selectively in either direction within the loop, valve means connected in said closed loop in series with the displacement means and operable to normally prevent displacement of the fluid in said loop when the device is substantially level, a tilt responsive actuator means operable upon tilting of the device in either direction to open the valve means and permit the fluid in said loop to be displaced by said displacement means in a direction to level said device and said valve means being further operable to prevent displacement of the fluid in the opposite direction within said loop after the device reaches the level position, and wherein the device is leveled by an operating force resulting from the weight upon the device which is connected to the displacement means whereby the weight causes the displacement means to displace the fluid in the loop in a direction to level the device, and wherein, said leveling unit includes therewithin, non-symmetrical damper means connected to said tilt responsive actuator means and operable to prevent synchronous oscillatory motion in the actuator means and thus assist in preventing the valve means from opening and closing in a frequency which would deter the device from resuming the level position.

Claim 10

A self leveling assembly for a device required to be kept in a level position relative to a moving base member, comprising, self contained leveling unit, means for mounting the device on one part of the unit, means on the unit for mounting the unit on the base member, said leveling unit being of generally sealed structure and including therewithin, a closed, fluid filled, loop, single opposed fluid displacement means connected in said loop and operable to displace the fluid selectively in either direction within the loop, valve means connected in said closed loop in series with the displacement means and operable to normally prevent displacement of the fluid in said loop when the device is substantially level, a tilt responsive actuator means operable upon tilting of the device in either direction to open the valve means and permit the fluid in said loop to be displaced by said displacement means in a direction to level said device and said valve means being further operable to prevent displacement of the fluid in the opposite direction wiThin said loop after the device reaches the level position, and wherein, said leveling unit includes therewithin, fluid reservoir means operable to transmit minor amounts of fluid to and from said closed fluid filled loop through minor amounts of leakage within said loop and thereby gases are prevented from becoming trapped in the loop and lessening the reliability thereof, non-symmetrical damper means connected to said tilt responsive actuator means and operable to prevent synchronous oscillatory motion in the actuator means and thus assist in preventing the valve means from opening and closing in a frequency which would deter the device from resuming the level position.

Claim 11

A self leveling assembly for a device required to be kept in a level position relative to a moving base member, comprising, self contained leveling unit, means for mounting the device on one part of the unit, means on the unit for mounting the unit on the base member, said leveling unit being of generally sealed structure and including therewithin, a closed, fluid filled, loop, single opposed fluid displacement means connected in said loop and operable to displace the fluid selectively in either direction within the loop, valve means connected in said closed loop in series with the displacement means and operable to normally prevent displacement of the fluid in said loop when the device is substantially level, a tilt responsive actuator means operable upon tilting of the device in either direction to open the valve means and permit the fluid in said loop to be displaced by said displacement means in a direction to level said device and said valve means being further operable to prevent displacement of the fluid in the opposite direction wiThin said loop after the device reaches the level position, and wherein, said leveling unit includes therewithin, fluid reservoir means operable to transmit minor amounts of fluid to and from said closed fluid filled loop through minor amounts of leakage within said loop and thereby gases are prevented from becoming trapped in the loop and lessening the reliability thereof, non-symmetrical damper means connected to said tilt responsive actuator means and operable to prevent synchronous oscillatory motion in the actuator means and thus assist in preventing the valve means from opening and closing in a frequency which would deter the device from resuming the level position.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 5 wherein, said piston means is double ended with a fluid chamber at each end thereof, said valve means includes two spring biased check valves each one of which communicates with one of said fluid chambers at one end of said piston means, said check valves being actuated by rod members which are pushed outwardly in opposite directions from the tilt responsive actuator means.

Claim 13

A self leveling seat assembly for a tractor vehicle and the like, comprising, a leveling unit, a seat mounted on one part of the unit, means on the unit for mounting the unit on the vehicle, said leveling unit including, a closed, fluid filled, loop, single opposed piston means connected in said loop and operable to displace the fluid selectively in either direction within the loop, said single opposed piston means being mounted upon a rocker arm abutment which is fixed relative to the chassis of the vehicle, and with the mounting being made at a position intermediate the ends of the single opposed piston means, valve means connected in said closed loop in series with the piston means and operable to normally prevent displacement of the fluid in said loop when the seat is substantially level, a tilt responsive actuator means operable upon tilting of the seat in either direction to open the valve means and permit the fluid in said loop to be displaced by said piston means in a direction to level said seat and said valve means being further operable to prevent displacement of the fluid in the opposite direction within said loop after the seat reaches the level position, and wherein said assembly is leveled by an operating force resulting from the weight upon the seat which is connected to the piston means whereby the weight causes the piston means to displace the fluid in the loop in a direction to level said seat through tilting of the piston means relative to its mounting on the rocker arm abutment.

Claim 14

A self leveling seat assembly for a tractor vehicle and the like, comprising, a leveling unit, a seat mounted on one part of the unit, means on the unit for mounting the unit on the vehicle, said leveling unit including, a closed, fluid filled, loop, single opposed piston means connected in said loop and operable to displace the fluid selectively in either direction within the loop, said single opposed piston means being mounted upon a rocker arm abutment which is fixed relative to the chassis of the vehicle, and with the mounting being made at a position intermediate the ends of the single opposed piston means, valve means connected in said closed loop in series with the piston means and operable to normally prevent displacement of the fluid in said loop when the seat is substantially level, a tilt responsive actuator means operable upon tilting of the seat in either direction to open the valve means and permit the fluid in said loop to be displaced by said piston means in a direction to level said seat and said valve means being further operable to prevent displacement of the fluid in the opposite direction within said loop after the seat reaches the level position, and wherein said assembly is leveled by an operating force resulting from the weight upon the seat which is connected to the piston means whereby the weight causes the piston means to displace the fluid in the loop in a direction to level said seat through tilting of the piston means relative to its mounting on the rocker arm abutment.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 7 wherein, said leveling unit includes therewithin, fluid reservoir means operable to transmit minor amounts of fluid to and from said closed fluid filled loop through minor amounts of leakage within said loop and thereby gases are prevented from becoming trapped in the loop and lessening the reliability thereof.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 8 wherein, said leveling unit includes therewithin, non-symmetrical damper means connected to said tilt responsive actuator means and operable to prevent synchronous oscillatory motion in the actuator means and thus assist in preventing the valve means from opening and closing in a frequency which would deter the seat from resuming the level position.