GB2113619A

GB2113619A - Tilting mechanism for the cabs of vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2113619A
Application number: GB08104011A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reginald Anthony Bennett
Original assignee: BENNETT MURIEL JANET
Current assignee: BENNETT MURIEL JANET
Priority date: 1981-02-10
Filing date: 1981-02-10
Publication date: 1983-08-10

Abstract

The mechanism comprises a cross member (1) for attachment to the chassis (2, 3) of the vehicle, two hinge elements carried by the cross member (1) and two lever arms (8) hinged to the hinge elements for connection to the underside of the vehicle cab (10). The arrangement is intended for use in the conversion of fixed to tiltable cabs. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tilting mechanism for the cabs of vehicles This invention relates to a tilting mechanism for the cabs of certain vehicles.

While there has been an increasing swing in the design of commercial vehicles to the provision of cabs hinged at the front so that the cab itself can be tilted forward to provide access to the vehicle engine for maintenance servicing and other operations, there are still a large number of vehicles on the road, both new and old which do not have this facility.

In the case of such vehicles, in order to enable work to be carried out on the engine of the vehicle, it is necessary to unbolt the vehicle cab from the chassis and then to lift the cab away from the vehicle by means of a crane, hoist or the like.

The present invention seeks to provide means whereby vehicles having fixed cabs can be converted into vehicles having tiltable cabs.

According to the invention, a tilting mechanism for the cab of a commercial vehicle comprises a cross member for attachment to the chassis of the vehicle, the cross member carrying two hinge elements to which are hinged two lever arms each for connection to the under side of the vehicle cab.

Preferably, a jack is provided, one end of which is in use, attached to a chassis cross bar and the other end of which is attached to the cab at a position spaced from the hinge axis whereby controlled tilting of the cab can be achieved.

The jack may be a mechanical jack which can be operated from the front of the vehicle and arranged to be operated by handle similar to the previously used starting handle.

To avoid the effects of possible mal-function of the jack, and thus collapse of the cab back on to a mechanic working on the engine, a suitable mechanical safety prop may be provided.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawing, the single figure of which is perspective view of a cab tilting mechanism in accordance with the invention in the partially tilted position.

Referring to the drawing, the tilting mechanism shown, comprises a cross member, suitably of U-shaped construction, which is boltable to side members 2 and 3 of the vehicle chassis.

Carried by the cross member 1 are a pair of hinge arrangement 4 consisting, in this case, of a pair of eyes 5 projecting from the top of the cross member 1 and carrying a pin 6 there between. Surrounding this pin 6 is a sleeve 7 to which are attached substantially triangular lever members 8 for movement with the sleeve 7. The upper sides of these lever members 8 are attached to suitably depending parts of the under side of the cab 10.

To operate the tilting mechanism, a jack arrangement 1 2 is provided and comprises, in the arrangment shown, a jack proper 14 of screw form including a housing 1 5 with operating gearing therein and a threaded rod 1 6 protruding therefrom which are raisable and lowerable by the mechanism. The other end of the threaded rod 1 6 is provided with an extensible portion 17 so as to enable adjustment of the jack 14 to the vehicle to which the conversion is being applied. This extensible portion 1 7 suitably comprises a threaded rod which is threaded into the main jack rod 16.At the lower end, the jack 14 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 18, the bracket being attached to a suitably located cross bar 1 9 of the chassis of the vehicle. At the upper end, the extension rod 1 7 is pivoted to a bracket 21 attached to a suitable part of the under side of the cab. Operation of the screw jack 1 4 is achieved by means of an elongate handle (not shown) which engages a protrusion on the side of the jack housing 1 5 and extends forwardly of the vehicle to a position which in previous times would have been occupied by the starting handle of the vehicle.

In addition a safety prop 22 which operates on a toggle principle is connected between the chassis and the cab. It comprises a pivot 23 attached to the chassis and a pivot 24 attached to the lower side of the cab, the two pivots being connected by a toggle arrangement consisting of two levers 25 and 26 pivoted together and provided with an overcentre stop arrangement 27.

It will be seen that once the mechanism described has been fitted to the cab, the cab can be tilted for access to the engine and other mechanisms situated beneath the cab withut the necessity of lifting the cab entirely off the chassis.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, any form of suitable jack may be used and the screw jack provided could if desired be replaced by a hydraulic jack or by other types of mechanical jacks. If desired, the bracket which carries the upper end of the jack may additionaly be attached at its ends to the hinge levers so as to provide a more integrated structure.

