Hydraulic system and mechanical latch therefor

Claim 2

A pressure-fluid operated latching mechanism including, in combination, a pressure cylinder, a housing means affixed to said pressure cylinder, a piston disposed within said cylinder, means connected to said cylinder for selectively applying fluid pressure to said piston to translate the same forwardly within said cylinder, means for returning said piston rearwardly within said cylinder when said fluid pressure is released, and latching means disposed in said housing means and cooperably disposed with respect to said piston, and extensible from and withdrawable toward said cylinder along the latter''s longitudinal axis in response to movement of said piston, for releasably engaging an external member, said housing means including means for tilting said latching means away from said longitudinal axis upon predetermined travel of the latter.

Claim 3

Structure according to claim 1 wherein said latching means comprises a concave hook-configured latch.

Claim 4

A pressure-fluid operated latching mechanism including, in combination, a pressure cylinder, a piston disposed within said cylinder, means connected to said cylinder for selectively applying fluid pressure to said piston to translate the same forwardly within said cylinder, means for returning said piston rearwardly within said cylinder when said fluid pressure is released, and latching means cooperably disposed with respect to said piston, and extensible from and withdrawable toward said cylinder in response to movement of said piston, for releasably engaging an external member, and wherein said cylinder includes a housing, said piston including a piston rod protruding into said housing, said mechanism including a flange member disposed within said housing and having a flange proximate said piston rod and engageable thereby upon advancing movements by the latter, said flange member also including a flange extension integral with said flange and pivoted to said latching means at a pivot, said housing including reaction means disposed between said latching means and said cylinder, said returning means comprising a compression spring operably disposed between said flange and said reaction means.

Claim 5

A pressure-fluid operated latching mechanism including, in combination, a pressure cylinder, a piston disposed within said cylinder, means connected to said cylinder for selectively applying fluid pressure to said piston to translate the same forwardly within said cylinder, means for returning said piston rearwardly within said cylinder when said fluid pressure is released, and latching means cooperably disposed with respect to said piston, and extensible from and withdrawable toward said cylinder in response to movement of said piston, for releasably engaging an external member, and wherein said cylinder includes a housing, said piston including a piston rod protruding into said housing, said mechanism including a flange member disposed within said housing and having a flange proximate said piston rod and engageable thereby upon advancing movements by the latter, said flange member also including a flange extension integral with said flange and pivoted to said latching means at a pivot, said housing including reaction means disposed between said latching means and said cylinder, said returning means comprising a compression spring operably disposed between said flange and said reaction means.

Claim 6

Structure according to claim 3 wherein said flange member is separate from said piston rod and is constructed and arranged to be spaced therefrom when said latch latches an external member and when said fluid pressure is released from within said cylinder.

Claim 7

Structure according to claim 3 wherein said mechanism includes intercooperable means respectively integral with said housing and latching means for pivotally displacing said latching means in the process of the latter''s extension from said cylinder.

Claim 8

Structure according to claim 5 wherein said pivotally displacing means comprises an actuating protuberance integral with said housing and a laterally extending camming protuberance integral with said latching means and actuatably engageable by said actuating protuberance, during the course of said latching means'' extension.

Claim 9

Structure according to claim 6 wherein said reaction means comprises a plate, said actuating protuberance being affixed to and upstanding from said plate toward said cylinder within said compression spring.

Claim 10

Structure according to claim 7 wherein said mechanism includes: retUrn spring means for spring-biasing said latching means to said flange extension about said pivot, and limit stop means for limiting the pivotal travel of said latching means about said pivot under the pressure of said return spring.

Claim 11

In combination, a tractor having a frame and a cab pivoted to said frame, one of said frame and cab having a latchable member and the remaining having fluid-pressure operated latching means, fluid-pressure operated means secured to and between said frame and said cab for pivotally, liftingly displacing said cab relative to said frame, said fluid-pressure operated latching means being coupled to said fluid-pressure operated means and being constructed for securing said latchable member by said latching means and, thereby, said cab to said frame when fluid pressure is released, and, when fluid pressure is applied, having first means for first separating said latching means from said latchable member in the direction of the travel path of said latchable member when said cab is subsequently elevated and, then, having second means for subsequently moving said latching means laterally beyond the travel path of said latchable member as said cab is being elevated.

