Platform - operator tilting resilient mounting for earthmoving vehicles

Claim 2

In a vehicle having a frame, an operator cab overlying the frame, and vehicle components underlying the cab when the cab is in an operating position relative to the frame, apparatus for moving the operator cab upward away from the frame to a maintenance position wherein the vehicle components are exposed, comprising: means for mounting the cab to the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis adjacent one side of the cab; and jack means for mechanically altering the pivotal position of the cab relative to the frame when an adjusting force is applied thereto, said jack means including a pair of elongate members connected respectively to the frame and the cab spaced from the axis, said members being aligned in telescoping relation for relative longitudinal movement, and means interconnecting the members for applying a moving force therebetween to move the cab-connected member along the length of the frame-connected member in response to said adjusting force and for applying a frictional locking force between said members to frictionally lock said members against relative longitudinal movement whenever said adjusting force is not being applied, said members being adjustable to pivot the cab to a maintenance position in which the center of gravity thereof is located on a side of the pivot axis whereat the weight of the cab applies a force to move said pair of elongate members apart, and said interconnecting means applies a bearing force which opposes the force of the cab weight.

Claim 3

An assembly for mounting a housing to the frame of a vehicle, comprising: a first connector fixedly secured to the frame; a second connector fixedly secured to the housing; and a coupler for releasably securing together the first and second connectors, said coupler including a body with a rigid bearing surface at one end thereof for bearing engagement with one of the first and second connectors, means adjacent the one end of the body for releasably coupling the body with the one of said first and second connectors including an elongate coupling member extending in a single direction through both the body and the one connector, and means for withdrawing the coupling member in its elongate direction therefrom, and means spaced from the coupling member for resiliently coupling the body to the other of said first and second connectors, said resilient coupling means substantially isolating the other connector and housing from frame vibrations.

Claim 4

An assembly for mounting a housing to the frame of a vehicle, comprising: a first connector fixedly secured to the frame; a second connector fixedly secured to the housing; and a coupler for releasably securing together the first and second connectors, said coupler including a body with a rigid bearing surface at one end thereof for bearing engagement with one of the first and second connectors, means adjacent the one end of the body for releasably coupling the body with the one of said first and second connectors including an elongate coupling member extending in a single direction through both the body and the one connector, and means for withdrawing the coupling member in its elongate direction therefrom, and means spaced from the coupling member for resiliently coupling the body to the other of said first and second connectors, said resilient coupling means substantially isolating the other connector and housing from frame vibrations.

Claim 5

The assembly of claim 2 in which said releasably coupling means couples the body to the first connector, and the resilient coupling means couples the body to the second connector, and said bearing surface underlies the coupling member.

Claim 6

The assembly of claim 2 in which said housing overlies the frame and is supported thereabove by the rigid body of the coupler, and said rigid body and the one connector releasably connected therewith have respective mating surfaces in supportive engagement with one another.

Claim 7

The assembly of claim 4 in which said one connector is the first connector, said rigid body being supported by the bearing surface thereof.

Claim 8

The assembly of claim 4 in which said removable coupling member is in substantially nonsupportive coupling engagement with both the rigid body and the one connector, said coupling member opposing separation of said respective mating surfaces.

Claim 9

The assembly of claim 4 wherein the rigid body and the one connector are in coupling alignment when the respective mating surfaces thereof are in supportive engagement with one another, and one of said rigid body and said one connector includes a guide surface projecting upwardly from the mating surface to guide the other of said rigid body and said one connector into coupling alignment therewith.

Claim 10

The assembly of claim 7 in which said housing is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the frame about an axis spaced from the assembly, and said guide surface slopes upwardly from adjacent the supportive bearing surface in a direction substantially parallel to the pivot axis.

Claim 11

An assembly for mounting a housing to the frame of a vehicle, comprising: a first connector fixedly secured to the frame; a second connector fixedly secured to the housing; and a coupler for releasably securing together the first and second connectors, said coupler including a body with a rigid bearing surface at at one end thereof for bearing engagement with one of the first and second connectors, means adjacent the one end of the body for releasably coupling the body with the one of said first and second connectors including an elongate coupling member extending in a single direction through both the body and the one connector, and means for withdrawing the coupling member in its elongate direction therefrom, and means spaced from the coupling member for resiliently coupling the body to the other of said first and second connectors, said resilient coupling means substantially isolating the other connector and housing from frame vibrations; said housing overlying said frame and supported thereabove by the rigid body of the coupler, said rigid body and the one connector releasably connected therewith having respective mating surfaces in supportive engagement with one another; said releasable coupling being in substantially nonsupportive coupling engagement with both the rigid body and the one connector, said coupling member opposing separation of said respective mating surfaces; said removable coupling member being a pin extending into and in removable engagement with the rigid body and the one connector, the nonsupportive engagement of said pin with the rigid body and the one connector enabling easy removal thereof, removal of said pin allowing separation of the mating surfaces.

Claim 12

An assembly for mounting a housing to the frame of a vehicle, comprising: a first connector fixedly secured to the frame; a second connector fixedly secured to the housing; and a coupler for releasably securing together the first and second connectors, said coupler including a body with a rigid bearing surface at at one end thereof for bearing engagement with one of the first and second connectors, means adjacent the one end of the body for releasably coupling the body with the one of said first and second connectors including an elongate coupling member extending in a single direction through both the body and the one connector, and means for withdrawing the coupling member in its elongate direction therefrom, and means spaced from the coupling member for resiliently coupling the body to the other of said first and second connectors, said resilient coupling means substantially isolating the other connector and housing from frame vibrations; said housing overlying said frame and supported thereabove by the rigid body of the coupler, said rigid body and the one connector releasably connected therewith having respective mating surfaces in supportive engagement with one another; said releasable coupling being in substantially nonsupportive coupling engagement with both the rigid body and the one connector, said coupling member opposing separation of said respective mating surfaces; said removable coupling member being a pin extending into and in removable engagement with the rigid body and the one connector, the nonsupportive engagement of said pin with the rigid body and the one connector enabling easy removal thereof, removal of said pin allowing separation of the mating surfaces.

Claim 13

An assembly for mounting a housing to the frame of a vehicle, comprising: a first connector fixedly secured to the frame; a second connector fixedly secured to the housing; and a coupler for releasably securing together the first and second connectors, said coupler including a body with a rigid bearing surface at one end thereof for bearing engagement with one of the first and second connectors, means adjacent the one end of the body for releasably coupling the body with the one of said first and second connectors including an elongate coupling member extending in a single direction through both the body and the one connector, and means for withdrawing the coupling member in its elongate direction therefrom, and means spaced from the coupling member for resiliently coupling the body to the other of said first and second connectors, said resilient coupling means substantially isolating the other connector and housing from frame vibrations; said resilient coupling means including an elongate post in coupling engagement with the rigid body and the other connector and extending in a direction substantially transverse to the pivot axis, said post coupling the rigid body and other connector against relative movement in a radial direction with respect to the post and slidably coupling the rigid body and the other connector for relative movement therebetween in the elongate direction of the post, and said releasably coupling means includes an elongate pin in coupling engagement with the rigid body and the one connector, said pin extending in a direction substantially transverse to the elongate direction of the post.

Claim 14

An assembly for mounting a housing to the frame of a vehicle, comprising: a first connector fixedly secured to the frame; a second connector fixedly secured to the housing; and a coupler for releasably securing together the first and second connectors, said coupler including a body with a rigid bearing surface at one end thereof for bearing engagement with one of the first and second connectors, means adjacent the one end of the body for releasably coupling the body with the one of said first and second connectors including an elongate coupling member extending in a single direction through both the body and the one connector, and means for withdrawing the coupling member in its elongate direction therefrom, and means spaced from the coupling member for resiliently coupling the body to the other of said first and second connectors, said resilient coupling means substantially isolating the other connector and housing from frame vibrations; said resilient coupling means including an elongate post in coupling engagement with the rigid body and the other connector and extending in a direction substantially transverse to the pivot axis, said post coupling the rigid body and other connector against relative movement in a radial direction with respect to the post and slidably coupling the rigid body and the other connector for relative movement therebetween in the elongate direction of the post, and said releasably coupling means includes an elongate pin in coupling engagement with the rigid body and the one connector, said pin extending in a direction substantially transverse to the elongate direction of the post.