GB2576778A

GB2576778A - Handrail for walkways of machines

Info

Publication number: GB2576778A
Application number: GB1814257.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fletcher Ryan
Original assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc
Current assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc
Priority date: 2018-09-03
Filing date: 2018-09-03
Publication date: 2020-03-04
Also published as: GB201814257D0

Abstract

A machine (100) includes an engine system (190), a walkway (240) for the engine system (190), and a cover assembly (178) to cover the engine system (190) and the walkway (240). The cover assembly (178) includes a hood (220) covering at least a portion of the engine system (190) in the closed position, and defines an underside (228) to face the engine system (190). A handrail (254) is pivotably coupled to the underside (228), and is movable to an extended state and a retracted state. A pin with a shaft and a boss is coupled to the handrail (254). An elongated member (see fig. 6), pivotably coupled to the underside (228), has an end portion bent towards the handrail (254). A slot is structured along a length of the elongated member and extends into the end portion to define a keyhole. Upon a movement of the handrail (254) to the extended state, the boss falls into the keyhole to lock the handrail (254) with the elongated member. The machine may be a construction machine such as a cold planar, rotary mixer, or hydraulic excavator, or a forest, mining, or agricultural machine.

Description

HANDRAIL FOR WALKWAYS OF MACHINES

Technical Field [0001] The present disclosure generally relates to machines, such as construction machines. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a handrail for walkways of construction machines.

Background [0002] Machines, such as cold planers, generally includes power systems, such as internal combustion engine systems (or simply engine systems), that power the varied functions of the machine. Such power systems (or engine systems) are generally housed within a compartment, such as an engine compartment, of the machine. Engine compartments in such machines may be generally closable from the top by use of a cover assembly. During service of such engine systems, an operator may be required to open the cover assembly in order to access one or more components of the underlying engine system.

[0003] A walkway may be provided on such machines, generally above the engine system, so as to allow an operator/technician to walk or be stationed on the walkway and perform the needed service, repairs, etc., on the underlying engine system. In several of the presently available machines, however, no means are provided to the operator/technician to support oneself while being stationed or while moving on such walkways.

[0004] US Patent No. 9,677,249 relates to a cover for a vehicle body that is movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the vehicle body. The cover at least partially covers a serviceable component(s), such as an engine, in the closed position. Further, a user support member(s) moves relative to the body between a stowed position and a deployed position in response to movement of the cover from the closed position to the open position.

-2Summary of the Invention [0005] In one aspect, the disclosure is directed towards a machine. The machine includes an engine system, a walkway for the engine system, and a cover assembly configured to cover the engine system and the walkway. The cover assembly includes a hood that is moveable to an open position and a closed position. The hood covers at least a portion of the engine system in the closed position and defines an underside to face the engine system in the closed position. Further, the machine includes a handrail pivotably coupled to the underside and which is movable to an extended state and a retracted state relative to the underside. A pin is coupled to the handrail. The pin includes a shaft and a boss. Furthermore, an elongated member is pivotably coupled to the underside. The elongated member includes an end portion that is bent towards the handrail. A slot is structured along a length of the elongated member and extends into the end portion to define a keyhole at the end portion. The slot co-operates with the shaft to guide the handrail towards the extended state and the retracted state. Upon a movement of the handrail to the extended state, the boss engages with the end portion and deflects the elongated member away from the handrail to create a spring-loaded effect in the elongated member and causes the boss to fall into the keyhole when the handrail reaches the extended state, thereby locking the handrail with the elongated member in the extended state.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0006] FIG. 1 is an exemplary machine having a compartment to house a power system of the machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a cover assembly of the machine in an open position revealing the power system and a walkway for the power system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a handrail system having a handrail coupled to an underside of a hood of the cover assembly, and positioned in a retracted state relative to the underside, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

-3[0009] FIG. 4 is the handrail in an extended state relative to the underside of the hood, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 5 is a front view of a portion of the handrail system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and [0011] FIG. 6 is an exemplary state of the handrail while executing a movement between the extended state and the retracted state, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description [0012] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary machine 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is illustrated. The machine 100 is a cold planer 104 as shown. Although the aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards a cold planer, it will be appreciated that a variety of other construction machines, such as rotary mixers, hydraulic excavators, loaders, forest machines, mining machines, agricultural machines, generator sets, and the like, may make use of one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0013] As shown, the machine 100 includes a frame 108, and a forward section 112 and a rearward section 116 supported on the frame 108. It may be noted that references having terms prefixed with “forward” and “rearward” may be viewed and understood to be relative to a direction of travel of the machine 100, as represented by arrow, T, in FIG. 1, with said direction of travel of the machine 100 (i.e., arrow, T) exemplarily extending from the rearward section 116 towards the forward section 112.

