# US 7,607,722 B2 · Roll-over protective structure for a work vehicle with removable portion for air transport

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- Number: US 7,607,722 B2
- Document ID: US7607722B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/553,684
- Filed: 2006-10-27
- Published: 2008-02-28
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2006-08-28
- Assignees: Deere & Company
- Inventors: James M. Frett; Owen Ziemer; Ravi Modukuri
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607722B2

## CPC

- B62D 33/0621: {able to be dismantled, folding}
- B60R 21/131: {Protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors (means for preventing overturning or tipping of tractors B62D49/08)}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A work vehicle includes a vehicle frame and a roll-over protective structure mounted to the frame. The roll-over protective structure includes a plurality of upright support posts supporting a roof. Each support post includes a lower post section and an upper post section detachably coupled together in an end-to-end arrangement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A work vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle frame; and
a roll-over protective structure mounted to said frame, said roll-over protective structure including a plurality of upright support posts supporting a roof, each said support post including a lower post section and an upper post section detachably coupled together in an end-to-end arrangement to reduce the height of said roll-over protective structure when said lower and upper post sections are detached.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The work vehicle of claim 1, including a plurality of coupler plates, each said coupler plate interconnecting a corresponding said upper post section and lower post section.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The work vehicle of claim 2, wherein at least one said coupler plate is positioned on an outside of a corresponding said support post.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The work vehicle of claim 2, wherein at least one said coupler plate is positioned on an inside of a corresponding said support post.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The work vehicle of claim 4, wherein each said coupler plate which is positioned on an inside of a corresponding said support post does not fill an entire cross section of said corresponding support post.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The work vehicle of claim 2, wherein at least one said coupler plate is bolted to at least one of said upper support post and said lower support post.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The work vehicle of claim 6, wherein at least one said coupler plate is bolted to a corresponding one of said upper support post and said lower support post, and welded to an other of said upper support post and said lower support post.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The work vehicle of claim 6, wherein at least one said coupler plate is bolted to each corresponding said upper support post and said lower support post.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The work vehicle of claim 1, further including a plurality of windows, each said window spanning between adjacent said support posts, each said window including an upper window section and a lower window section detachably coupled together.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein each said upper window section includes an upper mounting flange and each said lower window section includes a lower mounting flange, each said upper mounting flange detachably coupled with a corresponding said lower mounting flange.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The work vehicle of claim 10, wherein said upper mounting flange includes an overhang overlying an outside of said lower window section.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The work vehicle of claim 10, including a plurality of seals, each said seal positioned between a corresponding said upper mounting flange and said lower mounting flange.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein said plurality of support posts include four corner posts and at least one door post, and further including at least one door, each said door spanning between a corner post and a corresponding said door post, each said door being removably mounted to one of said corner post and said corresponding door post via detachable hinges.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The work vehicle of claim 13, wherein said corner posts have a generally rectangular cross section and each said door post has a generally W shaped cross section.

### Claim 15

A work vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle frame; and
an operator cab carried by said frame, said operator cab including a plurality of upright support posts supporting a roof, each said support post including a lower post section and an upper post section detachably coupled together in an end-to-end arrangement, and a plurality of windows, each said window spanning between adjacent said support posts, each said window including an upper window section and a lower window section detachably coupled together.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The work vehicle of claim 15, including a plurality of coupler plates, each said coupler plate interconnecting a corresponding said upper post section and said lower post section.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The work vehicle of claim 16, wherein at least one said coupler plate is positioned on an outside of a corresponding said support post.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The work vehicle of claim 16, wherein at least one said coupler plate is positioned on an inside of a corresponding said support post.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The work vehicle of claim 18, wherein each said coupler plate which is positioned on an inside of a corresponding said support post does not fill an entire cross section of said corresponding support post.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The work vehicle of claim 16, wherein at least one said coupler plate is bolted to at least one of said upper support post and said lower support post.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The work vehicle of claim 20, wherein at least one said coupler plate is bolted to a corresponding one of said upper support post and said lower support post, and welded to an other of said upper support post and said lower support post.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The work vehicle of claim 20, wherein at least one said coupler plate is bolted to each corresponding said upper support post and said lower support post.

### Claim 23 (depends on 15)

The work vehicle of claim 15, wherein each said upper window section includes an upper mounting flange and each said lower window section includes a lower mounting flange, each said upper mounting flange detachably coupled with a corresponding said lower mounting flange.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The work vehicle of claim 23, wherein said upper mounting flange includes an overhang overlying an outside of said lower window section.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The work vehicle of claim 23, including a plurality of seals, each said seal positioned between a corresponding said upper mounting flange and said lower mounting flange.

### Claim 26 (depends on 15)

The work vehicle of claim 15, wherein said plurality of support posts include four corner posts and at least one door post, and further including at least one door, each said door spanning between a corner post and a corresponding said door post, each said door being removably mounted to one of said corner post and said corresponding door post via detachable hinges.

### Claim 27

A roll-over protective structure for use with a work vehicle, said roll-over protective structure comprising a plurality of upright support posts supporting a roof, each said support post including a lower post section and an upper post section detachably coupled together in an end-to-end arrangement to reduce the height of said roll-over protective structure when said lower and upper post sections are detached.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The roll-over protective structure of claim 27, including a plurality of coupler plates, each said coupler plate interconnecting a corresponding said upper post section and said lower post section.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The roll-over protective structure of claim 28, wherein at least one said coupler plate is positioned on an outside of a corresponding said support post.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The roll-over protective structure of claim 28, wherein at least one said coupler plate is positioned on an inside of a corresponding said support post.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The roll-over protective structure of claim 30, wherein each said coupler plate which is positioned on an inside of a corresponding said support post does not fill an entire cross section of said corresponding support post.

### Claim 32 (depends on 27)

The roll-over protective structure of claim 27, further including a plurality of windows, each said window spanning between adjacent said support posts, each said window including an upper window section and a lower window section detachably coupled together.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The roll-over protective structure of claim 32, wherein each said upper window section includes an upper mounting flange and each said lower window section includes a lower mounting flange, each said upper mounting flange detachably coupled with a corresponding said lower mounting flange.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The roll-over protective structure of claim 33, wherein said upper mounting flange includes an overhang overlying an outside of said lower window section.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The roll-over protective structure of claim 34, including a plurality of seals, each said seal positioned between a corresponding said upper mounting flange and said lower mounting flange.

### Claim 36

A method of transporting a work machine, comprising the steps of:
detaching a plurality of upper post sections from a plurality of lower post sections, each of said upper post sections and said lower post sections being a part of a roll-over protective structure having a roof supported by said upper post sections; and,
transporting the work machine with the roof and upper post sections of the roll-over protective structure removed.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The method of transporting a work machine of claim 36, including the step of attaching the upper section of the roll-over protective structure to the lower section of the roll-over protective structure after transport.

### Claim 38 (depends on 36)

The method of transporting a work machine of claim 36, wherein said detaching step includes the substep of unbolting a plurality of coupler plates, each said coupler plate interconnecting a corresponding said upper post section and said lower post section.

### Claim 39 (depends on 36)

The method of transporting a work machine of claim 36, wherein said detaching step includes the substep of removing at least one door from said roll-over protective structure.