Multi-positional seat having a following instrument panel

In a vehicle having an assembly adapted to support a seat that can be positioned to facilitate the operation of implements at either end of the vehicle the improvement comprising:

• a flanged sleeve mounted to the structure of said vehicle;
• a seat arm assembly comprising a horizontal member pivotally carried at one end to said flanged sleeve;
• a housing having a vertical aperture therethrough and further having the other end of said horizontal member of said seat arm assembly fixedly attached thereto;
• a panel arm assembly having a central body, a first arm having an aperture fixedly attached to said central body and a second arm fixedly attached to said central body, both arms arranged on said central body to form a bell crank geometry wherein said central body is pivotally mounted to said housing;
• a sleeve housing having a central aperture mounted to the structure of said vehicle;
• a first end of a control arm fixedly attached to said sleeve and a second end of said control arm pivotally mounted to said first arm of said panel arm assembly through said aperture in said first arm;
• a panel means mounted to said second arm of said panel arm assembly;
• a wiring harness emanating from said vehicle and passing to said panel via said control arm and said second arm.

In a vehicle having excavating equipment carried at each end thereof and a single seat mounted to be movable from a forward facing position at a first work station to a rearwardly facing position at a second work station that is longitudinally spaced from said first work station on the structure of the vehicle an improvement in the seat assembly comprising:

• a flanged sleeve having bearing means carried by the structure of said vehicle;
• a seat arm assembly having an upper horizontal link terminating in a vertically disposed end portion which may be fitted into said flanged sleeve and a lower horizontal link weldably secured to the vertically disposed end portion of said upper link, the vertically disposed end of said upper link further being equipped with the collar welded thereto to limit the penetration of said upper link into said flanged sleeve;
• a housing having a hollow interior weldably affixed to the upper and lower horizontal links of the seat arm assembly, said housing having an external collar welded thereto above the attaching point of the upper link;
• a seat frame mounting axle pivotally carried in said housing;
• a panel arm assembly having a first arm welded to a central body and a second arm welded to said central body to form a bell crank type lever, said central body having an inside diameter substantially equivalent to the outside diameter of the upper portion of said housing such that when said central body is positioned over said housing it will be supported near the top of said housing as it will rest upon the upper surface of said external collar of said housing, said first arm further having an aperture therethrough and said second arm being formed of hollow tubing;
• a sleeve housing having bearing means carried by the structure of said vehicle;
• a control arm having a first end comprising a flanged hollow tube capable of being carried by said sleeve housing further having a rod portion extending initially upward from said flanged hollow tube then progressing horizontally parallel to said seat arm assembly and terminating in an upwardly extending portion which is adapted to pass through said aperture of said first arm of said panel arm assembly, the upwardly extending portion equipped with a washer welded thereto checking the penetration of said rod into said aperture, said rod further having an aperture through the minor axis thereof to allow the insertion of a cotter pin to prevent said rod from falling out of said aperture of said first arm;
• an instrument panel housing a plurality of instruments which may indicate and control the state of the operation of the vehicle;
• and
• an instrument panel wiring harness containing a plurality of conduits emanating from said vehicle and following a path from said sleeve housing, along said control arm, around said housing, through said second arm and into said panel where the appropriate panel instruments will be attached to appropriate conduits of said wiring harness;
• a seat having a frame supporting a cushion portion, a backrest portion and an armrest portion wherein said seat frame is pivotally mounted to said seat frame mounting axle carried in said housing of said seat assembly and may be pivoted thereon whereby said seat assembly can be moved from a forward facing position with the instrument panel on the flanged sleeve side of the seat assembly to a rearwardly facing position with the instrument panel remaining on the flanged sleeve side of the seat assembly due to the parallel linkage of said seat arm assembly and said control arm in relationship to said bell crank of said panel arm assembly.