A crane, in particular a pick and carry crane, may have a front chassis with front wheels and a back chassis with back wheels, the front chassis being articulated relative to the back chassis so that the crane can travel whilst carrying a load suspended from a boom. The back and front wheels have independent suspensions which are capable of connection to one another so that movement of a left wheel influences movement of a right wheel, thereby improving the handing of the crane, particularly over rough terrain.

A multi-section shock-linked vehicle suspension system is disclosed that transfers force from one point to another point in a system of interrelated shock absorbers. Force can be transmitted from one shock absorber to another using hydraulics or a gas such as air or nitrogen in a space-efficient form factor, without the use of levers and mechanical force transfer rods. The hydraulic or gas force can be tuned using valves to provide different suspension characteristics. The multi-section shock-linked system provides the ability to share wheel loads across the vehicle by using shock absorbers that are shared in addition to the individual shock absorber associated with each wheel.

A multi-section shock-linked vehicle suspension system is disclosed that transfers force from one point to another point in a system of interrelated shock absorbers. Force can be transmitted from one shock absorber to another using hydraulics or a gas such as air or nitrogen in a space-efficient form factor, without the use of levers and mechanical force transfer rods. The hydraulic or gas force can be tuned using valves to provide different suspension characteristics. The multi-section shock-linked system provides the ability to share wheel loads across the vehicle by using shock absorbers that are shared in addition to the individual shock absorber associated with each wheel.

A crane, in particular a pick and carry crane, may have a front chassis with front wheels and a back chassis with back wheels, the front chassis being articulated relative to the back chassis so that the crane can travel whilst carrying a load suspended from a boom. The back and front wheels have independent suspensions which are capable of connection to one another so that movement of a left wheel influences movement of a right wheel, thereby improving the handing of the crane, particularly over rough terrain.

A tilt control system for a sidecar and a motorcycle. The tilt control system can include a main frame, a tilting frame, and an actuator. The actuator can be coupled to the main frame and to the tilting frame, and can be configured to control tilting of the tilting frame relative to the main frame. The tilt control system can include a sensor, and a controller in communication with the actuator and the sensor. The controller can be configured to determine an operating parameter based on sensor data received from the sensor, compare the operating parameter to a threshold criteria, and cause the actuator to control the orientation of the tilting frame relative to main frame, based on the comparison of the operating parameter to the threshold criteria.

A tilt control system for a sidecar and a motorcycle. The tilt control system can include a main frame, a tilting frame, and an actuator. The actuator can be coupled to the main frame and to the tilting frame, and can be configured to control tilting of the tilting frame relative to the main frame. The tilt control system can include a sensor, and a controller in communication with the actuator and the sensor. The controller can be configured to determine an operating parameter based on sensor data received from the sensor, compare the operating parameter to a threshold criteria, and cause the actuator to control the orientation of the tilting frame relative to main frame, based on the comparison of the operating parameter to the threshold criteria.

A suspension apparatus includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders and a valve device provided between an upper chamber and a lower chamber of each of the hydraulic cylinders and configured to establish and block communication between these chambers. The valve device includes a first passage and an extension-side damping force generation mechanism. Hydraulic oil flows out from the upper chamber into the first passage due to movement of a piston in a cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder. The extension-side damping force generation mechanism includes a damping valve and a back-pressure chamber. The damping valve is disposed in the first passage and generates a damping force by restricting a flow of the hydraulic oil generated due to a sliding movement of the piston. The back-pressure chamber applies an inner pressure thereof to the damping valve in a valve-closing direction.

A suspension apparatus includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders and a valve device provided between an upper chamber and a lower chamber of each of the hydraulic cylinders and configured to establish and block communication between these chambers. The valve device includes a first passage and an extension-side damping force generation mechanism. Hydraulic oil flows out from the upper chamber into the first passage due to movement of a piston in a cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder. The extension-side damping force generation mechanism includes a damping valve and a back-pressure chamber. The damping valve is disposed in the first passage and generates a damping force by restricting a flow of the hydraulic oil generated due to a sliding movement of the piston. The back-pressure chamber applies an inner pressure thereof to the damping valve in a valve-closing direction.

A suspension device for a wheeled vehicle with a plurality of air springs is described. Two main air chambers of two air springs of a respective vehicle axle are connected together via a transverse air chamber which forms an intermediate volume. A compressor arranged between the two transverse air chambers is connected to the first transverse air chamber via a first connecting line in which a first switchable valve is arranged, and to the second transverse air chamber via a second connecting line in which a second switchable valve is arranged, so that direct filling/direct evacuation of the intermediate volumes of the two transverse air chambers is possible.

A suspension device for a wheeled vehicle with a plurality of air springs is described. Two main air chambers of two air springs of a respective vehicle axle are connected together via a transverse air chamber which forms an intermediate volume. A compressor arranged between the two transverse air chambers is connected to the first transverse air chamber via a first connecting line in which a first switchable valve is arranged, and to the second transverse air chamber via a second connecting line in which a second switchable valve is arranged, so that direct filling/direct evacuation of the intermediate volumes of the two transverse air chambers is possible.