1. A tiltable mechanism for the cab of a commercial vehicle comprising a cross member for attachment to the chassis of the vehicle, two hinge elements carried by the cross member and two lever arms hinged to the hinge elements, and for connection to the underside of the vehicle cab.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Tilting mechanism for the cabs of vehicles This invention relates to a tilting mechanism for the cabs of certain vehicles. While there has been an increasing swing in the design of commercial vehicles to the provision of cabs hinged at the front so that the cab itself can be tilted forward to provide access to the vehicle engine for maintenance servicing and other operations, there are still a large number of vehicles on the road, both new and old which do not have this facility. In the case of such vehicles, in order to enable work to be carried out on the engine of the vehicle, it is necessary to unbolt the vehicle cab from the chassis and then to lift the cab away from the vehicle by means of a crane, hoist or the like. The present invention seeks to provide means whereby vehicles having fixed cabs can be converted into vehicles having tiltable cabs. According to the invention, a tilting mechanism for the cab of a commercial vehicle comprises a cross member for attachment to the chassis of the vehicle, the cross member carrying two hinge elements to which are hinged two lever arms each for connection to the under side of the vehicle cab. Preferably, a jack is provided, one end of which is in use, attached to a chassis cross bar and the other end of which is attached to the cab at a position spaced from the hinge axis whereby controlled tilting of the cab can be achieved. The jack may be a mechanical jack which can be operated from the front of the vehicle and arranged to be operated by handle similar to the previously used starting handle. To avoid the effects of possible mal-function of the jack, and thus collapse of the cab back on to a mechanic working on the engine, a suitable mechanical safety prop may be provided. The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawing, the single figure of which is perspective view of a cab tilting mechanism in accordance with the invention in the partially tilted position. Referring to the drawing, the tilting mechanism shown, comprises a cross member, suitably of U-shaped construction, which is boltable to side members 2 and 3 of the vehicle chassis. Carried by the cross member 1 are a pair of hinge arrangement 4 consisting, in this case, of a pair of eyes 5 projecting from the top of the cross member 1 and carrying a pin 6 there between. Surrounding this pin 6 is a sleeve 7 to which are attached substantially triangular lever members 8 for movement with the sleeve 7. The upper sides of these lever members 8 are attached to suitably depending parts of the under side of the cab 10. To operate the tilting mechanism, a jack arrangement 1 2 is provided and comprises, in the arrangment shown, a jack proper 14 of screw form including a housing 1 5 with operating gearing therein and a threaded rod 1 6 protruding therefrom which are raisable and lowerable by the mechanism. The other end of the threaded rod 1 6 is provided with an extensible portion 17 so as to enable adjustment of the jack 14 to the vehicle to which the conversion is being applied. This extensible portion 1 7 suitably comprises a threaded rod which is threaded into the main jack rod 16.At the lower end, the jack 14 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 18, the bracket being attached to a suitably located cross bar 1 9 of the chassis of the vehicle. At the upper end, the extension rod 1 7 is pivoted to a bracket 21 attached to a suitable part of the under side of the cab. Operation of the screw jack 1 4 is achieved by means of an elongate handle (not shown) which engages a protrusion on the side of the jack housing 1 5 and extends forwardly of the vehicle to a position which in previous times would have been occupied by the starting handle of the vehicle. In addition a safety prop 22 which operates on a toggle principle is connected between the chassis and the cab. It comprises a pivot 23 attached to the chassis and a pivot 24 attached to the lower side of the cab, the two pivots being connected by a toggle arrangement consisting of two levers 25 and 26 pivoted together and provided with an overcentre stop arrangement 27. It will be seen that once the mechanism described has been fitted to the cab, the cab can be tilted for access to the engine and other mechanisms situated beneath the cab withut the necessity of lifting the cab entirely off the chassis. It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, any form of suitable jack may be used and the screw jack provided could if desired be replaced by a hydraulic jack or by other types of mechanical jacks. If desired, the bracket which carries the upper end of the jack may additionaly be attached at its ends to the hinge levers so as to provide a more integrated structure. CLAIMS

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a jack is provided which, in use, is attached at one end to a chassis cross bar and at the other end to the cab at a position spaced from the axes of the hige elements, the arrangement being such that, an operation of the jack, controlled tilting of the cab can be achieved.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the jack is mechanical and is arranged to be operable from the front of the vehicle.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein a safety prop is provided for preventing undesired return of the cab from its tilted position.

5. A mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cross member is of "U" section.

6. A mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lever arms comprise substantially triangular elements pivoted to the hinge elements at their apices and attachable in the region of their base carriers to the vehicle cab.

7. A tilting mechanism for the cab of a commercial vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the drawing.

8. A commercial vehicle having its cab provided with a tilting mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7.