Multiple lock for an engine compartment cover system
AssigneeJ. I. Case Company
InventorFloyd A. Schmitz, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An articulated linkage locks the various access panels, covers, and plates opening into an engine and its accessories. A spring loaded shaft is used to drive a bell crank and a set of catch bolts. Each catch bolt is matched with a catch plate joined to one of the panels, covers and plates granting access to the engine and its components. A pair of doors covering the instrument panel is used to reposition the spring loaded shaft and bell crank. Locking the doors together therefore locks the catch bolt and catch plates together in one stroke and with one lock.
Claims12
A locking linkage for the engine compartment of an off-road machine used for material handling, excavation, and the like, said machine having at least two openings providing access to the engine and engine accessories and at least two covers for those openings, comprising:
- (a) a first shaft, said shaft being located within said compartment and guided axially in movement between a first position and a second position, the axis of said shaft being fixed relative to said covered openings and said machine;
- (b) means, abutting a fixed member on said machine, for biasing said first shaft in a first position;
- (c) lock means, attached to a fixed member on said machine, for holding said first shaft in said second position;
- (d) at least one bell crank rotatable relative to a fixed member of said machine between a first position and a second position about a fixed axis perpendicular to the axis of said first shaft, one end of said bell crank being linked to said first shaft, shifting said first shaft from said first position to said second position rotates said bell crank about said fixed axis from said first position to said second position of said bell crank;
- (e) a plurality of catch plates and cooperating catch bolts, said catch plates being joined to said covers on said machine, at least one of said catch bolts being joined to and moved by said first shaft, at least one of said catch bolts being joined to and moved by the other end of said bell crank, said catch plates and catch bolts being disengaged when said first shaft is in said first position, said catch plates and catch bolts being engaged when said first shaft is in said second position, the effect of holding said first shaft and said bell crank in said second position by said lock means being that said covers on said machine are locked in position relative to the fixed members of said machine whereby locking said first shaft in said second position locks said access covers to said machine.
In an off-road machine used for excavating, material handling operations and the like, wherein said machine includes:
- a removable panel for gaining access to the engine driving said machine;
- a hinged cover capping an opening providing access to an engine component;
- a cover plate protecting the instrument panel of said machine, said instrument panel cover plate having a first catch plate;
- a plurality of catch plates joined to said removable panel and to said hinged cover;
- and a second catch plate attached to said machine, passing the shackle of a lock between said first catch plate on said instrument panel cover plate and said second catch plate having the effect of locking said cover plate in position relative to said machine, wherein the improvement comprises:
- (a) a shaft within the interior of said machine, said shaft being guided in movement between a first position and a second position, the axis of said shaft being fixed relative to said machine;
- (b) means, abutting a fixed member of said machine, for biasing said shaft in a first position, said shaft in said first position extending outwardly from the interior of said machine in the direction of said instrument panel cover plate, said shaft being repositioned to said second position upon joining said first catch plate to said second catch plate with said lock, locking said instrument panel cover plate thus having the effect of locking said shaft in said second position;
- (c) at least one bell crank, said bell crank being joined to a fixed member of said machine and rotatable between a first position and a second position about a fixed axis passing through said bell crank, one end of said bell crank being pivotally linked to said shaft, moving said shaft from said first position to said second position having the effect of rotating said bell crank from said first position to said second position of said bell crank;
- and
- (d) at least two catch bolts cooperating with said plurality of catch plates, one of said catch bolts being joined to the other end of said bell crank, the other of said two catch bolts being joined to said shaft, whereby upon shifting said shaft from said first position to said second position by locking said instrument panel cover plate to said machine, said at least two catch bolts engage said plurality of catch plates to lock said hinged cover and said removable panel in position relative to said machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.