US3127214A

US3127214A - Roof attachment

Info

Publication number: US3127214A
Authority: US
Priority date: 1960-05-17
Publication date: 1964-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-31
Also published as: FR1263968A; NL120143C; NL251448A

Description

March 31, 1964 P. E. KETTLER 3,127,214

' ROOF ATTACHMENT Filed Jan; 3, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet l FIG 8 INVENTOR Poul Erich Kettler ATTORNEY ROOF ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 3, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 98 h r INVENTOR Poul Erich Ketfler FIG.|6.

we BY I WW ATTORNEY Marc-h 31, 1964 Filed Jan. 5, 1961 P. E. KETTLER ROOF ATTACHMENT 6 Sheets-$heet I5 mvmon Poul Erich Kettler ATTORNEX March 31, 1964 p, KETTLER 3,127,214

ROOF ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 3, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Poul Erich Kettler I BY dww/v ATTORNEY March 31, 1964 P. E. KETTLER 3,127,214

ROOF ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 3, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Poul Erich Kettler I 0 BY ,l'i:"'

ATTORNEY March 31, 1964 P. E. KETTLER Filed Jan. 3, 1961 ROOF ATTACHMENT FIG.37. FIG.38.

FIG 40.

FIG.4|.

INVENTOR Poul Erich Kettle:

BY W

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,127,214 RGOF ATTACHMENT Paul Erich Kettler, An der Autobahn, Ockstadt, Kreis Friedberg, Hesse, Germany Filed Ian. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 81,915 17 Claims. (Cl. 296-102) The present invention relates to vehicle attachments and more particularly is concerned with a novel roof or hood attachment especially adapted for use on tractors or the like.

Numerous types of hoods or roofs have been previously proposed for agricultural and road-building equipment, or the like. These known constructions generally fall into the following categories:

(1) Those which are stationarily mounted on the tractor at one or more fixed points;

(2) Those which are mounted on a vehicle and utilize some type of resilient mounting at one or more connecting points; and

(3) Those utilizing some type of spring mounting.

The constructions mentioned above have generally proven unsatisfactory for many reasons, some of which are as follows:

(1) Rigidly mounted hoods are exposed to various shocks and vibrations to which the vehicle is subjected, causing damage to the roof mountings on the vehicle or requiring exceptionally heavy and expensive parts which must be carefully machined, manufactured and inspected;

(2) The rigid connections are subjected to resonant vibrations transmitted to the vehicle roof which, if the roof is made of metal, cause excessive noise;

(3) If rigid connections or mountings are used in conjunction with resilient mountings, the difficulties mentioned above continue to exist and, additionally excessive vibrations at the resilient connections appear to result due to excessive loads and stresses on the entire structure;

(4) If all the mountings for the roof would be of a resilient character, the mountings, if they are in the form of springs, would have no universal movement and thus would be operated generally in a single linear direction which would give rise to resultant stresses due to angular forces reacting on the springs. Furthermore, these resilient mountings are expensive to manufacture, to install and to maintain in order to afford the roof the proper support, namely, at the center of gravity of the roof or hood. Additionally, the spring mountings are subjected to torsional or twisting movements due to the weight of the hood or root and the eccentric movements caused during operation of the vehicle. Also, due to the remote location of the resilient mountings with respect to the center of gravity of the roof, the previously proposed roofs and mountings failed to eliminate the shocks and stresses due to the internal forces and twisting movements on the connections.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide vehicle roof mountings which overcome the disadvantages of the previously proposed constructions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide novel and universal damping means supporting a roof substantially at its center of gravity and which has portions affording universal shock absorbing movements, i.e., movements in all directions.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel and universal damping means which substantially eliminates internal stresses and permits relatively light and inexpensive mountings to be utilized for assembling a roof attachment on a tractor vehicle or the like.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an installation including one or more novel universal damp- 3,127,214 Patented Mar. 31, 1964 ing means with roof attachments of a relatively heavy character and further causing a minimum of interference with the movements and visibility of the operator.

It is an additional object of the present invention to pro vide a roof installation utilizing universal damping means which are mounted on a transverse axis in substantial alignment with the center of gravity of the roof and a mounting portion of the vehicle as, for example, the fenders of the tractor, whereby the load of the roof is transferred directly to the fenders.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide universal damping means usable on a vehicle roof installation and including L-shaped or U-shaped supporting frames in which such damping means compensate for lateral oscillations of the supporting frames.

