Patent US3826327A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3826327A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle bottom guard structure
Assignee: Deere and Co
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Filing: 1972-12-18
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Granted: 1974-07-30
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Expires: 1992-12-18
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an off-the-road vehicle having a forward-mounted engine, the bottom of which is protected from damage by obstacles by a bottom guard plate assembly which extends below the bottom of the engine and is releasably secured to the main frame of the vehicle. The plate assembly comprises a centrally located access opening which is normally closed by an access door which is held in place by a plurality of releasable cap screws. The door is provided with a pair of hooks along one of its sides, the hooks cooperating with a pair of abutments located along one side of the access opening of the plate assembly to form a hinge about which the door is vertically swingable once the cap screws have been removed. For the purpose of aiding in the installation and removal of the plate assembly to and from its normal position at the underside of the engine, there is provided a length of proofcoil chain which has one end welded to a tractor frame member located above one end of the plate assembly and having a link at its other end slipped over a hook formed on the upper side of the plate assembly. The upper side of the plate assembly is provided with a planar debris-collecting plate which overlies reinforcing ribs of the assembly exclusive of the access door. The access door is also provided with reinforcing ribs.
Inventors
- 👤 D Stover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:51
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D25/00; B62D25/20; B62D25/2054; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/084; B62D55/0845
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
In a tractor of the type including an engine supported by a main frame, an engine bottom guard structure comprising: a plate means extending below said engine and being releasably secured to said frame; said plate means having a generally rectangular access opening therein located below said engine; a generally rectangular access door being dimensioned complementary to said opening; fastening means releasably securing said door in a first position wherein the door closes the opening and has a bottom surface extending substantially coplanar with the bottom of said plate means; abutment means fixed to the top surface of said plate means and extending along one side of said opening; said abutment means including surface means generally paralleling and facing away from one side of said opening; hook means fixed to the top surface of said door next to that door side which is adjacent to said one side of said opening when the door is in said first position and including free end portion means disposed for engaging said surface means when said fastening means are released; said hook means and abutment means cooperating as sole means for hingedly supporting said door from said plate means when said fastening means are released.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a tractor of the type including an engine supported by a main frame, an engine bottom guard structure comprising: a plate means extending below said engine and being releasably secured to said frame; said plate means having a generally rectangular access opening therein located below said engine; a generally rectangular access door being dimensioned complementary to said opening; fastening means releasably securing said door in a first position wherein the door closes the opening and has a bottom surface extending substantially coplanar with the bottom of said plate means; abutment means fixed to the top surface of said plate means and extending along one side of said opening; said abutment means including surface means generally paralleling and facing away from one side of said opening; hook means fixed to the top surface of said door next to that door side which is adjacent to said one side of said opening when the door is in said first position and including free end portion means disposed for engaging said surface means when said fastening means are released; said hook means and abutment means cooperating as sole means for hingedly supporting said door from said plate means when said fastening means are released.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
133 words
The tractor defined in claim 1 wherein said abutment means is in the form of cylindrical pin means and said hook means including at least two spaced hooks and each hook including a rod having one end fixed to said door and having a free end portion forming a part of said free end portion means and spaced to one side of said door and extending parallel to said door side and having an intermediate inverted U-shaped portion, as considered when the door is in said first position, extending between said one and free ends; and each free end portion being spaced above the top surface of said plate means and located at the opposite side of said cylindrical pin means from said one end when said door is in said first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
The tractor defined in claim 1 and wherein said plate means includes a lower main plate having a plurality of reinforcing ribs of substantially equal height being fixed to the top side thereof; and a planar plate being secured in overlying relationship to said ribs and defining an opening which is vertically coextensive with said access opening whereby debris finding its way to the top of said bottom guard may be cleaned therefrom by first removing the access door and by then sweeping the debris across the planar plate and into the access opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
The tractor defined in claim 1 and further including a connection means secured to the top of said plate means at a central location adjacent one end thereof; said main frame including a member located directly above said connection means; a flexible element extending between and being secured to said frame member and connection means, said flexible element being of a length sufficient for permitting the one end of said plate means to drop slightly below the bottom of the vehicle when said plate means is released from said frame at all points exclusive of the connection means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
The tractor defined in claim 4 wherein said flexible element is a length of proof-coil chain and said connection means is a hook including a rod having one end fixed to said plate means and having a free end portion spaced above said plate means and extending crosswise to said one end of the plate means and having an intermediate inverted U-shaped portion extending between the fixed end and the free end portion; and said chain having a link received on said hook and located in said inverted U-shaped portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
The tractor defined in claim 1 wherein said access door includes tranversely extending reinforcing ribs on its upper side, at least one portion of said main frame extending above and spanning said access opening and at least a portion of said ribs being positioned vertically below and close to engagement with the bottom side of said one portion of said main frame whereby said portion of said ribs of the access door will engage said one portion of the frame when the door is bent a slight amount upwardly by obstacles engaged by the door during operation, the door thus being prevented from being extensively bent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tractor defined in claim 1 wherein said hook means is spaced from said plate and said abutment means when the access door is in said first position.
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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) | 1977-07-29 | 1978-01-28 | 1978-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-29 | 1982-01-28 | 1982-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-29 | 1986-01-28 | 1986-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |