Height-adjustable agricultural vehicles and methods of transferring loads therein
An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis, a plurality of ground-engaging elements configured to support the chassis above a ground surface, and a plurality of support assemblies supporting the chassis on the ground-engaging elements. Each support assembly includes a height-adjustment actuator. A controller is configured to adjust the height-adjustment actuators independently of one another and transfer a load from a first ground-engaging element to other ground-engaging elements. A method of operating an agricultural vehicle includes receiving a command to transfer a load from a first ground-engaging element to other ground-engaging elements, adjusting at least one height-adjustment actuator, and transferring a load from the first ground-engaging element to the other ground-engaging elements.
1. A method of operating an agricultural vehicle comprising a chassis, four ground-engaging elements configured to support the chassis above a ground surface, and four support assemblies supporting the chassis on the ground-engaging elements, wherein each support assembly comprises a height-adjustment actuator, each height-adjustment actuator configured to operate independently of other height-adjustment actuators, the method comprising:
receiving a command to transfer a load from a first of the ground-engaging elements to second, third, and fourth ground-engaging elements;
adjusting at least one of the height-adjustment actuators such that the first ground-engaging element is at a different height than the second, third, and fourth ground-engaging elements;
transferring a load from a first portion of the ground surface providing a first traction at the first ground-engaging element to at least a second portion of the ground surface at at least one of the second, third, or fourth ground-engaging elements, the second portion of the ground surface providing a second traction greater than the first traction; and
driving at least one of the second, third, and fourth ground-engaging elements while the load is carried by the second, third, and fourth ground-engaging elements.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting at least one of the height-adjustment actuators comprises raising the first ground-engaging element above the ground surface while the chassis is supported by the second, third, and fourth ground-engaging elements.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting at least one of the height-adjustment actuators comprises extending at least two of the height-adjustment actuators.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting at least one of the height-adjustment actuators comprises retracting the height-adjustment actuator corresponding to the first ground-engaging element.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting at least one of the height-adjustment actuators comprises:
extending each of the height-adjustment actuators to raise the chassis relative to the ground surface; and
retracting the height-adjustment actuator corresponding to the first ground-engaging element.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting at least one of the height-adjustment actuators comprises extending at least two of the height-adjustment actuators in unison while maintaining another of the height-adjustment actuators stationary.
7. An agricultural vehicle comprising:
a chassis;
four ground-engaging elements configured to support the chassis above a ground surface;
four support assemblies supporting the chassis on the ground-engaging elements, each support assembly comprising a height-adjustment actuator, each height-adjustment actuator configured to operate independently of other height-adjustment actuators; and
a controller configured to:
adjust the height-adjustment actuators independently of one another such that a first of the ground-engaging elements is at a different height than second, third, and fourth ground-engaging elements;
transfer a load from a portion of the ground surface providing a first traction at the first ground-engaging element to at least a second portion of the ground surface at at least one of the second, third, and fourth ground-engaging elements, the second portion of the ground surface providing a second traction greater than the first traction; and
drive at least one of the second, third, and fourth ground-engaging elements while the load is carried by the second, third, and fourth ground-engaging elements.
8. The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising:
a liquid holding tank carried by the chassis; and
a plurality of nozzles spaced along a transversely extending applicator boom carried by the chassis, wherein the nozzles are configured to deliver fluid from the liquid holding tank to the ground surface.
9. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the height-adjustment actuators comprise hydraulic cylinders that are each connected to a common fluid source via a respective control valve.
10. The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising a user interface for allowing a user to send a command to the controller, the controller configured to automatically actuate at least one of the height-adjustment actuators and transfer the load from the first ground-engaging element after receiving the command from the user.
11. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust a plurality of the height-adjustment actuators while at least one of the height-adjustment actuators remains stationary.