It is another object of the present invention to provide universal damping means in conjunction with one or more fluid dampers, thus permitting the use of roofs having a windshield and removable side shields attached thereto, and permitting a non-uniform distribution of mass, as well as aifording a ready accessibility for entering and leaving the drivers compartment and providing good visibility to the operator to permit observation of the front, side or rearwardly mounted tools, which damping means tend to absorb the vibrations of the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a hood or roof which is especially suited for installation on tractors or the like having different dimensions and randomly located supporting means.

It is a further object of the invention to provide mounting means for a roof construction which permits the supporting means to be adjustably mounted in angular position relative to the mounting plate secured to the vehicle and further including means for bracing or stabilizing the supporting means.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide means for mounting a support for a roof in which the support is mounted on a vehicle by means of triangularly disposed bracing and mounting portions.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a substantially diagrammatic side elevational view of the novel roof attachment provided on a tractor vehicle.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged elevational view of one embodiment of a universal damping means as seen substantially from the plane of line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURES 5 to 8 are views similar to FIGURES 3 and 4, respectively, and illustrate diagrammatically the compound or universal movements of the damping means.

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view similar to FIGURE 4 on a slightly enlarged scale, and showing another embodiment of the universal damping means.

FIGURE 10 is a section taken substantially on line 1010 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the manner in which two universal damping means are used in a roof construction, and showing in dotted lines the manner in which vibrations affect one of the supporting means.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURES 2 and 11, showing another roof mounting installation utilizing supplemental universal damping means.

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURES 2, 11 and 12, showing another embodiment of a roof construction and indicating vertical adjustability of the roof.

FIGURE 14 is an elevation as seen substantially from the plane of line 14-14 of FIGURE 13 and showing by phantom lines the manner in which the roof may be angularly disposed.

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view of the'roof of FIG- URE 13.

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged elevation of a resilient belt used to retain the roof in an angularly disposed position.

FIGURE 17 is a view illustrating an installation of the roof shown in FIGURES 13 and 15 on a tractor vehicle.

FIGURE 18 illustrates a roof installation on another type of tractor vehicle.

FIGURE 19 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 19-19 of FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 20 is a front elevational view of a roof similar to that shown in FIGURES 2, 11, 12 and 19, showing the roof and windshield including laterally positionable side sections.

FIGURE 21 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 20, showing the side sections in an open position.

FIGURE 22 is a perspective view illustrating the tractor and roof of FIGURES 20 and 22, and showing how a driver may readily mount and dismount from the tractor.

FIGURE 23 shows the tractor roof construction of FIG- URES 20 to 22, illustrating the use of supplemental vibration dampers.

FIGURE 24 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line 2424 of FIGURE 23.

FIGURE 25 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 23, showing another manner of installing supplemental vibration dampers.

FIGURE 26 is a side elevational view of a roof support, showing in dotted lines how a vertical supporting rod may be rotated about its longitudinal axis.

FIGURE 27 is an enlarged View showing in dotted lines positions of adjustment of the roof support with portions broken away.

FIGURE 28 is a front elevation of FIGURE 27 with portions broken away.

FIGURE 29 is a further enlarged side elevation similar to a portion of FIGURE 27, showing in phantom lines how a vertical supporting member is adjusted angularly.

FIGURE 30 is an enlarged front elevation similar to a portion of FIGURE 28, showing further angular adjustments of a supporting member.

FIGURE 31 is a plan view taken substantially on line 31-31 of FIGURE 26.

FIGURE 32 is a further enlarged section taken substantially on line 32-32 of FIGURE 29.

FIGURES 33, 34 and 35 are enlarged fragmentary elevations of different embodiments of clamp sleeves utilized with vertical roof supporting members which may be 'rotated about their longitudinal axes.

FIGURES 36, 37, 38 are sectional views taken substantially on lines 3636, 37-37 and 3838 of FIGURES 33, 34 and 35, respectively.

FIGURE 39 is a front elevational View similar to that shown in FIGURES 28 and 30, showing another type of roof support.

FIGURE 40 is an enlarged section taken substantially 'on line 40-40 of FIGURE 39, showing a strut coupling device for a supporting strut.

FIGURE 41 is a side elevational view of still another strut coupling.

FIGURE 42 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 41, illustrating an adjusted position of the coupling of FIG- URE 41.

Considering now the drawings and FIGURES 1 and 2 thereof in particular, FIGURE 1 shows a typical tractor indicated generally at It) which includes a chassis portion 12, front wheels 14 and rear Wheels 16. Overlying the rear wheels, as is conventional, are fenders 18. Mounted on a suitably secured supporting plate 28 on the righthand fender 18, as seen in FIGURE 2, is a vertically ex tending L-shaped support rod 22 which includes an indirection axially of the support arm 24. bly 26 affords a universal movement about the fixed supwardly extending arm 24 upon which is mounted a vertically disposed and terminally secured universal shock absorbing and vibration damping assembly indicated generally at 26. The assembly 26 will have mounted thereon for adjustment about the longitudinal axis of the arm 24 a roof indicated generally at 28 which includes a forward depending windshield 30 having, if desired, side panel portions 32. The roof includes a cover portion 34 to overlie that portion of the tractor which is occupied by the driver or operator.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show that the arm 24 is hollow and includes in the terminal end thereof a mounting block 36 which receives therein a manually rotatable clamp screw 38 which will be terminally threaded into a threaded bore portion 40 of the block 36. Mounted on a transversely apertured center block element 42, through which the shank of the clamp bolt 38 extends, is a resilient collar 44 of rubber or any other suitable resilient material which has placed thereabout a rigid metal collar 46 of any suitable material. Secured on the upper edge of the collar 46 is a block element 48 which includes a planar surface 50 which will underlie a suitable mounting portion of the top 34 of the roof 28. The mounting block 48 will be secured to the roof 34 by means of appropriate fastening elements, such as screws or the like, as indicated at 52 in FIGURE 2.

It will be noted from FIGURE 1 that the assembly 26 is located approximately at the center of gravity of the roof 28, thereby affording maximum support for the roof and additionally providing the means for absorbing vibration and shock directly beneath the center of gravity and preventing the occurrence of resonant vibrations.

Considering next FIGURES 5 to 8, it will be seen in FIGURE 5 that the assembly 26 with the resilient material 44 will permit the roof 34 and collar 46 to have a relative transverse movement with respect to the arm 24. Further, in FIGURE 6, the assembly 26 will permit the roof .with respect to the arm 24, as indicated by the dotted line,

and as indicated in FIGURE 8, the roof and assembly 26 providing a movement in and out of its plane, i.e., in a Thus, the assemport arm 24 immediately below the center of gravity of the roof assembly 28, thereby eliminating the transmission of internal stresses which a tractor encounters in rough terrain and, by being located at the center of gravity of the roof, the assembly will permit a maximum weight roof to be supported by a relatively light structure.

Referring now to FIGURES 9 and 10, another embodiment of the universal shock absorbing and vibration damping assembly is indicated generally at 26' and is mounted on support arm 24 by means of a vertically disposed sleeve portion 56 which is formed integrally with the arm 24.

Fixed in the sleeve 56 by means of a lock pin 58 is a tubular element 60 which has extending therein a cylindrical resilient rod element 62 made of rubber or other suitable resilient material. Placed about the outer surface of the tubular element 60 is a coil spring 64 through which the resilient rod element 62 extends axially. The upper end of the spring 64 is placed about a tubular element 66 which telescopically receives the upper end of the resilient element 62, and fixed to the upper end of the element is a mounting block 48 which includes an upper mounting surface 50', similar to the mounting block structure previously described. The element 58 extends diametrically through the lower portion of the resilient rod 62. This embodiment will permit substantially the same universal opposed rear fenders I8, similar to those previously mentioned. This installation is used with a relatively heavy roof indicated generally at 72, a plurality or pair of the assemblies 26 being provided at the center of gravity of the roof assembly 72 but in spaced transverse relation. In an installation of this character, the supports 22 are mounted by means of mounting plates on each of the fenders, and the rod sections or support arms 24' are of a relatively shorter length than the arms 24 previously described.

Referring to FIGURE :12, a tractor is indicated at 80 and includes on the fenders 18 mounting plates 20. However, supplemental vibration and shock damping means are provided in this type of roof. Extending vertically from the mounting plates 20 are support arms 22' which terminate in integral circular collars 82 of a construction similar to that described in detail relative to the universal shock absorbing and vibration damping assembly 26. Although not shown, the supplemental shock absorbing assembly will include within the circular rings 82 a core of rubber or resilient material having a central substantially rigid portion through which a support shaft 34- having rod sections extends. Placed about a central portion of the shaft or rod 84 is an assembly 26 which includes the mounting block portion 48 to which a roof assembly at 28 is fixedly secured in the manner previously described.

