Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
  • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
  • B60R21/13—Roll-over protection
  • B60R21/131—Protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors

Definitions

• This invention relates to a shear block removably mounted between a pair of first and second members, such as between the main frame and roll-over protection structure of a construction vehicle.
• an operator's station is mounted on the frame of a vehicle and a protection structure has at least one pair of support members thereof attached to the frame.
• a shear block means transmits shearing forces between each of the members and the frame and a release means is adapted to selectively disengage the shear block means from the frame.
• the release means includes at least one bolt threadably engaged with either the shear block means or one of the frame and support members.
• the release means may be employed for selectively disengaging the shear block means from attached members, other than the above protective structure and vehicle frame.
• FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a track- type vehicle having a shear block and release means embodiment of the present invention incorporated therein;
• FIG. 2 is an e ' nlarged and partially sectioned view of the shear block and release means, taken in the direction of arrows II-II in FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the shear block and release means, taken in the direction of arrows III-III in FIG. 2;
• FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 , but showing the shear block and release means in a disengaged, condition.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a track-type tractor 10 having a roll-over protection structure 11 (ROPS) mounted rearwardly on a frame 12 thereof.
• Roll-over protection structure 11 comprises a pair of laterally spaced and vertically disposed support members 13 (one shown) which straddle an operator's station 14 of tractor 10 and are releasably attached to frame 12 of the tractor by releasable fastening means, shown in the form of bolts 15.
• a horizontally disposed cover or canopy 16 is secured between support members 13 to cover at least substantially operator's station 14 for protection thereof.
• this invention provides a shear block means 17 normally engaged between main tractor frame 12 and each support member 13 of roll-over protection structure 11 for counteracting and absorbing such shearing forces.
• a release means 18 is connected to shear block means 17 to move selectively the shear block means between its engaged position illustrated in FIG. 2 and its disengaged position illustrated in FIG. 4 whereby bolts 15 may be released to remove roll-over protection structure 11 from tractor 10.
• a longitudinal axis of release means 18 (FIG. 2) is preferably disposed at least substantially perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis Y of shear block means 17 (FIG. 3).
• a standard procedure for mounting a shear block or key between frame 12 and each support member 13 would be to insert it in opposed grooves defined therebetween, in the direction of the longitudinal axis Y of shear block means 17, for example.
• This shear"block mounting arrangement thus requires substantial working areas on either end of the shear block, necessitating the dismantling of fuel and oil tanks and the like to provide such working areas.
• the end of the slot accommodating the shear block must be open-ended to facilitate insertion thereof in place.
• shear block means 17 includes an elongated shear block 19 of rectangular cross section which is accommodated within an opposed pair of first and second slots 20 and 21, defined in frame 12 and support member 13, respectively.
• Shear block 19 is disposed in slip- fit relationship within slots 20 and 21 to be moved in the direction of axis X from its engaged position illustrated in FIG. 2 to its disengaged position illustrated in FIG. 4, by release means 18.
• release means 18 As shown in FIG. 4, when shear block 19 is moved to its disengaged position and is thus solely disposed within slot 21, bolts 15 may be released to permit removal of roll-over protection structure 11 from frame 12 of tractor 10.
• Release means 18 comprises a bolt 22 having a threaded shank 23 thereof threadably engaged with screw threads 24 formed through shear block 19.
• An unthreaded portion 25 of bolt 22 is rotatably mounted in * a bore 26, defined in member 13, which terminates at slot 21.
• a head 27 ofbolt 22 is disposed in accessible relationship exteriorly of support member 13 of roll-over protection structure 11 to facilitate its engagement with a socket wrench.
• a stop member (not shown), such as a flange or washer secured between portions 23 and 25 on bolt 22, may be secured on the bolt to aid in preventing axial displace- ment of the bolt upon rotation thereof.
• release means 18 may be employed with respective shear block 19, a pair of such release means (PIG. 3) are preferably employed ' o more closely control movements of the shear blocks between their engaged and disengaged positions.
• shear block means 17 and 17a are particularly adapted for use on a construction vehicle, such as tractor 10, to counteract and absorb shear forces imposed thereon by roll-over protection structure 11.
• bolts 15 are substantially main ⁇ tained in a stress-free condition to prevent damage thereto and possible shearing thereof.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 it is assumed that bolts 15 have been completely released and that bolt 22 of release means 18 has been suitably rotated to back-off shear block 19 to its FIG. 4 disengaged position.
• bolts 15 are tightened down to secure them together.
• a socket wrench may then be mounted on head 27 of bolt 22 to rotate the bolt whereby shear block 19 will move from its FIG. 4 disengaged position to its engaged position within slots 20 and 21, as shown in FIG. 2.
• ends of slots 20 and 21 are open, the workman can visually note when shear block 19 has been properly seated therein. However, it should be understood that the ends of the slots may be closed, if so desired, in contrast to standard key-type shear block arrangements wherein open-ended slots are required. . Should it be desired to remove roll-over protection structure 11 from vehicle frame 12, the above procedure would be reversed. In particular, the workman need only rotate bolt 27 in the proper direction to move shear block 19 to its FIG. 4, disengaged position and thereafter remove bolts 15.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=22147606

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (2)

Citations (5)

• 1979
  • 1979-06-01 JP JP50187179A patent/JPS56500649A/ja active Pending
  • 1979-06-01 WO PCT/US1979/000385 patent/WO1980002679A1/en unknown

Patent Citations (5)

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