GB2194921A - Roll over protective cabs for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The cab structure comprises two spaced apart T shaped members 21, 22, each having an upright 23, 24 and a cross-piece 25, 26. Two elongate members 43, 44 join the cross-pieces to constitute a rectangular framework. Members as 45 to 48 constitute a sub-frame to which each upright is secured for mounting on a vehicle. The lengths of the cross-pieces and their fore and aft positions relative to the uprights can be varied to provide cab structures for different vehicles. The structures can be individually styled for different vehicles by selection of roof, glazing, paneling and trim. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cabs for vehicles This invention relates to cabs for vehicles, particularly mobile equipment, for example tractors, lift trucks, excavators, cranes and like mobile equipment.

It is a mandatory safety requirement in many countries for the cab structure on such mobile equipment to withstand the loading imposed in the event the vehicle overturns in order to protect the driver. Conventionally this requirement is met by a cab structure having a generally upright post at each of four corners and a generally rectangular frame secured to the top of the uprights. The spaces between adjacent uprights are often spanned by nonload-bearing panels, one or more doors and glazing. The generally rectangular frame may have bars across, a mesh covering, or a roof panel (or a combination of these) to give protection from falling objects and or weather protection.

Such a construction is somewhat inflexible in that it cannot be standardised for use on different sizes or types of vehicles, incurring tooling costs for each size or type and thus detracting from economical manufacture.

According to one aspect of the present invention a cab structure for a vehicle comprises two spaced apart generally T shaped members each having an upright and a crosspiece and two elongate members joining the cross-pieces to constitute a generally rectangular frame therewith, said uprights at their lower ends being adapted to be secured to a vehicle.

Preferably the cross-pieces extend longitudinally of the vehicle when the cab structure is fitted thereto.

The cross-piece of each T shaped member may be assembled to its upright with a bracket within which the cross-piece is received.

The bracket may be constructed to provide longitudinal bracing of the cross-piece and lateral bracing between the cross-piece and the upright.

The generally rectangular frame may be of tubular construction or may include tubular components.

The T shaped members and elongate members and their connections to one another and the connections of the T shaped members to a vehicle are designed to withstand the loadings specified in safety requirements.

The cross-pieces and their connections to the uprights may be designed to enable the cross-pieces to be secured to the uprights in a range of positions whereby the overhang of the cross-pieces forwardly and rearwardly of the uprights may be varied to enable different cab designs to be provided using common structural members with resultant economy of manufacture. The length of the cross-pieces may be varied as desired for different cab designs.

The cab structure may additionally comprise a sub-frame or sub-frames to which the lower ends of the uprights are connected, the subframe or sub-frames being adapted to be connected to a vehicle.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a vehicle comprises a cab structure having two spaced apart generally T shaped members each having an upright and a crosspiece and two elongate members joining the cross-pieces to constitute a generally rectangular frame therewith, said uprights at their lower ends being secured to the vehicle and the cross-pieces extending longitudinally of the vehicle.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a T shaped member and sub-frame, Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the T shaped member and sub-frame of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a plan view on the cross-piece of a T shaped member as in Fig. 1 and showing part of the elongate members, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a bracket connecting the upright and cross-piece of a T shaped member as in Fig. 1 Figure 5 is a perspective view showing an alternative cab structure and sub-frame, Figures 6 and 7 are exploded views showing the build up of the cab structure and subframe respectively of Fig. 5, Figures 8, 9 and 10 are side views illustrating stages in the build up of a cab, Figures 8A, 9A and 10A are half front views corresponding to Figs. 8, 9 and 10 respectively, and Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views of two different cabs built from the cab structure and sub-frame as of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings Figs. 1 to 4, a T shaped member 1 comprises a hollow box section upright 2 which is joggled as seen in Fig. 2 and a hollow box section cross-piece 3.

The cross-piece 3 is connected to the top of the upright 2 by a bracket 4. The bracket 4, cross-piece 3 and upright 2 are secured together as by welding. It will be observed that the bracket 4 incorporates gussets 5 which provide longitudinal bracing and gussets 6 which provide lateral bracing and that the cross-piece 3 is received within a generally U shaped opening 7 in bracket 4. This construction facilitates adjustment of the position of the cross-piece in bracket 4 prior to welding.

Two elongate members 8, also hollow box sections as shown, connect the front end and the rear end of cross-piece 3 with the corrsponding ends of a similar cross-piece of a similar T shaped member arranged in laterally spaced relationship to the T shaped member 1. The cross-pieces and elongate members thus constitute a generally rectangular frame with its corners reinforced by U section triangular shaped brackets 9.

It will be observed that the uprights as 2 are joggled so that their upper ends are more widely spaced than their lower ends.

As shown the lower part of upright 2 forms an integral part of a sub-frame assembly for mounting in a vehicle. It is mounted on a hollow box section longitudinal member 11 -whose rear end 12 forms a connecting member which extends upwardly at an angle to join a second, short, longitudinal hollow box section member 13 which is spaced vertically from the longitudinal member 11 and whose forward end is secured to upright 2. As shown, members 11 and 13 are in vertically spaced parallel relationship. A plate 14 is secured as by welding to members 2, 11, 13 and end 12 of member 11. Front and rear brackets 15, 16 secured to members 11, 13 respectively are provided to mount the cab structure in a vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings Figs. 5 to 7, an alternative cab structure comprises T shaped members shown generally at 21 and 22 respectively. They comprise uprights 23, 24 and cross-pieces 25, 26.

The uprights 23, 24, as illustrated, are built up from a number of tubes and pressings. As upright 24 is a mirror image of upright 23 the latter will be described and the corresponding parts of upright 24 will be identified by the same reference numbers with the addition of the letter A.

Upright 23 has a lower part comprising a rectangular section tube 27 to the top end of which a short length 28 of similar tube is secured, as by welding, at a right angle thereto. A tube 29 is secured, as by welding, between tubes 27 and 28 as a brace.

The upper part of upright 23 comprises interfitting shallow and deep channel section pressings 31, 32 which are secured together as by welding, the pressing 31 being a little shorter than the pressing 32. The lower end of these assembled channel section pressings fit into a bracket 33 and are secured therein as by welding. The bracket 33 and tube 28 have registering holes whereby the bracket can be secured to the tube, as by bolts. The tube 28 may have weldnuts inside in register with the holes.

The top of channel section pressing 32 is cut away at 34 on its outer face to receive an L shaped pressing 35 which is secured therein as by welding. A U section triangular shaped bracket 36 and filler 37 are secured within the channel section pressing 32 at the top and immediately above the top of- channel section pressing 31.

A transverse member 38 of rectangular tubular section has its ends received within the flanges of pressings 32, 32A resting on the brackets 36, 36A and abutting the L shaped pressings 35, 35A and it is secured as by welding.

A cross-piece 25 comprises front and rear square section tubes 39, 41 and an L shaped side member 42. The tubes 39, 41 are secured to member 42 spaced from one another by the width of transverse member 38. Member 42 is fitted with its vertical flange resting on L shaped pressing 35 and its horizontal flange on member 38 and is secured in place as by welding. The tubes 39, 41 are also welded to transverse member 38. Elongate members 43, 44 in the form of square section tubes are secured as by welding between side members 42, 42A and the tubes 39, 39A and 41, 41A respectively. The corner joints of the rectangular frame may be braced with brackets or gussets as 9 described with reference to the construction of Figs. 1 to 4.

Conveniently the lower part of upright 23 can form an integral part of a sub-frame assembly for mounting in a vehicle. Referring to Figs. 5 and 7, the lower end of tube 27 is mounted on a channel shaped longitudinal member 45. The sub-frame assembly is completed by a plate 46, tube 47 and channel shaped brace 48, the whole secured together as by welding. Brackets 49, 51 are provided for mounting the assembly in a vehicle. This is similar to the construction described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

The rectangular frame of Figs. 5 and 6 may be used with the construction of Figs. 1 to 4 and vice-versa if desired.

Referring now to Fig. 8, this shows a side view of one sub-frame assembly as has been described, assembled to a front sub-frame assembly generally indicated at 52. Fig. 8A is a front view of the assembly of Fig. 8, including half of the front sub-frame assembly-the other half being similar.

