GB2483567A

GB2483567A - Cab protection apparatus for construction and/or agricultural machines

Info

Publication number: GB2483567A
Application number: GB201115743A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Blackmore; Lesley Deborah Elizabeth Hearne
Original assignee: LDH ATTACHMENTS Ltd
Current assignee: LDH ATTACHMENTS Ltd
Priority date: 2010-09-13
Filing date: 2011-09-12
Publication date: 2012-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 2031-09-12
Also published as: GB2483567B; GB201115743D0; GB201015166D0

Abstract

The apparatus, for construction and agricultural machines, comprises a plurality of guard panels 6, 7 arranged to be mounted on the machine cab to overlie at least a portion of one or more windows of the cab to shield said windows from attack by vandals. The panels 6, 7 are suspended by inverted hook parts from a raised rail 5 on the cab roof so that they can be swung over the roof for storage. Each panel 6, 7 is of composite material, having a core of expanded polyurethane encased in an outer protective plastics layer comprising sheets in which the hook part is embedded. Adjacent panels 6, 7 can be interlocked by fasteners 8 when deployed.

Description

Cab protection apparatus for construction and/or agricultural machines.

This invention relates to a cab protection apparatus for construction and/or agricultural machines, such as excavators, cranes and tractors.

Cab protection for construction and agricuhural machinery is well known within the industry. Machines are often left unattended overnight in exposed locations. To protect the machine from damage from vandals and potential theft cab protection guards panels or shutters are typically provided to be mounted on the windows and/or sides of the cab to protect the cab, and in particular the windows of the cab, from damage, either deliberate or accidental.

The currently available protection systems consist of a series of rigid guard panels which can be individually secured to the cab covering the glazing. Many known systems are manufactured from heavy sheet steel. These are secured to the machines by various methods. All versions currently available have similar problems. The panels are heavy and difficult to fit and remove, especially in a high wind, and also often require that the operator climbs onto the machine to fit or remove the panels. This operation leads to a tripping and falling hazard, and with the rear of a large machine being up to 3 metres from the floor, the risks involved can be quite significant.

Traditionally, the guard panels are stored in a holder while they are not fitted to the machine.

This holder usually comprising of a rack or frame on the roof of the cab of sufficient size to accommodate all the panels. Some guard panels require hinges to allow them to be folded to fit in the holder, making them less easy to manage. This also requires that the operator lifts the panels up onto the machine top to place them in the holder and again lifts them out when it is required to fit them. This again requires that the operator climbs onto the machine. In addition when the machine is being used with the panels in the storage position on top of the cab, the operator often can no longer see through the skylight in the roof of the cab, which can cause difficulties when working at heights.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a means of cab protection, which is of a lightweight construction and easily fitted, whilst still affording a higher level ofprotection to the glazing of the cab. Additionally the light weight means that the complete set of protection panels can be easily carried within a specific designed carrying bag or case enabling storage away from the machine if required and therefore reducing the need to climb.

According to a the present invention there is provided a cab protection apparatus for construction and agricultural machines, said apparatus comprising a plurality of guard panels arranged to be mounted on the cab of a construction or agricultural machine to overlie at least a portion of one or more windows of the cab to shield said windows from attack by vandals.

Preferably said plurality of guard panels are mounted on the vehicle via hinge assemblies, whereby the panels can be folded between respective operative positions, wherein each panel overlies at least a portion of one or more windows of the cab, and a storage position, wherein the panels are stored in a position such as not to obscure said one or more windows of the cab, such as on the roof of the cab.

Preferably each guard panel is provided with a locking means arranged to secure the respective guard panel to the cab. Preferably the panels are adapted to be connected together to define an enclosure around at least a portion of the cab.

Preferably each guard panel comprises a composite construction. In one embodiment each guard panel comprises an expanded polymeric foam core, such as expanded polyurethane, encased within an outer protective plastic layer. Preferably said outer protective layer comprises a pair of flexible plastic sheets between which the foam core is sandwiched. Said sheets may be joined to one another, by suitable a bonding or welding process, around the periphery of the foam core to enclose the foam core therebetween. The core of at least one of said plurality of panels may be divided into two or more separate sections separated by hinge means, preferably live hinge means formed in said outer protective plastic layer to allow the panel to be folded.

In one embodiment each the guard panel is suspended from a mounting means adapted to be mounted on the roof of the cab. Preferably said mounting means comprises at least one mounting rail adapted to be mounted on the roof of the cab by one or more mounting brackets, each panel being provided with one or more U shaped hanger portions at an upper end thereof dimensioned to fit over the mounting rail such that the panel is suspended therefrom. Alternatively each panel may be attached to the mounting rail via a hinge, such as a live hinge formed at an upper edge of the panel.