[0014] The machine 100 also includes an operator station 120 mounted to the frame 108 and disposed in between the forward section 112 and the rearward section 116. The operator station 120 may provide access to controls by which the many of functions of the machine 100 may be controlled. For example, the machine 100 may include a work tool 130 that may be supported by the frame 108, and, during operations, the work tool 130 may be controllably brought into contact with a surface 134 of a roadway 138 by use of one or more said controls, so as to perform operations on the surface 134 of the roadway 138. As an example, the

-4work tool 130 may be configured to mill, so as to remove, mix, or reclaim material, from the surface 134 of the roadway 138. As part of further implements of the machine 100, the forward section 112 includes a conveyor system 142 (and associated arrangements for the conveyor system 142) that may be controlled to facilitate a transfer of materials removed by the work tool 130 to a receptacle (not shown). In one example, the receptacle includes a dump body of another machine (not shown) that, in general, leads the machine 100 along the direction of travel as represented by arrow, T, in FIG. 1, during operation. Traction devices 146, embodying tracks, wheels, or a combination thereof, may be coupled to the frame 108 of the machine 100, and may be powered (by a power system 154, see FIG. 2) to facilitate a movement of the machine 100 along the direction of travel of the machine 100, as represented by arrow, T, in FIG. 1.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the rearward section 116 includes a compartment 150 to accommodate and house the power system 154 of the machine 100. The power system 154 may be applied to move the machine 100, and operate the variety of implements, such as the work tool 130 and the conveyor system 142. The compartment 150 is formed by side walls 158 (also see FIG. 3) of the rearward section 116 of the machine 100. For example, the rearward section 116 includes a first side wall 162’ and a second side wall 162”. Further, the rearward section 116 includes a forward wall 162’” and a rearward wall 162”” (the rearward wall 162”” is not explicitly shown). The first side wall 162’, the second side wall 162”, the forward wall 162”’, and the rearward wall 162””, together define the compartment 150 (and an interior cavity 166 of the compartment 150).

[0016] The rearward section 116 also includes a top panel assembly 170 having a top wall 174 and a cover assembly 178. Both the top wall 174 and the cover assembly 178 are applied for enclosing the power system 154 within the interior cavity 166 of the compartment 150. According to the depicted embodiment, the top wall 174 caps a rearward portion of the interior cavity 166 (of the compartment 150), while the cover assembly 178 is adapted to cap a remainder, forward portion of the interior cavity 166 (or the compartment 150). While the top wall 174 may be applied to permanently enclose the power system 154 within the interior cavity

-5166, the cover assembly 178 is switchable between a closed condition and an open condition. In the closed condition (i.e., as depicted in FIG. 1), the cover assembly 178 covers the power system 154 from the top of the compartment 150, while in the open condition (i.e., as depicted in FIG. 2), the cover assembly 178 reveals an opening 182 of the compartment 150 from the top that provides access to the power system 154 from the top. The opening 182 is generally rectangular shaped, as shown, spanning between respective edges 186’, 186”, 186”’, 188 of the first side wall 162’, the second side wall 162”, the forward wall 162’”, and the top wall 174.

[0017] The power system 154 may be used to generate power to perform the various functions of the machine 100. For example, the various functions may include a travel of the machine 100 over the surface 134, an operation of the work tool 130 and the conveyor system 142, etc., as already noted. For example, the power system 154 includes an engine system 190, having an internal combustion engine 194 (FIG. 2) that may run on one or more fossil fuels, and the compartment 150 may be an engine compartment 198 adapted to accommodate and house the internal combustion engine 194. It is possible for the power system 154 to include (and/or represent) other types of power systems, such as electrical power systems, applied either singularly or in combination with the engine system 190. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the reference ‘engine system 190’ may be used to denote and/or represent the power system 154.