In Fig. 9 the upper part of the upright 22 has been added, together with the elongate members 43, 44. A combined floor and wheel guards, for example a one piece plastics moulding 53, has also been added. Fig. 9A is a front view of half of the cab structure at this state of assembly.

Figs. 10 and 10A are similar to Figs. 9, 9A except that a roof 54 has now been added, secured to the cross-pieces 25, 26, and also windscreen and rear support pillars 55, 56 to which glazing, doors and panelling may be secured. Flanges 57 at top and bottom of windscreen pillar 55 are provided to secure the pillar. The rear pillar 56 is secured by bolts at top and bottom. The build up is similar for the cab structure of Figs. 1 to 4, allowing for the fact that the uprights as 2 are of one piece construction as compared with the fabricated structure of the uprights 21, 22.

Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12, these are perspective views from the front and one side of two cabs having either of the structures which have been described herein by way of example. As can readily be seen, styling to achieve different appearances is readily achieved, for example by a roof to suit the customer, variations in trim on the exterior of the uprights 21, 22 and over the transverse member 38 (if fitted) and variations in the windscreen pillars and rear pillars to accommodate different shapes of glazing, doors and panelling. A door on each of these cabs is indicated at 58. Economy of manufacture is attained by standardising the structure.By changing the lengths of the tubes 39, 41 and 39A, 41A, the cross-pieces, and hence the rectangular frame, may be fitted more forwardly or more rearwardly than has been shown to allow further variations in the finished appearance of the cab at minimal cost.

Referring back to the construction of Figs. 1 to 4 it is preferred that uprights 2 are made of tube of standard external dimension and the wall thickness is varied for cabs requiring different structural strengths. In this way common tooling can be used to provide the joggle and hence facilitate economic manufacture.

The cross-pieces and elongate members are also preferably of tube which merely requires to be cut to the desired lengths prior to assembly. A transverse member as 38, similarly of standard tube, may be fitted between the tops of the uprights if desired.

It will be appreciated that the constructions which have been described are readily adapted to packaging for assembly at a plant remote from the place of manufacture.

Claims (15)

1. A cab structure for a vehicle comprising two spaced apart generally T shaped members each having an upright and a cross-piece and two elongate members joining the crosspieces to constitute a generally rectangular frame therewith, said uprights at their lower ends being adapted to be secured to a vehicle.

2. A cab structure as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the cross-pieces are arranged to extend longitudinally of a vehicle when the cab structure is fitted thereto.

3. A cab structure as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the cross-piece of each T shaped member is assembled to its upright with a bracket within which the cross-piece is received, said bracket being constructed to provide longitudinal bracing of the cross-piece.

4. A cab structure as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the bracket is constructed to provide lateral bracing between the cross-piece and the upright.

5. A cab structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the generally rectangular frame is braced at each corner.

6. A cab structure as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the bracing is provided by a generally triangular bracket of U shaped section at each corner of the frame.

7. A cab structure as claimed in any preceding claim including a transverse member secured between the tops of the uprights.

8. A cab structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each T shaped member includes a sub-frame to which the lower end of the upright is secured, said sub-frame being adapted to be secured to a vehicle.

9. A cab structure as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the sub-frame comprises first and second longitudinal members in vertically spaced relationship, a connecting member extending between one end of the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member intermediate its ends and a plate secured to the longitudinal members, the connecting member and the upright being secured to the first and second longitudinal members and to the plate.

10. A cab structure as claimed in Claim 9 wherein each longitudinal member is fitted with a bracket whereby the cab structure is secured to a vehicle.

11. A cab structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each upright is of hollow box section joggled intermediate its ends whereby the upper ends of the uprights are more widely spaced than their lower ends when fitted to a vehicle.

12. A cab structure as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10 wherein each upright is of fabricated structure including a braced joint intermediate the ends of the upright said fabricated structure and joint being constructed such that the upper ends of the uprights are more widely spaced than their lower ends when fitted to a vehicle.

13. A vehicle comprising a cab structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

14. A cab structure substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, Figs. 1 to 4 in conjunction with Figs. 5, 6, 7 to 10 and Figs. 8A to 10A or Figs. 5 to 10 and Figs. 8A to 10A. of the accompanying drawings.

15. A vehicle comprising a cab structure as claimed in Claim 14.