US3578377A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tilt over roll proteon frame with power tilting means
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1969-01-13
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Granted: 1971-05-11
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Expires: 1989-01-13
Abstract
Abstract A roll protection frame, for mounting on a tractor or similar machine, which is fabricated to provide a maximum cross-sectional area of material in critical locations for adequate strength to protect the vehicle operator if the vehicle should roll over, and which has a reduced cross section in locations requiring less strength to eliminate excessive weight. The front of the frame is wider than the rear portion thereof so as to provide a more even distribution of impact forces when the vehicle is overturned. The frame is detachable and pivotally mounted on the machine and a hydraulic cylinder arrangement may be removably attached thereto for pivoting the frame, together with the operator''s seat and console, to provide access to the machine components beneath the frame. The provision of a double holding valve within the removable tilting cylinder will allow the protection frame to be tilted and maintained in any desired position, without allowing it to fall over when it passes the center of gravity.
Inventors
- 👤 John H Babbitt Jr
- 👤 Max E Butterfield
- 👤 Grant L Nelson
- 👤 Hugh V Piper
- 👤 Sheldon L Stark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:28
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/11; E; E02; E02F; E02F9/00; E02F9/16; E02F9/166
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
In combination a vehicle having a front end and a rear end of different transverse dimensions and a roll protector frame mounted thereon, said frame being tapered from front to rear along lines parallel to imaginary lines drawn from the outside edge on the front of the vehicle to the outside edge on the rear of the vehicle, said roll protector frame comprising structural members detachably fixed to said vehicle by means on each side of the roll frame, said means on one side being axially aligned, said structural members being so mounted relative to the vehicle that removal of the means from the structural members on the other side of the roll frame allows the roll frame to be pivoted about the axially aligned means on the structural members on the other side of the roll frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
In combination a vehicle having a front end and a rear end of different transverse dimensions and a roll protector frame mounted thereon, said frame being tapered from front to rear along lines parallel to imaginary lines drawn from the outside edge on the front of the vehicle to the outside edge on the rear of the vehicle, said roll protector frame comprising structural members detachably fixed to said vehicle by means on each side of the roll frame, said means on one side being axially aligned, said structural members being so mounted relative to the vehicle that removal of the means from the structural members on the other side of the roll frame allows the roll frame to be pivoted about the axially aligned means on the structural members on the other side of the roll frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein: said structural members comprise front and rear structural members, the front member being of a different width than the rear member, means interconnecting the front and rear members along the sides of said roll frame, and means for tilting said frame relative to the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means connect the front member with the rear member along lines parallel to imaginary lines extending from the outer edges of the front end to the outer edges of the rear end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the front and rear members are fabricated in sections, providing a greater quantity of material in areas of high stress than in areas of low stress in the roll frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein the abutting ends of said sections are joined at areas of low stress.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 1 including a lug mounted on said frame, and said frame tilting means fastened to said lug and to said vehicle, and means for powering said tilting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said frame tilting means comprises a hydraulic cylinder and piston rod fixed between the roll frame lug and the vehicle
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the outer and inner surfaces of said front and rear members comprise strips of rolled sections and the front and rear surfaces of said front and rear members comprise steel plates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the tilting means comprise a hydraulic cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 1 including an operator''s seat and a console fixed to the roll frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said means on the other side of the roll frame comprises axially aligned removable means at the lower ends of the front and rear members for fastening the roll frame to the vehicle, whereby, when the removable means are removed from the lower ends of the front and rear members on said other side of the roll frame, the roll frame may be tilted, relative to the vehicle, about the axially aligned means remaining on said one side of the frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 1 including an operator''s seat and a console fixed to the structural members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the highly stressed surfaces of the frame are formed from rolled strips and the lightly stressed surfaces of the frame are formed from plate members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention of claim 1 including a lug fixed to one of the structUral members on one side of the frame, a hydraulic cylinder fixed to the vehicle and having a piston rod fixed to said lug, and means to pressurize said cylinder at one end or the other thereof, thereby tilting said frame away from or toward the vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 1 including means fixed to said frame to which a sun shade or logging sweeps may be attached.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 1 including console means fixed to said frame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 1 including seat means fixed to said frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-10 | 1974-11-09 | 1975-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-10 | 1978-11-09 | 1979-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-10 | 1982-11-09 | 1983-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |