Service vehicle for manhole operation

Claim 2

A vehicle for manhole operation and comprising a chassis frame mounting wheels and having means for coupling the same to a truck or the like to be towed thereby, power and powered equipment mounted on said chassis frame within the perimeter thereof and including at least a prime mover, a generator connected to said prime mover and electrical outlet means connected to be energized by said generator, fuel container storage means having feed connections for connecting a fuel container with said prime mover and a housing for said vehicle, said housing comprising a substantially unitary boxlike structure having an open bottom configuration closely matching that of the perimeter of the chassis frame, said housing being engaged over said frame and being secured thereto in an assembly fully enclosing all of the power and powered equipment mounted thereon, said housing having means to gain access to said powered equipment when desired to enable use thereof without removing the housing, and the chassis frame has means partitioning the vehicle into compartments including at least one defining said fuel container storage means, in which said prime mover is liquid cooled and has a cooling radiator and a fan blowing air through said radiator, in which said partitioning means include structure for directing the air blown through said radiator into said fuel container storage means compartment whereby to enable warming a fuel container which would be disposed in said storage means compartment.

Claim 3

The vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which there are two compartments defining fuel container storage means and said partitioning means include structure for selectively directing warmed air into said two compartments.

Claim 4

The vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which the housing is secured by means of removal fasteners whereby the fasteners may be removed and the housing lifted off the chassis frame thereby fully exposing the power and powered equipment.

Claim 5

The vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which said frame includes framing members defining the parameter thereof and said housing has internal cleats spaced above the bottom edge thereof adapted to engage upon the top of said framing members and thereby providing an overhang adjacent the bottom edge of said housing concealing the framing members from the exterior of said vehicle.

Claim 6

The vehicle as claimed in claim 4 in which the housing is secured to the framing members by means of movable fasteners whereby the fasteners may be removed and the housing lifted off the chassis frame whereby exposing the power and powered equipment.

Claim 7

A vehicle for manhole operation and comprising a chassis frame mounting wheels and having means for coupling the same to a truck or the like to be towed thereby, power and powered equipment mounted on said chassis frame and including a liquid cooled prime mover having a radiator for cooling the liquid and a fan blowing air through the radiator, a housing for said vehicle and covering the power and powered equipment, vertical partition means in said vehicle and forming compartments, there being at least one compartment for storing a fuel container for said prime mover and the prime mover in a different compartment, fuel feed means connected between said one compartment and prime mover, said vertical partition means having structure for selectively directing at least some of the air blown through the radiator into said one compartment whereby to impinge against a fuel container which would be installed therein.

Claim 8

A vehicle for manhole operation and comprising a chassis frame mounting wheels and having means for coupling the same to a truck or the like to be towed thereby, power and powered equipment mounted on said chassis frame and including a liquid cooled prime mover having a radiator for cooling the liquid and a fan blowing air through the radiator, a housing for said vehicle and covering the power and powered equipment, vertical partition means in said vehicle and forming compartments, there being at least one compartment for storing a fuel container for said prime mover and the prime mover in a different compartment, fuel feed means connected between said one compartment and prime mover, said vertical partition means having structure for selectively directing at least some of the air blown through the radiator into said one compartment whereby to impinge against a fuel container which would be installed therein.

Claim 9

The vehicle as claimed in claim 6 in which there is a second compartment for storing a second fuel container, said fuel feed means are also connected between said second compartment and prime mover and in which the structure also provides for the selective directing of at least some of the air blown through the radiator into said second compartment.

Claim 10

The vehicle as claimed in claim 7 in which said vertical partition means include a firewall transverse of said vehicle and having an opening therein, the compartment containing said prime mover being formed with said housing on one side of said firewall and the said fuel container storage compartments being formed on the other side of said firewall, each fuel container storage compartment being situated in a corner of the housing of the vehicle and separated by a central compartment on the same side of said firewall as said fuel container storage compartments, there being a separating partition between the central compartment and each of said fuel container storage compartments and said selective directing structure comprising adjustable ventilators in each separating partition, the opening being aligned with the central compartment and the radiator being disposed at said opening so that warmed air is directed into said central compartment.

Claim 11

The vehicle as claimed in claim 8 in which said central compartment has outlets for warmed air in addition to those represented by said adjustable ventilators.

Claim 12

The vehicle as claimed in claim 8 in which said fuel container storage compartments have air outlet means to provide circulation of warm air therethrough.

Claim 13

The vehicle as claimed in claim 8 in which said housing has corner doors cooperating with said firewall and separating partitions to form said fuel container storage compartments to give access thereto to enable installation and removal of fuel containers.

Claim 14

A vehicle for manhole operation and comprising a chassis frame mounting wheels and having means for coupling te same to a truck or the like to be towed thereby, said chassis frame having a horizontal floor, power and powered equipment mounted on said chassis frame within the perimeter thereof and including at least a prime mover, a generator connected to be energized by said generator, fuel container storage means having feed connections for connecting a fuel container with said prime mover and a housing for said vehicle, said housing comprising a substantially unitary boxlike structure having an open bottom configuration closely matching that of the perimeter of the chassis frame, said housing being engaged over said frame and being secured thereto in an assembly fully enclosing all of said power and powered equipment mounted thereon, said housing having means to gain access to said powered equipment when desired to enable use thereof without removing the housing, said prime mover including a fan for use in cooling the same, means providing for circulation of air in said vehicle including air passage ventilator means in at least one of said housing and the said floor including a perforated portion to enable inflow of circulating air, and partitions are secured to said floor to form at least a first compartment containing said prime mover and a second compartment comprising said fuel container storage means, said perforated portion extending into said fuel container storage means and there being air passage ventilator means in partitions between said first and second compartments enabling circulation of air in said second compartment.

Claim 15

A vehicle for manhole operation and comprising a chassis frame mounting wheels and having means for coupling te same to a truck or the like to be towed thereby, said chassis frame having a horizontal floor, power and powered equipment mounted on said chassis frame within the perimeter thereof and including at least a prime mover, a generator connected to be energized by said generator, fuel container storage means having feed connections for connecting a fuel container with said prime mover and a housing for said vehicle, said housing comprising a substantially unitary boxlike structure having an open bottom configuration closely matching that of the perimeter of the chassis frame, said housing being engaged over said frame and being secured thereto in an assembly fully enclosing all of said power and powered equipment mounted thereon, said housing having means to gain access to said powered equipment when desired to enable use thereof without removing the housing, said prime mover including a fan for use in cooling the same, means providing for circulation of air in said vehicle including air passage ventilator means in at least one of said housing and the said floor including a perforated portion to enable inflow of circulating air, and partitions are secured to said floor to form at least a first compartment containing said prime mover and a second compartment comprising said fuel container storage means, said perforated portion extending into said fuel container storage means and there being air passage ventilator means in partitions between said first and second compartments enabling circulation of air in said second compartment.

Claim 16

The vehicle as claimed in claim 12 in which the air circulating in said compartment is heated by said prime mover and the ventilator means between said first and second compartments are adjustable.

Claim 17

A vehicle for manhole operation and comprising a chassis frame mounting wheels and having means for coupling same to a truck or the like to be towed thereby, power and power equipment mounted on said chassis frame and including a liquid-cooled prime mover having a radiator for cooling the liquid and a fan blowing air through the radiator, a unitary housing for said vehicle and covering the power and powered equipment, vertical partition means in said vehicle and forming compartments, there being at least one compartment for storing a fuel container for said prime mover and the prime mover being in a different compartment, fuel feed means connected between said one compartment and prime mover, said vertical partition means having structure for directing at least some of the air blown through the radiator into said one compartment whereby to impinge against a fuel container which would be installed therein.

Claim 18

A vehicle for manhole operation and comprising a chassis frame mounting wheels and having means for coupling same to a truck or the like to be towed thereby, power and power equipment mounted on said chassis frame and including a liquid-cooled prime mover having a radiator for cooling the liquid and a fan blowing air through the radiator, a unitary housing for said vehicle and covering the power and powered equipment, vertical partition means in said vehicle and forming compartments, there being at least one compartment for storing a fuel container for said prime mover and the prime mover being in a different compartment, fuel feed means connected between said one compartment and prime mover, said vertical partition means having structure for directing at least some of the air blown through the radiator into said one compartment whereby to impinge against a fuel container which would be installed therein.

Claim 19

A vehicle for manhole operation and comprising a chassis frame mounting wheels and having means for coupling the same to a truck or the like to be towed thereby, power and powered equipment mounted on said chassis frame within the perimeter thereof and including at least a prime mover, a generator connected to said prime mover and electrical outlet means connected to be energized by said generator, fuel container storage means having feed connections for connecting a fuel container with said prime mover and a housing for said vehicle, said housing comprising a substantially unitary boxlike structure having an open bottom configuration closely matching that of the perimeter of the chassis frame, said housing being engaged over said frame and being secured thereto in an assembly fully enclosing all of the power and powered equipment mounted thereon, said housing having means to gain access to said powered equipment when desired to enable use thereof without removing the housing, and the chassis frame has means partitioning the vehicle into compartments including at least one defining said fuel container storage means, in which said prime mover is liquid cooled and has a cooling radiator and a fan blowing air through said radiator, in which said partitioning means include structure for selectively directing the air blown through said radiator into said fuel container storage means compartment whereby to enable warming a fuel container which would be disposed in said storage means compartment.

Claim 20

A vehicle for manhole operation and comprising a chassis frame mounting wheels and having means for coupling the same to a truck or the like to be towed thereby, power and powered equipment mounted on said chassis frame within the perimeter thereof and including at least a prime mover, a generator connected to said prime mover and electrical outlet means connected to be energized by said generator, fuel container storage means having feed connections for connecting a fuel container with said prime mover and a housing for said vehicle, said housing comprising a substantially unitary boxlike structure having an open bottom configuration closely matching that of the perimeter of the chassis frame, said housing being engaged over said frame and being secured thereto in an assembly fully enclosing all of the power and powered equipment mounted thereon, said housing having means to gain access to said powered equipment when desired to enable use thereof without removing the housing, and the chassis frame has means partitioning the vehicle into compartments including at least one defining said fuel container storage means, in which said prime mover is liquid cooled and has a cooling radiator and a fan blowing air through said radiator, in which said partitioning means include structure for selectively directing the air blown through said radiator into said fuel container storage means compartment whereby to enable warming a fuel container which would be disposed in said storage means compartment.