[0018] The cover assembly 178 includes a first hood 220 and a second hood 224. The first hood 220 may be pivotably coupled to, and may swing about the edge 186’ of the first side wall 162’, while the second hood 224 may be pivotably coupled to, and may swing about the edge 186” of the second side wall 162”. Both the edges 186’, 186” may be straight edges disposed along (e.g., parallelly to) a length, L, (see FIG. 1) of the machine 100. A swinging action of the first hood 220 about the edge 186’ facilitates the first hood 220 to be moved to a closed position and to an open position relative to the opening 182, and, similarly, a swinging action of the second hood 224 about the edge 186” facilitates the second hood 224 to be to be moved to a closed position and to an open position relative to

-6the opening 182. An open position of both the first hood 220 and the second hood 224 corresponds to the open condition of the cover assembly 178 (i.e., as depicted in FIG. 2), while a closed position of the first hood 220 and the second hood 224 corresponds to the closed condition of the cover assembly 178 (i.e., as depicted in FIG. 1). Both the first hood 220 and the second hood 224 may include an underside to face the engine system 190 in their respective closed positions - as an example, an underside 228 of the first hood 220 is annotated in FIG. 2. According to the above discussion, it may be further understood that in the closed condition of the cover assembly 178, the cover assembly 178 covers the engine system 190.

[0019] The machine 100 includes a walkway 240 for the engine system 190. For example, the walkway 240 extends from the edge 188 of the top wall 174 to the edge 186’” of the forward wall 162’”, spanning a width, W, (defined along the length, L, of the machine 100) of the opening 182. The walkway 240 may be a relatively narrow strip of real estate, extending between the forward wall 162’” and the top wall 174, on which an operator/technician may be stationed so as to access the engine system 190 from the top of the compartment 150, and accordingly perform a service/repair operation on the engine system 190 from the top of the compartment 150. The walkway 240 may be positioned such that in a closed position of the first hood 220 (or simply, hood 220 hereinafter), the hood 220 may cover the walkway 240 (for example, entirely), and, in turn, may block the walkway 240 away from general view and access. Further, in the closed position of the hood 220, the hood 220 covers at least a portion of the engine system 190, as well. Accordingly, it may be noted that in the closed condition of the cover assembly 178, along with covering the engine system 190, the cover assembly 178 covers the walkway 240, as well.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, and according to one of more aspects of the present disclosure, the machine 100 includes a handrail system 250 for the walkway 240. Said handrail system 250 will now be described. The handrail system 250 includes a handrail 254 that may be held, moved relative to the underside 228, and used by the operators/technicians, to support themselves when stationed over the walkway 240. The handrail system 250 may be arranged on the

-7underside 228 of the hood 220, as shown, and thus, the handrail system 250 may be accessed and used when the hood 220 is in the open position (as is depicted in FIG. 2). Apart from the handrail 254, the handrail system 250 includes a pair of pins 258’, 258”, and a pair of elongated members 262’, 262”.

[0021] The handrail 254 may be a generally U-shaped component, including a base pole 266, and two generally upstanding, similarly dimensioned, side poles 270’, 270” (e.g., first side pole 270’ and second side pole 270”) extending from the base pole 266. Although not limited, the base pole 266 and the side poles 270’, 270” may be a single, contiguous component that may be integrally formed to define the handrail 254. Each of the side poles 270’, 270” define ends 274’, 274” (also see FIG. 5) that are remote to the base pole 266. The ends 274’, 274” are respectively and pivotably coupled to brackets 278’, 278” (also see FIG. 5) attached to the underside 228 of the hood 220. In that manner, the side poles 270’, 270” are pivotably coupled to the brackets 278’, 278”, and, in turn, the handrail 254 is pivotably coupled to the underside 228.

[0022] The pivotal coupling of the handrail 254 relative to the underside 228 facilitates the handrail 254 to be moved to different (angular) positions or states relative to the underside 228. For example, the handrail 254 may be moved to an extended state and a retracted state relative to the underside 228. An exemplary extended state of the handrail 254 may be visualized and understood by viewing FIG. 4, while an exemplary retracted state of the handrail 254 may be visualized and understood by viewing FIG. 3. It may be noted that in the extended state of the handrail 254, the handrail 254 (or the base pole 266) may be angularly moved away from the underside 228. When the hood 220 is in the open position (FIG. 2), an extended state of the handrail 254 makes it easy and readily accessible for operator/technician stationed on the walkway 240 to hold and seek support from the handrail 254. Conversely, it may be noted that in the retracted state (FIG. 3), the handrail 254 may be collapsed so as to be stowed away, and retained in close proximity with the underside 228, away from ready operator access. A retracted state of the handrail 254 allows the hood 220 to be moved to the closed position (FIG. 1), as well, and, in which position, the retracted state of the handrail 254

