Vehicle compartment closure arrangement
AssigneeCaterpillar Industrial Inc.
InventorDaniel J. Nasky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A work vehicle having a frame defining a compartment for receiving vehicle components has a compartment closure arrangement which permits ease of access and adequate opening for servicing of the components. The compartment closure arrangement includes a cowl member which is pivotal in a first direction from a first position to a second position, a lid member which is pivotal in a second direction opposite the first direction from a first position to a second position, and a floor member which is pivotal between a first compartment covering position and a second compartment uncovering position. The compartment closure arrangement is particularly suited for use on a material handling vehicle.
Claims15
A work vehicle having a frame, said frame having first and second spaced apart side portions defining a compartment therebetween, comprising:
- a floor member releasably connected to said frame and covering a first portion of the compartment;
- a cowl member pivotally connected to said floor member and pivotally movable in a first direction from a first position, at which said cowl member is supportably engaged with said frame and defines boundaries of a second portion of said compartment, to a second position, at which said cowl member is supported on said floor member and spaced from being supportably engaged with said frame, said floor member being pivotally movable relative to said cowl member between a first position, at which said floor member covers the first portion of the compartment, and a second position, at which the floor member is spaced from covering the first portion of the compartment, said floor member being pivotally movable between said first and second positions subsequent to said floor member being released from connection with said frame;
- a supporting member connected to the frame;
- and
- a lid member pivotally connected to said supporting member and pivotally movable in a second direction opposite said first direction, from a first position, at which said lid member covers said second portion of said compartment, to a second position, at which said lid member is spaced from covering the second portion of said compartment.
A work vehicle, as set forth in claim, 5 wherein said floor member has a first end portion and said lid member has a second end portion spaced from said first end portion, said floor and cowl members being pivotally connected to each other at said floor and cowl member first end portions by a first pair of spaced apart hinge assemblies, and said lid second end portion being pivotally connected to said supporting member by a second pair of spaced apart hinge assemblies.
A material handling vehicle, having a frame and an operators station, said frame having first and second spaced apart side portions defining a compartment therebetween and said operators station having a lid member and an operators seat mounted on the lid member, comprising:
- a floor member located at a first position at which said floor member covers a first portion of the compartment;
- a cowl member having first and second spaced apart sides and a first end portion connected to and between the first and second sides;
- means for pivotally connecting the cowl first end portion to the floor member and maintaining said cowl member for pivotal movement in a first direction, from a first position, at which said cowl member is supportably engaged with said frame first and second side portions, to a second position, at which said cowl member is supported on said floor member and spaced from being supportably engaged with said frame, said cowl member defining the boundaries of a second portion of the compartment;
- means for connecting the floor member to the frame first and second side portions, at the first position of said floor member, and for releasing the floor member from connection with the first and second side members and permitting pivotal movement of the floor member between said first position and a second position at which said floor member is spaced from covering the first portion of said compartment;
- a supporting member having first and second spaced apart sides and a middle portion connected to and between the first and second sides of the supporting member, said first and second sides of the supporting member being connected to the first and second side portions of the frame;
- and
- means for pivotally connecting the lid member to the middle portion of the supporting member and maintaining said lid member for pivotal movement in a second direction opposite said first direction, from a first position, at which said lid member covers the second portion of the compartment, to a second position, at which said lid member is spaced from covering said second portion of the compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.