Vehicle leveling system

Claim 2

A retractable jack assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a longitudinally extendable and contractable jack having an upper end portion for attachment to the vehicle and an extendable lower end portion for engagement with the ground; means on said upper end for mounting said jack on the vehicle including a base, a pivot defining a substantially horizontal axis for said jack supporting the latter on said base for swinging between an upright, active position and an upwardly folded, retracted position; means guiding said pivot for back and forth movement along said base transversely of said axis; and linkage means connected between said base and said jack for swinging the jack to said active position and shifting said pivot along said base in one direction in response to extension of the jack when the latter is in said retracted position, said linkage means also being responsive to contraction of said jack when the latter is in said active position to swing the jack back to the retracted position while shifting said pivot back along said base in the opposite direction.

Claim 3

The retractable assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means guiding said pivot includes; an elongated track; and said pivot comprises a transversely extending element on said upper end portion slidably, pivotally carried by said track.

Claim 4

The retractable assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said track is provided with an elongated slot running parallel to the longitudinal axis of said track and said pivot element extends through said slot.

Claim 5

The retractable assembly as defined in claim 1 further including; a member mounted on said lower end portion of said jack for longitudinal sliding thereon; means urging said member along said lower end portion away from said upper end portion; and an abutment adjacent the lower end of said jack engageable with said member.

Claim 6

The retractable assembly of claim 4 wherein said linkage means comprises: at least one elongated crank arm pivotally connected at one end to said base adjacent said guiding means, and pivotally connected between its ends to said upper end portion in spaced relation with said pivot; and an actuating link pivotally connected at one end to the end of said crank opposite said one end connected to said base and at its other end to said member; said crank, said link and said guide means cooperating to cause said linkage to unfold and fold said jack upon extension and contraction thereof, and said member permitting further extension of said jack after it is in said upright position.

Claim 7

The retractable assembly of claim 1 wherein one end portion of said jack comprises a hydraulic cylinder; and the other end portion of said jack comprises an extensible, contractable rod telescopingly carried in said cylinder; said cylinder being adapted to receive fluid for extending and contracting said rod responsive to the driving force of said fluid in said cylinder.

Claim 8

A retractable jack assembly for leveling a vehicle, comprising: a longitudinally extendable and contractable jack having an upper end portion for attachment to the vehicle and an extendable lower end portion for engagement with the ground; a member mounted on said lower end portion for longitudinal sliding thereon; means yieldably urging said member along said lower end portion away from said upper end portion; an abutment adjacent the lower end of said jack engageable with said member; means forming a slidable pivot between said upper end portion and said base including an elongated track, and a pivot on said upper end portion slidable back and forth along said track; at least one elongated crank arm pivotally connected at one end to said base adjacent one end of said track, and pivotally connected between its ends to said upper end portion in spaced relationship with said pivot; and an actuating link pivotally connected at one end to the end of said crank opposite said one end, and at its other end to said member; said crank, said link and said track cooperating to unfold and fold said jack upon extension and contraction thereof, and said member further permitting further extension of said jack after it is in said upright position.

Claim 9

A retractable jack assembly for leveling a vehicle, comprising: a longitudinally extendable and contractable jack having an upper end portion for attachment to the vehicle and an extendable lower end portion for engagement with the ground; a member mounted on said lower end portion for longitudinal sliding thereon; means yieldably urging said member along said lower end portion away from said upper end portion; an abutment adjacent the lower end of said jack engageable with said member; means forming a slidable pivot between said upper end portion and said base including an elongated track, and a pivot on said upper end portion slidable back and forth along said track; at least one elongated crank arm pivotally connected at one end to said base adjacent one end of said track, and pivotally connected between its ends to said upper end portion in spaced relationship with said pivot; and an actuating link pivotally connected at one end to the end of said crank opposite said one end, and at its other end to said member; said crank, said link and said track cooperating to unfold and fold said jack upon extension and contraction thereof, and said member further permitting further extension of said jack after it is in said upright position.

Claim 10

The retractable assembly of claim 7 further including: a carrying head on said upper end of said jack, said carrying head defining an upper bearing surface for contact with said base when said jack is in an upright active position; a pivot pin extending laterally from said carrier head for slidable, pivotal engagement with said track.