Referring to FIGURE 11, the support arms 22 which are fixedly secured to the tenders 18 will permit these fenders to vibrate or oscillate with respect to the roof 72, as indicated in dotted line on this figure.

Considering FIGURES 13 to 16, there is shown an installation of a relatively light hood or roof which has been conventionally described as a tropical roof. In this construction, the fender 18 has fixed thereon a supporting plate 2h which has a central aperture therethrough. Fixed on the plate is an upwardly extending tubular sleeve 86 which telescopically receives the lower end portion of a support rod 83. Extending laterally into the sleeve 86 is a lock screw 96 which will permit the rod 83 to be rotated about its longitudinal axis and also permits it to be vertically adjusted in the manner indicated by the direction arrows on FIGURE 13. The support rod 88 includes an inwardly extending support arm 92 which has fixed to the terminal end thereof an assembly 26 including a clamp screw 38 which permits the roof assembly 94 to be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the arm 92.

The roof assembly 94, shown in FIGURE 15, comprises a substantially rectangular tubular frame 96 which includes a transversely extending supporting member 93 to which the upper portion of the assembly 26 is fixed by means of suitable fasteners Mil). The mounting piece 93 is located at the center of gravity of the roof assembly 94 and accordingly will provide an optimum location for the shock absorbing and vibration damping assembly 26. The frame 26 includes a substantially flexible cover material 12 which may be secured by means of sewing or riveting around the tubular frame 96.

Indicated generally at 1% is an adjustable resilient belt 106 having hook elements 1% and 110 on opposite ends which may be respectively secured to portions of the tubular frame 96 and a convenient portion of the tractor upon which the roof is mounted in order to tilt the roof to the various positions shown by means of phantom lines in FIGURE 14, for example.

Referring to FIGURE 17, a tractor 112 has mounted on a rear end portion 114 a tropical roof of the character described relative to FIGURES 13 to 15. In this installation, the manner in which the roof overlies the operators or drivers seat 116 gives him freedom of movement into and out of the tractor seat, and his vision during operation of the tractor is not impaired.

Considering FIGURES 18 and 19, a caterpillar-type tractor is indicated generally at 118 and has mounted t3 thereon on one of the walk ways 120 the vertical supporting member 88 of the tropical roof previously described, as shown in FIGURE 19.

Considering next FIGURES 20 to 25, a tractor 7 0 has mounted thereon a roof assembly 72', similar to the roof described relative to FIGURE 11. In this embodiment, the rear fenders 18 have mounted thereon mounting plates 24 from which extend vertical supports 22 which include inwardly extending arms 24 upon which are mounted the universal shock absorbing and damping assemblies 26, which are secured to the roof by means of suitable fasteners, as previously described. In this installation, the roof includes outwardly pivoting side panels 121 which may be disposed in the position shown in FIG- URES 21 and 22. In this embodiment, the shock absorbing assemblies 26 are disposed beneath the center of gravity of the roof assembly 72' and the operator or driver will have ready access to the seat of the tractor. In order to further support the roof 72' against vibration and the like, hydraulic dampers 122 may be interposed between the roof and the vertical support rod 22, as shown in FIGURE 23, and additional hydraulic dampers 123 may extend between the forward edge of the windshield 124 to a steering column S, as indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 23.

Referring to FIGURE 25, hydraulic dampers 125 may be provided between the forward edge of the windshield 118 and underlying portions of the hood H. By virtue of the different types of tractors which are conventionally used, different fender constructions are encountered and, accordingly, the various support means will be modified to permit ready adaption of the roof assembly on these various tractors. The tractors may incorporate means for mounting the roof attachment as part of the original manufacture, or they may be readily modified in the field.

Considering FIGURES 26 to 32, a fender F having a vertical side portion 126 has superimposed thereon a mounting plate 128. The plate 128 has a plurality of apertured portions for receiving screws at portion 134 as shown in FIGURE 29.

Welded at 131, as shown in FIGURE 32, is a supporting plate 132 which terminates in an upper spherical ball element 134. The support rod or member 22 has a lower open, annular portion 136 received on the spherical ball element 134 (see FIGURES 27 to 30). The support rod and the roof assembly supported thereby will be adjustably mounted and supported by means of a strut assembly indicated generally at 138, as shown in FIGURE 26, which will permit various types of adjustment or positioning of this strut assembly.

