Elevating compartment

Claim 2

A means for supporting and elevating a cab on a vehicle having a frame comprising: a rod, having a lower portion and a reduced diameter upper portion, secured at each end to the vehicle frame; a cylinder having upper and lower ends reciprocably mounted on the rod means and secured to the cab; said rod projecting beyond and sealingly engaged on said upper portion by the upper end of the cylinder and on the lower portion by the lower end of the cylinder; guide means secured to one of the cab and the vehicle frame; and follower means carried by the other one of said cab and said frame and engageable with the guide means.

Claim 3

In a vehicle having a relatively flat upper surface and a frame which defines a cavity, the improvement comprising: a cab having a shape generally complementary to the frame cavity; a single rod means, having a lower portion and a reduced diameter portion, secured at both ends to the vehicle frame and extending substantially upright along one corner of the cavity; a cylinder reciprocably mounted on the rod means, said rod means projecting beyond and sealingly engaged on the lower portion by one end of the cylinder and on the reduced diameter portion by the other end of the cylinder; means securing the cab to the cylinder for movement therewith, the upper surface of the cab being substantially coextensive with the upper surface of the vehicle when the cylinder is at its lowest position; and means to prevent rotation of the cylinder on the rod means.

Claim 4

In a vehicle having a relatively flat upper surface and a frame which defines a cavity, the improvement comprising: a cab having a shape generally complementary to the frame cavity; a single rod means, having a lower portion and a reduced diameter portion, secured at both ends to the vehicle frame and extending substantially upright along one corner of the cavity; a cylinder reciprocably mounted on the rod means, said rod means projecting beyond and sealingly engaged on the lower portion by one end of the cylinder and on the reduced diameter portion by the other end of the cylinder; means securing the cab to the cylinder for movement therewith, the upper surface of the cab being substantially coextensive with the upper surface of the vehicle when the cylinder is at its lowest position; and means to prevent rotation of the cylinder on the rod means.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 2 and further comprising: a hydraulic circuit including an electrically driven pump and solenoid valve means mounted on the cab and connected with the cylinder.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 2, and further comprising: cushioning means interposed between the bottom of the cab and the frame to decelerate the cab as the cylinder reaches its lowest position.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 2, wherein; each of said lower portion and reduced diameter portion has a length at least as great as the maximum change in elevation of the cab.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 3, wherein the cylinder is single acting, and further comprising: electrical switch means movable to a raise position in which the electrically driven pump is actuated and said solenoid valve means is shifted to permit the pump output to be directed to the cylinder, and a lower position in which the solenoid valve is shifted to permit the weight of the cab to force hydraulic fluid out of the cylinder.

Claim 9

In a vehicle having a frame defining a cavity and having a relatively flat upper surface; the improvement comprising: rod means having a lower portion and a reduced diameter upper section secured to the frame in one corner of the cavity; a single acting cylinder reciprocably mounted on the rod means and having one end in sealing engagement with the lower portion and the other end in sealing engagement with the upper portion; a cab having a shape complementary to the cavity secured to the cylinder, the upper surface of the cab being flush with the upper surface of the vehicle when the cylinder is reciprocated to its lowest position; hydraulic circuit means carried by the cab and including an electrically driven pump, solenoid valve means and a reservoir connected with the cylinder; said solenoid valve having a spring-biased closed center neutral position in which the cylinder is locked in position and a first shifted position in which communication is established between the pump and the cylinder and a second shifted position on which communication is established between the cylinder and the reservoir; an electrical switch means hAving momentary contact raise and lower positions, the raise position providing electrical contact for actuating the pump and simultaneously shifting the solenoid valve means to its first position, and the lower position providing electrical contact for shifting the solenoid valve means to its second position; guide means on the vehicle; and follower means on the cab engageable with the guide means for maintaining the cab in a given relationship to the cavity.

Claim 10

In a vehicle having a frame defining a cavity and having a relatively flat upper surface; the improvement comprising: rod means having a lower portion and a reduced diameter upper section secured to the frame in one corner of the cavity; a single acting cylinder reciprocably mounted on the rod means and having one end in sealing engagement with the lower portion and the other end in sealing engagement with the upper portion; a cab having a shape complementary to the cavity secured to the cylinder, the upper surface of the cab being flush with the upper surface of the vehicle when the cylinder is reciprocated to its lowest position; hydraulic circuit means carried by the cab and including an electrically driven pump, solenoid valve means and a reservoir connected with the cylinder; said solenoid valve having a spring-biased closed center neutral position in which the cylinder is locked in position and a first shifted position in which communication is established between the pump and the cylinder and a second shifted position on which communication is established between the cylinder and the reservoir; an electrical switch means hAving momentary contact raise and lower positions, the raise position providing electrical contact for actuating the pump and simultaneously shifting the solenoid valve means to its first position, and the lower position providing electrical contact for shifting the solenoid valve means to its second position; guide means on the vehicle; and follower means on the cab engageable with the guide means for maintaining the cab in a given relationship to the cavity.