Said plurality of guard panels may be provided with fastening or interlocking means whereby adjacent panels can be connected together to define an enclosure around the cab.

Said interlocking means may be provided with releasable fastening means. Preferably said releasable fastening means are provided with locking means. Said fastening or interlocking means may comprise webbing or belt members or other strap means extending between adjacent panels. Said interlocking means may be provided with tensioning means. The webbing or belt members may be provided with lockable buckles or similar lockable fastening means to secure the panels to the cab.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a sectional view through a guard panel of a cab protection apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the cab protection apparatus; Figure 3 is a plan view of a mounting rail of the cab protection apparatus of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of the upper mounting portion of a guard panel of the cab protection apparatus of Figure 2.

A cab protection apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of individual guard panels 6,7, each specifically designed to suit the dimensions of a respective portion of the cab, which once fitted to the cab, interlock to enclose the cab and provide a high degree of protection to the cab, and specifically the glazing panels of the cab.

The panels 6,7 are fitted to the machine cab via a hanging system 1 at an upper end of each panel and a quick snap on connector 4 at a lower end of each panel. In the preferred embodiment each panel 6,7 is also secured to an adjacent panel by a quick fasten/release system 8, preferably employing a strap or webbing belt or similar, each belt being provided with a snap connector each end and a tensioning facility. Each belt may be provided with a lockable buckle to secure the panels to the cab.

Each panel 6,7 is specifically designed to protect a particular window or glazing panel within the cab of the machine.

Each protection panel 6,7 consists of a sheet of dense expanded polyurethane type foam 2, sandwiched between two sheets of flexible plastic sheeting 3. In the preferred embodiment the periphery of the plastic sheets 3 are continuously sealed together, either through welding or bonding or a similar process, to form a consolidated unit. Advantageously the peripheral bonding of the sheets 3 also prevents the ingress of water internally to the panel. Tn Figure 1, the high density foam infill 2 is shown sandwiched between the flexible plastic sheeting 3 and the snap fastener 4 is shown at the bottom.

In the preferred embodiment all materials used within the construction of the panels are flame retardant.

At the top of each panel is an inverted U shaped hook defining a hanger 1 to be attached to a tubular rail S (which may comprise a hollow tube or a solid bar) mounted around the periphery of the roof of the construction or agricultural equipment to which the panels 6,7 are to be fitted. In the preferred embodiment this hanger 1 is shaped such that it passes easily over the tubular rail 5 when being fitted but will require that the panel be pushed upwards to be removed. This means that each panel, once hooked onto the rail 5, is retained in position by its own weight, aiding fitting and positioning of each panel. Further securing means may be provided to retain each panel on the rail. The hanger 1 may allow the panels to be folded between a lowered operative position and a raised or folded back storage position, wherein the panels may be folded onto the roof of the cab. In such case, the panels may be provided with further fold lines, defined by hinges, preferably live hinges, whereby the panels can be folded to reduce the overall size of each panel.

As shown in Figure 1, the hanger 1 comprises a rigid member having a base portion connected to or abutting an upper end of the core 2 of the panel between the outer sheets 3.

The typical hanger 1 is shown in the top of the panel of a suitable shape that it cannot easily be pulled out from within the panel. The hanger 1 may be one continuous length or consist of short sections allowing the panel to be folded.

The use of this hanger arrangement requires that a rail 5 is permanently affixed to the top outside edge of the machine cab above the glazing panels. This rail S will be fixed to the cab by the use of dedicated brackets 9 (see Figure 3), which are designed such that the rail 5 is spaced away from the side of the cab allowing the hanger brackets 1 to pass between the rail 5 and the cab side. These mounting brackets 9 for the rail 5 are permanently fixed to the cab using a proprietary fixing method such as bonding, welding, screwing, riveting, etc or any other suitable method. The use of this rail 5, together with the top hanger 1 on each panel 6,7 enables panels to be hung onto the rail S in a convenient location, or slid into position along the rail S. Figure 4 shows the detail of the function of the hanger 1 and the rail S and the mounting bracket 9.

Because of the light weight, non hinged panels and the use of the hanging rail the protection panels may be easily fitted by an individual from ground level without the need to climb onto the machine body thereby minimising the risks of falling from the machine while fitting the panels.

Once the panel is in position the bottom of the panel is secured to the machine by the use of a proprietary snap type catch 4, similar in function to a giant press stud. In the preferred embodiment this snap catch 4 may be locked by the use of the tool or a key. The mating part of the clip faster 4 is secured to the cab below the extent of the glazing by a proprietary method e.g., screwing, riveting, bonding etc. Thus all protection panels can be mounted at suftable places around the cab and hung / slid into posftion before being secured using the snap catch 4. In addition, each panel 6,7 is secured to the neighbouring panel via the use of the webbing belt 8 of nylon or similar material; with quick connect snap tie couplers mating with the adjoining panel. The use of the tension adjuster allows the length of each belt 8 to be adjusted such that it is anchored to the next and prevented from deflecting in a high wind tending to lift the panels away from the cab.