-8keeps the handrail 254 away from interference with any part or component of the engine system 190. The handrail system 250 may include a fixture 282 (see FIG. 3, 4, and 6) immovably coupled to the underside 228 that may receive the handrail 254, and may retain the handrail 254 in the retracted state. As one example, the fixture 282 includes a C-shaped receptacle 286 into which the handrail 254 may be snap-fitted and received to be retained in the retracted state. In some embodiments, the fixture 282 is formed from a resilient material, such as rubber, nylon, and the like.

[0023] The pair of pins 258’, 258” is categorized as and/or may include a first pin 258’ and a second pin 258”. Both the first pin 258’ and the second pin 258” are coupled to the handrail 254. More particularly, the first pin 258’ is fixedly coupled to the first side pole 270’ of the handrail 254, while the second pin 258” is fixedly coupled to the second side pole 270” of the handrail 254. Both the first pin 258’ and the second pin 258” have a similar design and structure, and accordingly, structural description discussed for the first pin 258’ (as set out below) will be applicable for the second pin 258”, as well. For ease, the first pin 258’ may be interchangeably and/or simply referred to as pin 258.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 5, the pin 258 defines a pin axis 290, and includes different portions with different diameters. For example, the pin 258 includes a boss 300, a shaft 304, and a washer 308, as shown. The washer 308 may be either separate or integral to the shaft 304. The boss 300, shaft 304, and the washer 308, extend co-axially and sequentially, i.e., one after the other, along the pin axis 290. The boss 300 includes a first diameter, DI, the shaft 304 includes a second diameter, D2, and the washer 308 includes a third diameter, D3. The second diameter, D2, may be smaller than both the first diameter, DI, and the third diameter, D3, while the first diameter, DI, may be smaller than the third diameter, D3, (although it is possible for both the first diameter, DI, and the third diameter, D3, to be equal). The boss 300 is coupled (e.g., by welding) to the first side pole 270’ to attain the fixed coupling between the pin 258 and the first side pole 270’ that is to say that the boss 300 of the first pin 258’ is coupled to the first side pole 270’, while the boss (not shown) of the second pin 258” is coupled to the second

-9side pole 270’ ’. Modes other than welding (such as the use of industrial adhesives, etc.) may be contemplated to attain a coupling between the boss 300 and the first side pole 270’. In some embodiments, the pin axis 290 is disposed along or parallel to the length of the base pole 266.

[0025] The pair of elongated members 262’, 262” are categorized as and/or include a first elongated member 262’ and a second elongated member 262’ ’. Both the first elongated member 262’ and the second elongated member 262” guide a motion of the handrail 254 to each of the extended state and the retracted state. Both the first elongated member 262’ and the second elongated member 262’ ’ have a similar design and structure, and accordingly, structural description discussed for the first elongated member 262’ (as set out below) will be applicable for the second elongated member 262”, as well. Further, an arrangement of the second elongated member 262” with the second pin 258” may remain similar to the arrangement between the first elongated member 262’ and the first pin 258’. The arrangement between the first elongated member 262’ and the first pin 258’ will also be set out below. For ease, the first elongated member 262’ may be interchangeably and/or simply referred to as elongated member 262.

[0026] The elongated member 262 includes a length, E, (FIG. 5) and includes a generally planarly extending, longitudinally structured plate 312, defining a main body 320 and an end portion 324 extending from the main body 320. The main body 320 includes a butt-end 328 that is pivotably coupled to a coupler 332 arranged on the underside 228 of the hood 220, thus enabling the elongated member 262 to be pivotably coupled to the underside 228. The end portion 324 is bent towards the handrail 254 (i.e., towards the first side pole 270’ of the handrail 254). As an example, the end portion 324 includes a first bent portion 336 and a second bent portion 340. The first bent portion 336 is bent away from the main body 320 at an incline to the main body 320, while the second bent portion 340 is bent away from the first bent portion 336, at an inclination to the first bent portion 336. In an embodiment, an angle at which the first bent portion 336 bends away from the main body 320 is the same as the angle at which the second bent portion 340 bends away from the first bent portion 336. For example, the second bent