The strut assembly 133 comprises a pair of angularly related

integral strut elements

146 and 142 having their terminal ends connected to clamping collars 146. The collars 146 may be moved longitudinally of the support rod 22 (see FIGURE 26) and will permit various adjusted positions of the support rod 22.

The clamp sleeve 146 (FIGURES 33 and 36) comprises a collar having a diametrically extending retaining pin I43 extending through the collar and the support rod 22. As shown in FIGURES 34 and 37, another type of clamp sleeve is indicated at 146' and comprises a tubular element placed about the support rod 22 and including a pair of parallel flanges 15% which are retained or pulled together by means of suitable nut and bolt assemblies 152.

Referring to FIGURES 35 and 38, another clamp sleeve is indicated at 146 and comprises a sleeve placed about the support rod 22 and has extending laterally therein lock screws 154 which abuttingly engage the support rod 22 to retain the collars 146" in a fixed position relative to the support rod 22. Thus, the support collars will facilitate the adjusted position of the strut assembly 138 as indicated by the solid and dotted lines in FIGURE 26.

V; As shown in FIGURES 26 to 28, the rods 14% and 142 intersect at the ends opposite those attached to the sleeves terminates in a spherical support ball 134 of the character previously described. lhe support rod 22 rests 'on the upper surface of the spherical ball element 134 and a sleeve 146 is clamped about the support rod 122.

A strut assembly 136 is provided, and this strut assembly includes at the foot portion 156 thereof a ball element 158 of the character previously mentioned. Re-

placing the cup member 16%) is a coupling sleeve indicated generally at 166, details of which are shown in FIGURE 40. The sleeve member 166 includes an upwardly opening collar 168 which has a resilient clamp element 179 telescopically received therein, the upper end portion of the element 1711 being spherical, as shown at 172, to receive the ball element 158 therein. A lower portion of the element 171) is transversely apertur-ed and suitably tapped for receiving therein a screw element 174 which extends upwardly through the fender 164. When the screw element 174- is tightened, the element 1719 will, due to its tapered lower end, be caused to grip the ball 158 at the lower end of the strut assembly 133.

With regard to FIGURES 41 and 42, the strut assembly 138 includes at the foot portion 156 thereof a pair of

clamp plates

176 and 178 which are urged into clamping relationship by means of a manually rotatable clamp screw 18% The lower end portion of the

plates

176 and 178, which are intermediately pivoted at 182,"

Will grippingly engage a spherical ball element 184 which is fixed on a mounting stud 186 to a suitable portion of the fender 164.

In the embodiments of FIGURES 41 and 42, the

mounting studs 18%, which are retained by means of suit shock absorbing and vibration damping means which will permit shocks transmitted from a tractor or farm implement to be damped and to have substantially little efiect on the roof which is mounted on the tractor. As

illustrated in FIGURES 5 to 8, the two embodiments of the universal shock absorbing and damping means makes possible various relative eccentric movements between the support member rod 22 and the roof which is supported thereby. The assemblies 26 and 26' will be located substantially at the center of gravity of the roof to permit optimum support for the roof and by virtue of this support a very cumbersome structure interfering with the drivers visibility is avoided and resonant vibrations are materially reduced. Further, in relatively heavy roof constructions, a plurality of shock absorbing assemblies 26 may be utilized, as shown in FIGURE 11 and, where necessary and deemed desirable, a supplemental shock absorbing and vibration damping means will be provided, as illustrated in FIG- URE 12.

In addition, as indicated in FIGURES 17 to 19, the roof attachment may be mounted on various types of tractors, for example, on conventional farm tractors or the caterpillar-type tractors, as well as other road building equipment. Furthermore, as shown in FIG- URES 20 to 22, the roof attachment facilitates the utilization of a windshield which has isplaceable side portions to permit the operator of the tractor to have ready access to the operating portion of the tractor. In addition, supplemental hydraulic or pneumatic fluid-type shock absorbing or damping means can be utilized, as shown in FIGURES 23 to 25. Still further, the roof attachment may be readily mounted on different types of fenders of various tractors, and the lower support portion may be adjustably mounted, as clearly illustrated in FIGURES 26 to 31. Various types of clamp sleeves, as illustrated in FIGURES 33 to 38, may be used and detachable couplers may be utilized as illustrated in FIGURES 49 to 42.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents or" the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a tractor vehicle, in combination, a plurality of fenders, a roof assembly having roof means overlying an operator portion of the tractor vehicle; support means having an L-shaped configuration fixed to the vehicle in displacement to the operator portion and extending upwardly therefrom toward the roof means, said support means having a leg at the top end extending horizontally and transversely and terminating near substantially the center of gravity of said room assembly, universal vibration damping and shock absorbing means secured to the end of said leg, said roof means being mounted on said shock absorbing means, said shock absorbing means including a resilient annular collar, means mounted at the end of said leg for releasably holding said collar whereby its axis is in a horizontal position, a metal ring enclosing said collar, mounting means securing said ring to said roof means.