In Figure 1, the mounting rail 5 is shown along the top edge of the cab and two panels 6,7 are shown fitted side by side, secured to the machine at the bottom by the snap fastener 4 and secured to neighbouring panels by the webbing belts 8. The webbing belts may be provided with buckles or ratchet arrangements for tightening the belts. Such buckles or ratchet arrangements may be lockable to secure the panels in place on the cab. Such lockable buckles or ratchet arrangements may replace the snap catches as the means for securing the panels to the cab. The webbing belts may also be used to fasten the panels together when not in use.

In one embodiment, also provided may be a specific carrier enabling the panels to be packed and easily stored. Because of the light weight of the panels this holder containing the panels can be easily carried by a single person. The panels, preferbly in their carrier, may be attached to the rail, preferably to lie over the front window of the cab, during transportation of the vehicle, for example on a trailer. The webbing belts may be used to secure the panels to the cab when in such transportation position.

In an alternative embodiment one of the panels may be provided with a pouch or other fastening or receiving means for receiving the remaining panels, whereby such panel defines a holder into or onto which the remaining panels may be mounted when removed from the machine. The holder panel may be provided with straps or handles to enable such panel, once the remaining panels have been mounted thereon or therein, to be readily carried to a storage location. Such straps may be arranged so that the holder panel can be carried on a person's back in the manner of a rucksack or may be adpated to be fitted onto the rail S on the cab. The pouch may be adapted to be mounted onto the roof of the cab.

Also supplied with the cab protection kit is a safety restraint belt with integrated fixed length lanyard to suit each machine which is attached to a specific anchor point on the panel hanger system. The purpose of this is to prevent the operator being able to move into an area where he may risk falling from the machine body. This is achieved via the careful selection of the lanyard length with respect to the integrated anchor points on the hanging rail system. The length of the lanyard is selected such that the operator is unable to move into an area where falling from the machine is a risk for each specific type of machine. This is of particular value on the larger machines where it may be necessary to climb onto the machine body to fit the protection panels.

Where high level fit is required it is made safer due to the light weight and construction of the panels which are semi rigid allowing them to flex in high wind making them more manageable than the currently available rigid designs.

In addition panels fitted at high level can be hung on the hanging rail from the restraint belt station and pushed safely along the side rails into position.

Advantageously safety is assured when handling panels at high levels by wearing the restraint belt with an integrated lanyard to a specific length to suit the specific machine model.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

SClaims 1. A cab protection apparatus for construction and agricultural machines, said apparatus comprising a plurality of guard panels arranged to be mounted on the cab of a construction or agricultural machine to overlie at least a portion of one or more windows of the cab to shield said windows from attack by vandals.
2. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each the guard panel is suspended from a mounting means adapted to be mounted on the roof of the cab.
3. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said mounting means comprises at least one mounting rail adapted to be mounted on the roof of the cab by one or more mounting brackets, each panel being provided with one or more U shaped hanger portions at an upper end thereof dimensioned to fit over the mounting rail such that the panel is suspended therefrom.
4. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said hanger portions permit the panels can be folded between respective operative positions, wherein each panel overlies at least a portion of one or more windows of the cab, and a storage position, wherein the panels are stored in a position such as not to obscure said one or more windows of the cab, such as on the roof of the cab.
5. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each guard panel comprises a composite construction.
6. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each guard panel comprises an expanded polymeric foam core encased within an outer protective plastic layer.
7. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said core of the guard panel comprises expanded polyurethane.
8. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said outer protective layer comprises a pair of flexible plastic sheets between which the foam core is sandwiched.
9. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said sheets are joined to one another, by suitable a bonding or welding process, around the periphery of the foam core to enclose the foam core therebetween.
10. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the core of at least one of said plurality of panels is divided into two or more separate sections separated by hinge means to allow the panel to be folded.
11. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said hinge means comprises live hinge means formed in said outer protective plastic layer.
12. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said plurality of guard panels may be provided with fastening or interlocking means whereby adjacent panels can be connected together to define an enclosure around the cab.
13. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said interlocking means are provided with releasable fastening means.
14. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said releasable fastening means are provided with locking means.
15. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said fastening or interlocking means comprise webbing or belt members or other strap means extending between adjacent panels.
16. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said webbing or belt members are provided with tensioning means and/or locking means.
17. A cab protection apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of said plurality of guard panels includes a fold line or hinge allowing the panel to be folded when not in use.
18. A cab protection apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.