-10portion 340 may be parallelly disposed relative to the main body 320 of the elongated member 262. In the retracted state of the handrail 254, the second bent portion 340 of the end portion 324 of the elongated member 262 is at an offset to the main body 320, and acquires a position that is closer to the first side pole 270’ of the handrail 254 than the main body 320 of the elongated member 262. Although differing portions, such as the main body 320 and end portion 324, of the elongated member 262 have been explicitly discussed, it may be noted that the main body 320 and the end portion 324 may be integrally formed. Further, the elongated member 262 may be formed from a metallic material, or from a combination of metallic materials.

[0027] Further, the elongated member 262 may include a slot 350. The slot 350 may be a linearly extending slot, structured along the length, E, of the elongated member 262 extending from the butt-end 328 of the main body 320 to the end portion 324 (i.e., to the second bent portion 340 of the end portion 324) of the elongated member 262. The slot 350 co-operates with the shaft 304 of the pin 258 to guide the handrail 254 towards the extended state and the retracted state. The slot 350 includes a linear slot section 354 and a circular slot section 358 (see FIG. 6). The circular slot section 358 is a keyhole 362 defined at the second bent portion 340 (i.e., at the end portion 324), while the linear slot section 354 extends from the butt-end 328 of the main body 320, and proceeds into the first bent portion 336, and continues further into the second bent portion 340 up to the keyhole 362. For example, the keyhole 362 includes a diameter, K, that is larger than a width, S, of the linear slot section 354. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the linear slot section 354 is adapted to receive and accommodate the shaft 304 of the pin 258, so as to facilitate a travel of the shaft 304 of the pin 258 throughout the length of the linear slot section 354. Therefore, the width, S, of the linear slot section 354 may be defined according to the diameter, D2, of the shaft 304 of the pin 258, so as to receive the shaft 304 of the pin 258 with negligible play. Further, the keyhole 362 is adapted to receive the boss 300 of the pin 258, and thus the diameter, K, of the keyhole 362 (or of the circular slot section 358, see FIG. 6) may be defined according to the diameter, DI, of the boss 300 of the pin

-11258, so as to receive and accommodate the boss 300 of the pin 258 with negligible play. It may be noted that the boss 300 rests within the keyhole 362 in the extended state of the handrail 254, while the shaft 304 rests at a bottom 364 of the slot 350 (i.e., near the butt-end 328 of the elongated member 262) in the retracted state of the handrail 254.

Industrial Applicability [0028] During service and maintenance operations of the engine system 190, an operator/technician may open the first hood 220 and the second hood 224 of the compartment 150 for accessing the engine system 190 (e.g., one or more components of the engine system 190) from the top of the compartment 150. Once the first hood 220 is opened, the walkway 240 for the engine system 190 is revealed and is open for access. An operator/technician may accordingly walk over the walkway 240 and/or be stationed over the walkway 240. While walking on the walkway 240, it may be possible for an operator/technician to err and deviate from the narrow path defined by the walkway 240. Further, while being stationed on the walkway 240, the operator/technician may need to shift and move between a multitude of postures and poses for accessing/servicing/repairing one or more components of the engine system 190 disposed beneath the walkway 240. Effectively, in both scenarios (i.e., while walking and/or while being stationed on the walkway 240), the operator/technician needs to find adequate means to support oneself on the walkway 240. Such support may be found by the use of the handrail system 250.

[0029] As the first hood 220 is brought into the open state, the handrail 254 of the handrail system 250 may be found in the retracted state (i.e., lying in proximity to the underside 228 of the first hood 220), retained within the C-shaped receptacle 286 of the fixture 282. The operator/technician may reach out to the handrail 254, so as to pull and release the handrail 254 out of the C-shaped receptacle 286 of the fixture 282. Once the handrail 254 is pulled out of the fixture 282, the operator/technician may raise the handrail 254 from the retracted state towards the extended state (see direction, H, FIG. 4). As the operator/technician pulls the