2. The combination of claim 1 said roof means comprising a slteletonized frame including a covering of a tween said roof means and tractor vehicle for retaining the root means in a position of adjustment.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the shock absorbing means comprises a resilient rod element, said resilient element having the ends thereof positioned in cups, one cup being secured to the end portion of said leg with the open end extending upwardly, the other cup being secured to the roof with the open end extending downwardly, a helical spring is positioned concentrically with respect to said resilient rod and said cup between the roof and the said leg.

5. In a tractor vehicle, in combination, a roof assembly having roof means overlying an operator portion of the tractor vehicle, roof support means fixed to the vehicle in displacement to the operator and extending upwardly therefrom toward the roof means, said support means mounted in said vehicle by means comprising a support means removably received on a ball element fixedly mounted on the tractor vehicle, and a strut assembly connected to said support means and tractor vehicle adjacent said ball element.

. a depending ball element, the tractor vehicle including coupling means removably receiving the ball element of said strut assembly.

8. The combination of clann 6; said strut assembly comprising a pair of arm elements intersecting at a depending foot connected to said ball element of the strut assembly, said arm being connected to clamping collars adjustably engageable with said support arm for permitting the support arm to be rotated about its longitudinal axis.

9. A roof assembly for use on a vehicle comprising, in combination: roof means for overlying an operator portion of such vehicle; support means extending downwardly from the roof means and having a connecting device for rigidly fixing said support means to such vehicle; universal vibration damping and shock absorbing means secured to the support means at a position spaced from said connecting device and supporting said roof means, said shock absorbing means including a resilient annular collar and a reinforcing ring encircling said collar; means for holding said collar on said support means with the axis of the former disposed horizontally; and mounting means securing said ring to said roof means.

10. The combination defined in claim 9 wherein said support means include a pair of support members dis posed at generally opposite sides of the operator portion and having rod sections at their top ends extending generally horizontally, said universal Vibration damping and shock absorbing means being disposed between each support member and said roof means, and said collar axis being substantially coincident with the axes of said rod sections.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said vibration damping means include portions permitting said roof means to be adjustably tilted about the longitudinal axes of said rod sections.

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein there are two vibration damping means disposed at opposite sides of said roof means and on a lateral axis which extends through the center of gravity of said roof means.

13. The combination of claim 10 wherein said support members and rod sections have supplemental universal vibration damping means interposed therebetween.

14. The combination of claim 10 comprising supplemental fiuid-type shock-absorbing assemblies extending between the tractor vehicle and said support members.

15. A roof assembly for use on a vehicle comprising, in combination: roof means for overlying an operator portion of such vehicle; support means extending in a generally downward direction from said roof means and having, at a position spaced from said roof means, a device for connecting said support means to such vehicle; universal vibration damping and shock absorbing means connected to the support means at a position spaced from said device and supporting said roof means, said shock absorbing means including a resilient annular collar and a reinforcing ring encircling said collar; means for holding said collar on one of said support means and said roof means with the axis of the collar disposed generally horizontally; and mounting means for connecting said ring to the other of said support means and said roof means.

16. An assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein said connecting device includes a member removably received on a ball element to be fixedly mounted on the vehicle, and a strut assembly connected to said member and connectable to the vehicle adjacent said ball element.

17. A roof assembly for use on a vehicle comprising, in combination: roof means for overlying an operator portion of such vehicle; support means extending in a generally downward direction from said roof means; universal vibration damping and shock absorbing means connected to the support means and supporting said roof means, said shock absorbing means including a resilient annular collar and a reinforcing ring encircling said collar; means for holding said collar on one of said support means and said roof means with the axis of the collar disposed generally horizontally; and mounting means for connecting said ring to the other of said support means and said roof means.

References Cited in the file of this patent