Quiet slide out engine vehicle

Claim 2

A vehicle having a housing body, an engine connected to a drive train for moving the vehicle, a source of electrical power such as electrical batteries, electrical power means extending between the engine and the vehicle housing and fluid conduit means extending between the engine and the vehicle housing comprising: a chassis frame member including two interconnected parallel chassis rails mounted on the housing body; a movable engine mounting member including two parallel mounting rails interconnected and supporting the engine and a lower supporting member connected to and movable with the two mounting rails, the lower supporting member supporting the source of electrical power; roller means positioned between the respective chassis rails and the mounting rails for permitting the mounting rails to be relatively movable on the chassis frame whereby the engine can be moved along the chassis frame member out of the housing body adjacent a first end of the chassis frame member; means for interlocking the chassis frame member and the movable engine mounting member; means for alignment of the engine mounting member with the chassis frame member, and means adjacent the movable engine mounting member for disconnecting the electrical power means and the fluid conduit means between the engine and the vehicle housing.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the lower support member extends between the mounting rails adjacent the first end of the chassis frame member when the chassis frame member and the movable engine mounting member are interlocked.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for disconnecting the electrical power means and the fluid conduit means include a module member permitting a unitary disconnection of both the electrical power means and the fluid conduit means between the engine and the vehicle housing whereby the engine can be quickly removed from the vehicle.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein the vehicle housing body includes sound deadening insulation surrounding the upper portion of the engine and the movable engine mounting member further includes a pan member extending across the bottom of the engine to reflect engine sounds upward into the sound deadening insulation.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 wherein the engine further includes an elongated auxiliary drive shaft extending from the front of the engine relative to the drive train, a fan connected to the shaft, means for removing rotational power from the shaft, bearing means for the shaft mounted on the movable engine mounting member and a flexible coupling member connecting the shaft to the engine.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 4 wherein the vehicle includes a molded fiberglass walled cab portion for the operator, the cab wall includes outer layers of solid fiberglass panels and an interior core of plastic foam.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1 wherein the engine mounting member further includes a fluid filter supporting member adapted to support fluid filters for the engine.

Claim 9

A wheeled vehicle of the type capable of hauling bulk items such as refuse having an engine with an exhaust system including a muffler, the engine connected on one side to a drive train for driving the vehicle, comprising; a housing body having a molded fiberglass wall cab portion for the operator, the cab wall including outer layers of solid fiberglass panels and an interior core of sound deadening plastic material; a chassis frame member adapted to be mounted on the vehicle adjacent the cab portion; a movable engine mounting member adapted to mount the engine; means for permitting the engine mounting member to be relatively movable on the chassis frame whereby the engine can be moved along the chassis frame member out of the housing body; means for interlocking the chassis frame member and the movable engine mounting member; engine housing means fixedly attached to the Housing body and surrounding the upper portion of the engine for absorbing sound, and a pan member extending across the mounting member to cover the bottom of the engine, the pan member being open on the other side of the engine relative to the drive train to increase air flow around the engine and to assist in reflecting engine noise upward into the engine housing means for absorbing sound whereby the cab wall and engine housing means reduce the sound level both externally of the housing body and in the interior of the cab portion occupied by the operator.

Claim 10

A wheeled vehicle of the type capable of hauling bulk items such as refuse having an engine with an exhaust system including a muffler, the engine connected on one side to a drive train for driving the vehicle, comprising; a housing body having a molded fiberglass wall cab portion for the operator, the cab wall including outer layers of solid fiberglass panels and an interior core of sound deadening plastic material; a chassis frame member adapted to be mounted on the vehicle adjacent the cab portion; a movable engine mounting member adapted to mount the engine; means for permitting the engine mounting member to be relatively movable on the chassis frame whereby the engine can be moved along the chassis frame member out of the housing body; means for interlocking the chassis frame member and the movable engine mounting member; engine housing means fixedly attached to the Housing body and surrounding the upper portion of the engine for absorbing sound, and a pan member extending across the mounting member to cover the bottom of the engine, the pan member being open on the other side of the engine relative to the drive train to increase air flow around the engine and to assist in reflecting engine noise upward into the engine housing means for absorbing sound whereby the cab wall and engine housing means reduce the sound level both externally of the housing body and in the interior of the cab portion occupied by the operator.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 8 including means for mounting fluid filters that can be connected to the engine, on the movable engine mounting member externally of the engine housing means for absorbing sound.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 8 wherein the engine further includes a radiator and a fan and a fiberglass shroud, the edges of the shroud adjacent to the fan being curved to lessen air flow noise.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 8 further including exhaust sound absorbing means surrounding the muffler to reduce exhaust sounds from the engine.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 8 wherein the engine mounting member includes a lower supporting member mounted externally of the engine housing means for absorbing sound and adapted to support electrical batteries.