Tilt-cab locking device including interlock means

A locking assembly for locking the tilt cab of a vehicle to the vehicle chassis frame, comprising

• (a) a housing adapted for connection with the chassis frame, the upper portion of said housing containing a cavity of generally rectangular cross-section configuration including downwardly converging opposed pairs of side walls;
• (b) a blade member for connection with the tilt cab, said blade member being arranged to extend in seated relation within said housing cavity when the tilt cab is in the lowered position relative to the chassis frame, said blade member having a rectangular cross-sectional configuration and including tapered opposed pairs of outer surfaces which correspond generally with the cavity wall surfaces, said blade member containing a generally horizontally-extending locking opening;
• (c) a horizontal locking pin mounted for axial displacement within an opening contained in a first cavity wall of said housing for axial displacement between locked and unlocked positions relative to said blade member locking opening;
• (d) first spring means normally biasing said locking pin toward its locked position;
• (e) means for retracting said locking pin against the biasing force of said spring means toward its unlocked position;
• and
• (f) interlock means connected with a second cavity wall opposite said first cavity wall for preventing displacement of said locking pin toward the locked position when said blade member is incompletely seated within said housing cavity, said second cavity wall including a lower portion in parallel contiguous seated engagement with the corresponding outer blade surface when the blade member is completely inserted within said housing cavity, the upper portion of said second cavity wall being inclined outwardly from the lower wall portion to define an increased target area for facilitating entry of said blade member into said housing cavity as the tilt cab is lowered toward the chassis frame, said interlock means comprising
• (1) an interlock member pivotally connected at one end within a recess contained within the lower portion of said second cavity wall for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis between downwardly extending retracted and horizontally extending extended positions relative to said second cavity wall, respectively;
• and
• (2) second spring means biasing said interlock member toward said extended position, said interlock member, when in the extended position, extending across said cavity opposite said locking pin for preventing the axial displacement thereof toward said locked position, said interlock member being pivoted by said blade member toward the retracted position only when said blade member is completely seated within the housing cavity.