US3680890A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety lock for articulated vehicle
Assignee: Keppel LeTourneau USA Inc
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Filing: 1970-07-13
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1990-07-13
Abstract
Abstract As safety lock for locking a pivot connection of an articulated vehicle for servicing, shipment, and the like, characterized by a sector disc means rigidly affixed to one section of the vehicle with engaging means such as notches or protrusions disposed about its periphery; and a lock member pivotally mounted on the other section of the vehicle and pivotal into a normal position out of contact with the sector disc means, into an armed position, and into a locked position. The operator can pivot the lock member into the armed position, where the lock member is in interference with the sector disc so as to be drawn into the locked position upon further steering in a predetermined direction. The operator may then operate from the operator''s console the steering switch to effect the locked position, in which the lock member engages at least one of the engaging means in the sector disc. Also disclosed are specific preferred embodiments in which the lock member is movable in a plane parallel with the plane of the sector disc and has a holding pin for holding its free end in either the normal position or the locked position.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd L Magown Sr
- 👤 Rex L Zillman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:55
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
A safety lock for locking a pivot connection of an articulated vehicle comprising: a. a circular sector disc means that is rigidly affixed to one section of said articulated vehicle and has its center aligned with the axis of said pivot connection; b. at least one engaging means disposed about the periphery of said sector disc means; c. a lock member pivotally mounted on the other section of said articulated vehicle for movement in a plane that is parallel with the plane of said sector disc means and pivotal into a normal position, into an armed position, and into a locked position; said lock member having a locking portion for conformingly engaging said engaging means of said sector disc means in said locked position, an eccentric arming portion engagable by said sector disc means for automatically pivoting said lock member froM its armed position to its locked position in response to pivotal movement of said sector disc means to effect alignment with said engaging means; said lock member allowing, when positioned in said normal position, free movement of said sector disc means, the length of said lock member being less than the length of the radius of said sector disc means and the shortest distance from the pivot axis of said lock member to the periphery of said sector disc means being less than the greatest width of said lock member; d. normal holding means for retaining said lock member in said normal position; and e. locked holding means for retaining said lock member in said locked position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
A safety lock for locking a pivot connection of an articulated vehicle comprising: a. a circular sector disc means that is rigidly affixed to one section of said articulated vehicle and has its center aligned with the axis of said pivot connection; b. at least one engaging means disposed about the periphery of said sector disc means; c. a lock member pivotally mounted on the other section of said articulated vehicle for movement in a plane that is parallel with the plane of said sector disc means and pivotal into a normal position, into an armed position, and into a locked position; said lock member having a locking portion for conformingly engaging said engaging means of said sector disc means in said locked position, an eccentric arming portion engagable by said sector disc means for automatically pivoting said lock member froM its armed position to its locked position in response to pivotal movement of said sector disc means to effect alignment with said engaging means; said lock member allowing, when positioned in said normal position, free movement of said sector disc means, the length of said lock member being less than the length of the radius of said sector disc means and the shortest distance from the pivot axis of said lock member to the periphery of said sector disc means being less than the greatest width of said lock member; d. normal holding means for retaining said lock member in said normal position; and e. locked holding means for retaining said lock member in said locked position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The safety lock of claim 1 wherein said engaging means is an arcuate notch means and said locking portion is a rounded terminal portion to conformingly fit said arcuate notch means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
139 words
The safety lock of claim 2 wherein said sector disc means has a laterally extending protrusion means defining a circular path of travel when said sector disc means is rotated and disposed near its periphery at a predetermined distance from a respective arcuate notch means; said eccentric arming portion comprises an arm rigidly fixed to said lock member at a distance with respect to said rounded terminal locking portion that is correlative with said predetermined distance; said arm being disposed so as to be outside the circular path of travel of said protrusion means in said normal position, within said circular path of travel in said armed position, and operable to engage said protrusion means to effect pivoting of said lock member into said locked position in response to rotation of said sector disc means in a predetermined direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
The safety lock of claim 2 wherein said respective holding means comprise a first pin aperture in said lock member, a second pin aperture in said other section disposed so as to match said first pin aperture when said lock member is in said locked position; and a holding pin means insertable through said apertures; said second pin aperture being disposed so that the holding pin means is partially within said arcuate notch means when in the locked position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The safety lock of claim 1 wherein said engaging means is a radially extending protrusion means and said locking portion is shaped to conformingly fit said protrusion means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB213990A
Cited
US2273410A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |