Tilt cab latch device

Claim 2

In a tilt-cab vehicle having a cab pivotally mounted on a vehicle chassis and movable between an over-the-road position and a tilted position, a lift assembly for tilting said cab, locking means for releasably latching said cab to said chassis comprising: a latch pin mounted on one of said cab and chassis and a latch assembly mounted on the other of said cab and chassis and comPrising: a member movable along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; means for biasing said member in a direction away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said member at a pivot point and having a hook for releasable engagement with said pin; said camming plate being provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a cam guide for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; and ram means movable along a longitudinal path in a direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin.

Claim 3

A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said hook is pivotally connected to said camming plate and is provided with a cam surface engageable by said latch pin and further comprising second biasing means for biasing said hook into a latching position, said hook being movable by said latch pin out of the path of travel of said latch pin as said cab is returned to over-the-road position to enable said latch pin to make latching engagement with said hook.

Claim 4

In a tilt-cab vehicle having a cab pivotally mounted on a vehicle chassis and movable between an over-the-road position and a tilted position, a lift assembly for tilting said cab, and locking means for releasably latching said cab to said chassis and serving to absorb shock, said locking means comprising a latch pin on one of said cab and chassis and a latch assembly mounted on the other of said cab and chassis, said latch assembly comprising: a first member movable along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said first member at a pivot point and provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a hook on said camming plate for releasable engagement with said latch pin; first biasing means for biasing said first member and said camming plate in a direction away from said latch pin to maintain said hook in latch pin engaging position, said first biasing means serving to absorb shock as said cab and chassis move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged; a cam guide for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; ram means including a second member movable in opposite directions along said longitudinal path and selectively movable in the direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin; second biasing means for effecting following engagement of said second member of said ram means with said camming plate as said cab and chassis move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged; and means to retard return movement of said second member and absorb shock as said cab and chassis move together while said latch pin and hook are engaged.

Claim 5

In a tilt-cab vehicle having a cab pivotally mounted on a vehicle chassis and movable between an over-the-road position and a tilted position, a lift assembly for tilting said cab, and locking means for releasably latching said cab to said chassis and serving to absorb shock, said locking means comprising a latch pin on one of said cab and chassis and a latch assembly mounted on the other of said cab and chassis, said latch assembly comprising: a first member movable along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said first member at a pivot point and provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a hook on said camming plate for releasable engagement with said latch pin; first biasing means for biasing said first member and said camming plate in a direction away from said latch pin to maintain said hook in latch pin engaging position, said first biasing means serving to absorb shock as said cab and chassis move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged; a cam guide for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; ram means including a second member movable in opposite directions along said longitudinal path and selectively movable in the direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin; second biasing means for effecting following engagement of said second member of said ram means with said camming plate as said cab and chassis move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged; and means to retard return movement of said second member and absorb shock as said cab and chassis move together while said latch pin and hook are engaged.

Claim 6

A vehicle according to claim 3 wherein said hook is pivotally connected to said camming plate and is provided with a cam surface engageable by said latch pin, and comprising biasing means for biasing said hook into latching position, said hook being movable by said latch pin out of the path of travel of said latch pin as said cab is return to over-the-road position to enable said latch pin to make latching engagement with said hook.

Claim 7

A vehicle according tO claim 4 including movable means on said hook for engagement with said latch pin to enable said latch pin to effect return movement of said hook, said camming plate and said first member as said cab and chassis move together while said latch pin and hook are engaged.

Claim 8

In a tilt-cab vehicle having a cab pivotally mounted on a vehicle chassis and movable between an over-the-road position and a tilted position, a lift assembly for tilting said cab, locking means for releasably latching said cab to said chassis comprising: a latch pin mounted on said cab and a latch assembly mounted on said chassis and comprising: a support attached to said chassis; a member movable on said support along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; means on said support for biasing said member in a direction away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said member at a pivot point and having a hook for releasable engagement with said pin; said camming plate being provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a cam guide on said support for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; and hydraulically operable ram means on said support, said ram means comprising a ram member movable along a longitudinal path in a direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin.

Claim 9

In a tilt-cab vehicle having a cab pivotally mounted on a vehicle chassis and movable between an over-the-road position and a tilted position, a lift assembly for tilting said cab, locking means for releasably latching said cab to said chassis comprising: a latch pin mounted on said cab and a latch assembly mounted on said chassis and comprising: a support attached to said chassis; a member movable on said support along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; means on said support for biasing said member in a direction away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said member at a pivot point and having a hook for releasable engagement with said pin; said camming plate being provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a cam guide on said support for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; and hydraulically operable ram means on said support, said ram means comprising a ram member movable along a longitudinal path in a direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin.

Claim 10

A vehicle according to claim 6 wherein said hook is pivotally connected to said camming plate and is provided with a cam surface engageable by said latch pin and further comprising second biasing means between said camming plate and said hook for biasing said hook into a latching position, said hook being movable by said latch pin out of the path of travel of said latch pin as said cab is returned to over-the-road position to enable said latch pin to make latching engagement with said hook.

Claim 11

In a tilt-cab vehicle having a cab pivotally mounted on a vehicle chassis and movable between an over-the-road position and a titlted position, a lift assembly for tilting said cab, and locking means for releasably latching said cab to said chassis in over-the-road position and serving to absorb shock, said locking means comprising a latch pin on one of said cab and chassis and a latch assembly mounted on the other of said cab and chassis, said latch assembly comprising: a first member movable along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said first member at a pivot point and provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a hook on said camming plate for releasable engagement with said latch pin; first biasing means for biasing said first member and said camming plate in a direction away from said latch pin to maintain said hook in latch pin engaging position, said first biasing means serving to absorb shock as said cab and chassis move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged; a cam guide for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; hydraulically operable ram means including a cylinder and a piston movable in opposite directions along said longitudinal path and selectively movable by supplying fluid to said cylinder in the direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin; second biasing means for effecting following engagement of said piston with said camming plate as said cab and chassis move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged to cause hydraulic fluid to enter said cylinder; and means including a check valve and a metering valve connected to said cylinder to retard fluid flow from said cylinder to retard return movement of said piston and absorb shock as said cab and chassis move together while said latch pin and hook are engaged.

Claim 12

In a tilt-cab vehicle having a cab pivotally mounted on a vehicle chassis and movable between an over-the-road position and a titlted position, a lift assembly for tilting said cab, and locking means for releasably latching said cab to said chassis in over-the-road position and serving to absorb shock, said locking means comprising a latch pin on one of said cab and chassis and a latch assembly mounted on the other of said cab and chassis, said latch assembly comprising: a first member movable along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said first member at a pivot point and provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a hook on said camming plate for releasable engagement with said latch pin; first biasing means for biasing said first member and said camming plate in a direction away from said latch pin to maintain said hook in latch pin engaging position, said first biasing means serving to absorb shock as said cab and chassis move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged; a cam guide for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; hydraulically operable ram means including a cylinder and a piston movable in opposite directions along said longitudinal path and selectively movable by supplying fluid to said cylinder in the direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin; second biasing means for effecting following engagement of said piston with said camming plate as said cab and chassis move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged to cause hydraulic fluid to enter said cylinder; and means including a check valve and a metering valve connected to said cylinder to retard fluid flow from said cylinder to retard return movement of said piston and absorb shock as said cab and chassis move together while said latch pin and hook are engaged.

Claim 13

A vehicle according to claim 8 wherein said hook is pivotally connected to said camming plate and is provided with a cam surface engageable by said latch pin, and comprising biasing means between said camming plate and said hook for biasing said hook into latching position, said hook being movable by said latch pin out of the path of travel of said latch pin as said cab is returned to over-the-road position to enable said latch pin to make latching engagement with said hook.

Claim 14

A vehicle according to claim 9 including a movable member pivotally mounted on said hook for engagement with said latch pin as the latter moves toward said latch assembly to enable said latch pin to effect return movement of said hook, said camming plate and said first member as said cab and chassis move together while said latch pin and hook are engaged.

Claim 15

A latch assembly for releasably latching two relatively movable elements, one of which is provided with a latching pin, while enabling limited relative movement between said elements comprising: a member movable along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; means for biasing said member in a direction away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said member at a pivot point and having a hook for releasable engagement with said pin; said camming plate being provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a cam guide for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; and ram means movable along a longitudinal path in a direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin.

Claim 16

A latch assembly for releasably latching two relatively movable elements, one of which is provided with a latching pin, while enabling limited relative movement between said elements comprising: a member movable along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; means for biasing said member in a direction away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said member at a pivot point and having a hook for releasable engagement with said pin; said camming plate being provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a cam guide for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; and ram means movable along a longitudinal path in a direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin.

Claim 17

A latch assembly according to claim 11 wherein said hook is pivotally connected to said camming plate and is provided with a cam surface engageable by said latch pin and further comprising second biasing means for biasing said hook into a latching position, said hook being movable by said latch pin out of the path of travel of said latch pin as said elements come together to enable said latch pin to make latching engagement with said hook.

