US3768856A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Roll-over protection cab
Assignee: Doosan Bobcat North America Inc
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Filing: 1971-10-04
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1991-10-04
Abstract
Abstract An off-highway vehicle having an energy absorption structure which protectively houses the operator and is permitted a limited arcuate movement about an axis parallel to the vehicle centerline when side thrusts or vertical loads are encountered above a predetermined minimum load such as might occur if the vehicle were to upset or roll on its side.
Inventors
- 👤 H Stuller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:42
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/11; B62; B62D; B62D33/00; B62D33/06; B62D33/063; B60R2021/0065; B60R2021/0074
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
In a vehicle having a frame structure including a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side rails on opposite sides of the vehicle centerline, a space above the frame structure, an operator''s position in said space, a critical zone of protection for the operator extending fore and aft, vertically above and below and laterally on either side of said operator''s position within which the operator will ordinarily be protected, the improvement comprising energy absorption means having a normally static state condition and an active energy absorption condition, said means including a protective structure for the operator enclosing interiorly thereof said critical zone and located above and offset laterally with respect to the side rails, an axis extending parallel to the centerline of the vehicle, portions of said means tending to pivot about said axis in case of loads applied to said protective structure in a direction transversely of said axis and above a minimum load, and restraining means connected to said portions permitting a degree of arcuate movement thereof about said axis in case said minimum load is exceeded including an elongated rigid element connected at one end to a lower portion of the protective structure and extending laterally and downwardly thereof and pivotally connecting at the lower end to one of said side rails whereby energy in excess of that which would otherwise cause the protective structure to crush into the critical zone is dissipated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
In a vehicle having a frame structure including a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side rails on opposite sides of the vehicle centerline, a space above the frame structure, an operator''s position in said space, a critical zone of protection for the operator extending fore and aft, vertically above and below and laterally on either side of said operator''s position within which the operator will ordinarily be protected, the improvement comprising energy absorption means having a normally static state condition and an active energy absorption condition, said means including a protective structure for the operator enclosing interiorly thereof said critical zone and located above and offset laterally with respect to the side rails, an axis extending parallel to the centerline of the vehicle, portions of said means tending to pivot about said axis in case of loads applied to said protective structure in a direction transversely of said axis and above a minimum load, and restraining means connected to said portions permitting a degree of arcuate movement thereof about said axis in case said minimum load is exceeded including an elongated rigid element connected at one end to a lower portion of the protective structure and extending laterally and downwardly thereof and pivotally connecting at the lower end to one of said side rails whereby energy in excess of that which would otherwise cause the protective structure to crush into the critical zone is dissipated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said restraining means includes a pair of rigid links pivotally connected at their lower ends to the frame side rails on opposite sides of the vehicle, said protective structure being laterally offset above the center line of the vehicle and the upper end of one link being pivotally connected to portions of said protective structure situated above and the other link connected below the critical zone of protection for the operator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the one link is connected at its upper end on the inner side of said protective structure adjacent the vehicle centerline and extends laterally and downwardly across the centerline pivotally connecting to the side frame rail most remote from said protective structure and said other link is pivotally connected at its upper end on the outer side of said protective structure remote from the vehicle centerline and extends laterally and downwardly pivotally connecting to the side frame rail immediAtely adjacent the protective structure, each said link capable of pivoting in a vertical plane imparting a generally parallel type of motion to said protective structure when said minimum load is exceeded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
180 words
An off-highway vehicle comprising a body, a frame supporting the body, said frame having a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending left and right side rails on opposite sides of the vehicle centerline, a shell structure for housing the operator having walls being spaced laterally, fore and aft and vertically from the operator''s position therein, said shell structure being mounted above the side rails and off-set from the vehicle centerline, restraining means including a rigid elongated element pivotally mounted to one of the side rails and extending upwardly and laterally for connection with said shell structure and shell mounting means supporting the shell structure above the side rails, said restraining means permitting a degree of arcuate movement of the shell structure about an axis parallel to the vehicle centerline in case of a lateral or vertical load being applied to the shell structure in excess of a minimum load wherein said shell structure, restraining and support means tend to deflect and deform, dissipating energy in excess of that which would otherwise cause collapse of the shell structure into the operator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
180 words
An off-highway vehicle comprising a body, a frame supporting the body, said frame having a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending left and right side rails on opposite sides of the vehicle centerline, a shell structure for housing the operator having walls being spaced laterally, fore and aft and vertically from the operator''s position therein, said shell structure being mounted above the side rails and off-set from the vehicle centerline, restraining means including a rigid elongated element pivotally mounted to one of the side rails and extending upwardly and laterally for connection with said shell structure and shell mounting means supporting the shell structure above the side rails, said restraining means permitting a degree of arcuate movement of the shell structure about an axis parallel to the vehicle centerline in case of a lateral or vertical load being applied to the shell structure in excess of a minimum load wherein said shell structure, restraining and support means tend to deflect and deform, dissipating energy in excess of that which would otherwise cause collapse of the shell structure into the operator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An off-highway vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the axis about which shell structure can pivot is between the side rails and the shell structure is mounted outboard of the left side rail.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
An off-highway vehicle according to claim 5 wherein said restraining means includes a pair of links, one attached adjacent the top of the shell structure and the other attached adjacent the bottom, said first mentioned link extending laterally downwardly and being pivotally connected at its lower end to the right side rail and said other link extending laterally and downwardly, being pivotally connected at its lower end to the left side rail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
An off-highway vehicle according to claim 6 wherein a portion of said vehicle body extends laterally of said shell structure and in case of arcuate movement thereof, is permitted to deflect and, in cooperation with said restraining and supporting means, tends to absorb a part of the excess energy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |