Swinging fire apparatus pump operator panel

Claim 1

A fire fighting apparatus of the type including a body defining an outwardly opening side recess comprising an operator's control station and with said recess removably closed by a control panel supporting various gauges, switches and other operating controls and having a plurality of openings formed therethrough through which water inlet and outlet couplings as well as valve controlling operators project, support means supporting said control panel from said body for movement between a closed position closing said recess with said couplings and operators projecting outwardly through said openings and an open position providing ready access to said recess for servicing and maintenance of the various control components disposed therein, said support means including an elongated support member disposed adjacent and extending along one generally straight marginal portion of said recess, mounting means mounting said support means from said body for guided limited lateral outward and inward shifting relative to said body along a path which generally parallels the direction in which said recess opens outwardly, said control panel including a marginal edge portion corresponding to said one marginal portion of said recess and hingedly supported from said support member for angular displacement relative thereto about an axis generally paralleling said support member, said mounting means mounting said support member for lateral shifting relative to said body toward outward limit position thereof a distance sufficient to displace said panel and said openings therein fully outward of said couplings and operators to thereby allow subsequent swinging of said panel from the closed position toward the open position thereof independent of interference between said couplings and operators with the portions of said panel defining the corresponding openings.