-12handrail 254, the shaft 304 of the pin 258 resting at the bottom 364 of the slot 350 (i.e., near the butt-end 328 of the elongated member 262) starts to move along the length of the slot 350 (i.e., along the length, E, of the elongated member 262) towards the end portion 324 of the elongated member 262, guiding the elongated member 262 with the movement of the handrail 254 and inevitably tilting the elongated member 262 away from the underside 228 (see orientation of the elongated member 262 in FIG. 6). As the handrail 254 moves closer to the extended state, the boss 300 of the pin 258 comes into an abutted engagement with the first bent portion 336 of the end portion 324, and while the shaft 304 may be still received within the linear slot section 354 to guide the movement of the elongated member 262 with the movement of the handrail 254, the abutted engagement of the boss 300 with the first bent portion 336 causes the elongated member 262 to deflect away from the handrail 254 (see direction, D, FIG. 5), thereby creating a spring-loaded effect in the elongated member 262. At this stage, however, the elongated member 262 is refrained from moving out of engagement with the pin 258 by the washer 308. As the handrail 254 is pulled further upwards towards the extended state (see direction, H, FIG. 4), the boss 300 crosses over from the first bent portion 336 and moves further to come into abutted engagement with the second bent portion 340. Since the second bent portion 340 of the end portion 324 of the elongated member 262 is at an offset to the main body 320, and because the second bent portion 340 acquires a position that is closer to the first side pole 270’ than the main body 320 of the elongated member 262, a degree of the spring-loaded effect is maintained in the elongated member 262, at this stage. As the operator/technician further pulls the handrail 254 upwards, towards the extended state (see direction, H, FIG. 4), the boss 300, guided by the shaft 304, moves further along the second bent portion 340, inches closer to the keyhole 362, and eventually falls into the keyhole 362 owing to a biasing force provided by the spring-loaded effect of the elongated member 262. At this point, the handrail 254 attains the extended state, and with the keyhole 362 receiving the boss 300, the handrail 254 is locked with the elongated member 262 in the extended state. With the handrail 254 locked in the extended state, the operator/technician may use the

-13handrail 254 to support oneself, while being stationed or while walking on the walkway 240.

[0030] To return the handrail 254 from the extended state to the retracted state, the operator/technician pushes the boss 300 out of the keyhole 362 (i.e., out of engagement with the keyhole 362), thereby freeing the boss 300 (and the handrail 254) from the extended state, and causing the handrail 254 to collapse and fall under gravity from the extended state to the retracted state (see direction, C, FIG. 4). In the retracted state of the handrail 254, the shaft 304 returns to the bottom 364 of the slot 350 (i.e., near the butt-end 328 of the elongated member 262), and, thereafter, the handrail 254 may be secured to the fixture 282, so as to be retained by the fixture 282, and to the underside 228 of the hood 220.

[0031] While the above discussion relates to the handrail system 250 disposed at the underside 228 of the first hood 220, it will be contemplated that a similar handrail system (not shown) may be disposed at an underside (not shown) of the second hood 224 of the compartment 150, as well. During service and maintenance operation of the engine system 190, it is possible for an operator/technician to use both such handrail systems for supporting oneself on the walkway 240. Further, with the use of such handrails (or the handrail system 250), an operation involving the service and maintenance of the engine system 190 becomes easier, safer, and more convenient.

[0032] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the system of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the system disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalent.

Claims

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A machine (100) comprising:

an engine system (190);

a walkway (240) for the engine system (190);

a cover assembly (178) configured to cover the engine system (190) and the walkway (240), the cover assembly (178) including a hood (220) moveable to an open position and a closed position, the hood (220) covering at least a portion of the engine system (190) in the closed position and defining an underside (228) to face the engine system (190) in the closed position;

a handrail (254) pivotably coupled to the underside (228) and movable to an extended state and a retracted state relative to the underside (228);

a pin (258) coupled to the handrail (254), and including a shaft (304) and a boss (300); and an elongated member (262) pivotably coupled to the underside (228), the elongated member (262) including an end portion (324) bent towards the handrail (254), a slot (350) structured along a length of the elongated member (262) and extending into the end portion (324) to define a keyhole (362) at the end portion (324), the slot (350) co-operating with the shaft (304) to guide the handrail (254) towards the extended state and the retracted state, wherein upon a movement of the handrail (254) to the extended state, the boss (300) engages with the end portion (324) and deflects the elongated member (262) away from the handrail (254) to create a spring-loaded effect in the elongated member (262) and causes the boss (300) to fall into the keyhole (362) when the handrail (254) reaches the extended state, thereby locking the handrail (254) with the elongated member (262) in the extended state.