Claim 18

A latch assembly for releasably latching two relatively movable elements, one of which is provided with a latch pin and serving to absorb shock, said latch assembly comprising: a first member movable along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said first member at a pivot point and provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a hook on said camming plate for releasable engagement with said latch pin; first biasing means for biasing said first member and said camming plate in a direction away from said latch pin to maintain said hook in latch pin engaging position, said first biasing means serving to absorb shock as said elements move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged; a cam guide for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; ram means Including a second member movable in opposite directions along said longitudinal path and selectively movable in the direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin; second biasing means for effecting following engagement of said second member of said ram means with said camming plate as said elements move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged; and means to retard return movement of said second member and absorb shock as said elements move together while said latch pin and hook are engaged.

Claim 19

A latch assembly for releasably latching two relatively movable elements, one of which is provided with a latch pin and serving to absorb shock, said latch assembly comprising: a first member movable along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said first member at a pivot point and provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a hook on said camming plate for releasable engagement with said latch pin; first biasing means for biasing said first member and said camming plate in a direction away from said latch pin to maintain said hook in latch pin engaging position, said first biasing means serving to absorb shock as said elements move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged; a cam guide for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; ram means Including a second member movable in opposite directions along said longitudinal path and selectively movable in the direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin; second biasing means for effecting following engagement of said second member of said ram means with said camming plate as said elements move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged; and means to retard return movement of said second member and absorb shock as said elements move together while said latch pin and hook are engaged.

Claim 20

A latch assembly according to claim 13 wherein said hook is pivotally connected to said camming plate and is provided with a cam surface engageable by said latch pin, and comprising biasing means for biasing said hook into latching position, said hook being movable by said latch pin out of the path of travel of said latch pin as said elements come together to enable said latch pin to make latching engagement with said hook.

Claim 21

A latch assembly according to claim 14 including movable means on said hook for engagement with said latch pin to enable said latch pin to effect return movement of said hook, said camming plate and said first member as said elements move together while said latch pin and hook are engaged.

Claim 22

A latch assembly for releasably latching two relatively movable elements, one of which is provided with a latching pin and serving to absorb shock, said latch assembly comprising: a first member movable along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said first member at a pivot point and provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a hook on said camming plate for releasable engagement with said latch pin; first biasing means for biasing said first member and said camming plate in a direction away from said latch pin to maintain said hook in latch pin engaging position, said first biasing means serving to absorb shock as said elements move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged; a cam guide for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; hydraulically operable ram means including a cylinder and piston movable in opposite directions along said longitudinal path and selectively movable by supplying fluid to said cylinder in the direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin; second biasing means for effecting following engagement of said piston with said camming plate as said elements move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged to cause hydraulic fluid to enter said cylinder; and means including a check valve and a metering valve connected to said cylinder to retard fluid flow from said cylinder to retard return movement of said piston and absorb shock as said elements move together while said latch pin and hook are engaged.

Claim 23

A latch assembly for releasably latching two relatively movable elements, one of which is provided with a latching pin and serving to absorb shock, said latch assembly comprising: a first member movable along a longitudinal path in directions toward and away from said latch pin; a camming plate pivotally connected to said first member at a pivot point and provided with linear and angular cam surfaces and being further provided with a force application point laterally offset from the longitudinal path of travel of said pivot point; a hook on said camming plate for releasable engagement with said latch pin; first biasing means for biasing said first member and said camming plate in a direction away from said latch pin to maintain said hook in latch pin engaging position, said first biasing means serving to absorb shock as said elements move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged; a cam guide for guiding engagement with said cam surfaces; hydraulically operable ram means including a cylinder and piston movable in opposite directions along said longitudinal path and selectively movable by supplying fluid to said cylinder in the direction toward said latch pin to apply force to said force application point to impart a rotary bias to said camming plate about said pivot point to effect guiding engagement between said cam surfaces and said cam guide and to initially move said hook linearly out of engagement with said latch pin and to subsequently move said hook laterally out of the path of movement of said latch pin; second biasing means for effecting following engagement of said piston with said camming plate as said elements move apart while said latch pin and hook are engaged to cause hydraulic fluid to enter said cylinder; and means including a check valve and a metering valve connected to said cylinder to retard fluid flow from said cylinder to retard return movement of said piston and absorb shock as said elements move together while said latch pin and hook are engaged.

Claim 24

A latch assembly according to claim 16 wherein said hook is pivotally connected to said camming plate and is provided with a cam surface engageable by said latch pin, and comprising biasing means between said camming plate and said hook for biasing said hook into latching position, said hook being movable by said latch pin out of the path of travel of said latch pin as said elements come together to enable said latch pin to make latching engagEment with said hook.

Claim 25

A latch assembly according to claim 17 including a movable member pivotally mounted on said hook for engagement with said latch pin as the latter moves toward said latch assembly to enable said latch pin to effect return movement of said hook, said camming plate and said first member as said elements move together while said latch pin and hook are engaged.