Valve and tank enclosure assembly
AssigneeForce America Inc.
InventorDavid R. Van Wie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve and tank enclosure assembly for use on a snowplow that includes a frame, a valve assembly, a tank, and a cover. The frame and cover of the enclosure cooperate to provide a seal from water spray. Hydraulic lines within the enclosure are routed such that moisture is prevented from contacting the valve assembly. The tank is mounted within the frame at three-locations and elevated so that forces from vehicle operation are isolated from acting upon the tank. The assembly also includes a pivoting shelf supporting the valve assembly, the pivoting shelf providing wide-open access to the valve assembly from a range of directions.
Claims16
A method of accessing a valve assembly of a hydraulic assembly unit, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an enclosure assembly, said enclosure assembly including:
- (i) a reservoir in fluid communication with the valve assembly;
- (ii) a pivoting shelf upon which said valve assembly is coupled, said valve assembly having a front side, a rear side, and a top side;
- (iii) a detachable cover;
- (b) removing said detachable cover;
- and
- (c) selectively accessing said front side, said rear side, and said top side of said valve assembly, without uncoupling said valve assembly from said pivoting shelf by pivoting said shelf and said valve assembly to a selected orientation.
A method of accessing a valve assembly of a hydraulic assembly unit, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a reservoir in fluid communication with the valve assembly, and a shelf upon which said valve assembly is mounted;
- (b) pivoting said shelf to one of a plurality of angular orientations to permit selective access to the valve assembly from a plurality of directions, said pivoting being accomplished without removing said valve assembly from said pivoting shelf.
A hydraulic arrangement, said arrangement comprising:
- (a) a pivoting shelf, the pivoting shelf having a mounting surface;
- (b) a valve assembly mounted to the mounting surface of the pivoting shelf;
- (c) a mounting structure, the pivoting shelf being coupled to the mounting structure and configured to pivot relative to the mounting structure from a non-pivoted position to a plurality of pivoted positions to provide access to a number of sides of the valve assembly;
- (d) wherein the valve assembly is accessible when the pivoting shelf is in the non-pivoted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.