Claim 12

In combination, a tractor having a frame and a cab pivoted to said frame, one of said frame and cab having a latchable member and the remaining having fluid-pressure operated latching means, fluid-pressure operated means secured to and between said frame and said cab for pivotally, liftingly displacing said cab relative to said frame, said fluid-pressure operated latching means being coupled to said fluid-pressure operated means and being constructed for securing said latchable member by said latching means and, thereby, said cab to said frame when fluid pressure is released, and, when fluid pressure is applied, having first means for first separating said latching means from said latchable member in the direction of the travel path of said latchable member when said cab is subsequently elevated and, then, having second means for subsequently moving said latching means laterally beyond the travel path of said latchable member as said cab is being elevated.

Claim 13

In combination, a tractor having a frame and a liftable member pivoted to said frame, one of said frame and liftable member having a latchable member and the remaining having fluid-pressure operated latching means, fluid-pressure operated means secured to and between said frame and said liftable member for pivotally, liftingly displacing said liftable member relative to said frame, said fluid-pressure operated latching means being coupled to said fluid-pressure operated means for securing said latchable member by said latching means and, thereby, said liftable member to said frame when fluid pressure is released and, when fluid pressure is applied, having first means for first separating said latching means from said latchable member in the direction of the travel path of said latchable member when said liftable member is subsequently elevated and then having second means for subsequently moving said latching means laterally beyond the travel path of said latchable member as said liftable member is being elevated.

Claim 14

In combination, a tractor having a frame and a liftable member pivoted to said frame, one of said frame and liftable member having a latchable member and the remaining having fluid-pressure operated latching means, fluid-pressure operated means secured to and between said frame and said liftable member for pivotally, liftingly displacing said liftable member relative to said frame, said fluid-pressure operated latching means being coupled to said fluid-pressure operated means for securing said latchable member by said latching means and, thereby, said liftable member to said frame when fluid pressure is released and, when fluid pressure is applied, having first means for first separating said latching means from said latchable member in the direction of the travel path of said latchable member when said liftable member is subsequently elevated and then having second means for subsequently moving said latching means laterally beyond the travel path of said latchable member as said liftable member is being elevated.

Claim 15

A pressure-fluid operated latching mechanism including, in combination, a cylinder, a housing affixed to and extending axially from said cylinder, a piston operably disposed in said cylinder and having a piston rod extending from said cylinder within said housing, a flange member disposed in said housing and having a flange disposed for engagement by said piston rod and a flange extension, a latch pivoted to said flange extension and extending beyond said housing, a compression spring axially disposed with respect to said piston rod and operably disposed between said flange and said housing and disposed within the latter, said housing and latching means being provided with intercooperable means for pivoting said latching means relative to said flange extension after a predetermined travel advancement of said latching means relative to said housing.

Claim 16

A pressure-fluid operated latching mechanism including, in combination, a cylinder, a housing affixed to and extending axially from said cylinder, a piston operably disposed in said cylinder and having a piston rod extending from said cylinder within said housing, a flange member disposed in said housing and having a flange disposed for engagement by said piston rod and a flange extension, a latch pivoted to said flange extension and extending beyond said housing, a compression spring axially disposed with respect to said piston rod and operably disposed between said flange and said housing and disposed within the latter, said housing and latching means being provided with intercooperable means for pivoting said latching means relative to said flange extension after a predetermined travel advancement of said latching means relative to said housing.

Claim 17

Structure according to claim 11 wherein said mechanism includes return spring means engaging said latching means for returning said latching means against prior pivoted displacement, and stop reaction means for limiting such return.

Claim 18

A pressure-fluid operated latching mechanism including, in combination, a fluid pressure cylinder having a central axis, a housing affixed to said cylinder, a reciprocating piston disposed within said cylinder and having an extension extending axially in one direction with respect to said cylinder and within said housing, latching means for engaging an external member, said latching means being disposed in said one direction beyond said piston extension, means cooperable with said piston extension and said latching means for advancing said latching means in said one direction, during times of piston and piston extension travel in said one direction, and respective, mutuaLly intercooperable means disposed on said latching means and said housing for displacing said latching means laterally from the axis of said cylinder when a predetermined forward advance by said latching means has been reached.

Claim 19

A pressure-fluid operated latching mechanism including, in combination, a fluid pressure cylinder having a central axis, a housing affixed to said cylinder, a reciprocating piston disposed within said cylinder and having an extension extending axially in one direction with respect to said cylinder and within said housing, latching means for engaging an external member, said latching means being disposed in said one direction beyond said piston extension, means cooperable with said piston extension and said latching means for advancing said latching means in said one direction, during times of piston and piston extension travel in said one direction, and respective, mutuaLly intercooperable means disposed on said latching means and said housing for displacing said latching means laterally from the axis of said cylinder when a predetermined forward advance by said latching means has been reached.