Claim 11

The retractable assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said elongated track comprises: a pair of spaced apart, parallel running flanges; an elongated slot in each of said flanges running parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof; an upwardly extending detent notch located at the end of each of said slots adjacent the connection of said crank arm, said detent notches being aligned for receiving said laterally extending pin of said carrier head to permit said bearing surface to urge against said base and to lock said upper portion of said jack when said jack is in the extended active position.

Claim 12

The jack assembly of claim 7 wherein said upper portion of said jack is pivotally connected between a pair of said crank arms and having an actuating link pivotally connected between each crank arm and said member.

Claim 13

The retractable assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein a portion of each of said crank arms extending between the connection to said upper end portion and the end pivotally connected to said base is angled away from said jack thereby to define a Y-shaped stabilizing bracket when said jack is in the upright position.

Claim 14

The retractable assembly as defineD in claim 7 wherein said upper portion of said jack comprises a hydraulic cylinder; and said lower portion of said jack comprises an extensible, contractable rod telescopingly carried in said cylinder; said cylinder being adapted to receive fluid for extending and contracting said rod responsive to the driving force of said fluid in said cylinder.

Claim 15

A vehicle leveling system comprising: a plurality of longitudinally extendable and contractable leveling members movable between a folded retracted position and an upright extended position; each of said leveling members having an upper end portion for attachment to the vehicle and an extendable lower end portion for engagement with the ground; means on said upper end for mounting said leveling member on the vehicle including; a base; a pivot defining a substantially horizontal axis for said leveling member supporting the latter on said base for swinging between said active position and said retracted position; means carried by said base for guiding said pivot for back and forth movement along said base transversely of said axis; and linkage means connected between said base and said leveling member for swinging said leveling member to said active position and shifting said pivot along said base in one direction in response to extension of said leveling member when the latter is in said retracted position, said linkage means also being responsive to contraction of said leveling member when the latter is in said active position to swing said leveling member back to the retracted position while shifting said pivot back along said base in the opposite direction.

Claim 16

A vehicle leveling system comprising: a plurality of longitudinally extendable and contractable leveling members movable between a folded retracted position and an upright extended position; each of said leveling members having an upper end portion for attachment to the vehicle and an extendable lower end portion for engagement with the ground; means on said upper end for mounting said leveling member on the vehicle including; a base; a pivot defining a substantially horizontal axis for said leveling member supporting the latter on said base for swinging between said active position and said retracted position; means carried by said base for guiding said pivot for back and forth movement along said base transversely of said axis; and linkage means connected between said base and said leveling member for swinging said leveling member to said active position and shifting said pivot along said base in one direction in response to extension of said leveling member when the latter is in said retracted position, said linkage means also being responsive to contraction of said leveling member when the latter is in said active position to swing said leveling member back to the retracted position while shifting said pivot back along said base in the opposite direction.

Claim 17

The leveling system as defined in claim 13 further including: an actuating system for selectively extending and contracting said leveling members; and means responsive to the attitude of said vehicle for automatically controlling said actuating system for selectively extending at least one of said leveling members.

Claim 18

The vehicle leveling system as defined in claim 13 wherein one end portion of said leveling member comprises a hydraulic cylinder; and the other end portion of said leveling member comprises an extensible, contractable rod telescopingly carried in said cylinder; said cylinder being adapted to receive fluid for extending and contracting said rod responsive to the driving force of said fluid in said cylinder.

Claim 19

The leveling system as defined in claim 14 wherein said actuating system comprises: a plurality of electrically operated solenoid valves corresponding to said leveling members, each of said solenoid valves communicating with its corresponding leveling member, and communicating with a source of fluid; means for pumping said fluid; and said control means including an attitude sensitive switch cooperating with a source of electricity for the purpose of actuating at least one of said solenoid valves to an open position thereby to allow fluid to pass therethrough into its corresponding leveling member to cause the extension thereof into its upright active position, said switch closing said solenoid valves when said vehicle is level.

Claim 20

The vehicle leveling system as defined in claim 16 wherein said pump means is reversible to move said fluid in an opposite direction and said control means includes at least one manual switch for opening said solenoid valves whereby said fluid flows first to said cylinders in an opposite direction thereby initiating contraction of said leveling member and the folding thereof into a retracted position.