Patent Application
20230271652
The present disclosure relates generally to a cab for a work vehicle, and more particularly to a work vehicle comprising a cab with enhanced visibility.
Work vehicles, such as a crawler or motor grader, can be used in construction and maintenance for grading terrain to a flat surface at various angles, slopes, and elevations. When paving a road for instance, a motor grader can be used to prepare a base foundation to create a wide flat surface to support a layer of asphalt. When controlling a ground engaging tool or implement, it is valuable to know when the implement is in contact with a surface. As such, there is a need in the art for a work vehicle having a cab with enhanced or improved visibility so that an operator can see the implement and when the implement is in contact with the surface.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a cab for a work vehicle that operates on a surface is disclosed. The cab comprises a longintudinal axis extending between a front of the cab and a rear of the cab opposite to the front of the cab. An operator faces the front of the cab. The cab comprises a left side portion, a right side portion opposite of the left side portion, a floor coupled to the left side portion forming a left floor edge and coupled to the right side portion forming a right floor edge, and a roof coupled to the left side portion forming a left roof edge and coupled to the right side portion forming a right roof edge, the roof positioned above the floor. The cab further comprises a frame supporting the front of the cab. The frame is positioned above the floor in a central portion of the front of the cab. A first support is coupled to the frame and extends from the central portion towards the left floor edge. A second support is coupled to the frame and extends from the central portion towards the right floor edge. A third support is coupled to the frame and extends from the central portion towards the left roof edge. A fourth support is coupled to the frame and extends from the central portion towards the right roof edge.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a work vehicle that operates on a surface is disclosed. The work vehicle comprises an implement and a cab positioned behind the implement. The cab comprises a longintudinal axis that extends between a front of the cab and a rear of the cab opposite to the front of the cab. An operator faces the front of the cab. The cab comprises a left side portion, a right side portion opposite of the left side portion, a floor coupled to the left side portion forming a left floor edge and coupled to the right side portion forming a right floor edge, and a roof coupled to the left side portion forming a left roof edge and coupled to the right side portion forming a right roof edge, the roof positioned above the floor. The cab further comprises a frame supporting the front of the cab. The frame is positioned above the floor in a central portion of the front of the cab. A first support is coupled to the frame and extends from the central portion towards the left floor edge. A second support is coupled to the frame and extends from the central portion towards the right floor edge. A third support is coupled to the frame and extends from the central portion towards the left roof edge. A fourth support is coupled to the frame and extends from the central portion towards the right roof edge.
According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure a work vehicle that operates on a surface is disclosed. The work vehicle comprises an implement and a cab positioned behind the implement. The cab comprises a longintudinal axis that extends between a front of the cab and a rear of the cab opposite to the front of the cab. An operator faces the front of the cab. The cab comprises a left side portion, a right side portion opposite of the left side portion, a floor coupled to the left side portion forming a left floor edge and coupled to the right side portion forming a right floor edge, and a roof coupled to the left side portion forming a left roof edge and coupled to the right side portion forming a right roof edge, the roof positioned above the floor. The cab further comprises a frame supporting the front of the cab. The frame is positioned above the floor in a central portion of the front of the cab. A first support is coupled to the frame and extends from the central portion towards the left floor edge. A second support is coupled to the frame and extends from the central portion towards the right floor edge. A third support is coupled to the frame and extends from the central portion towards the left roof edge. A fourth support is coupled to the frame and extends from the central portion towards the right roof edge. A seat is coupled to at least one of the left side portion, the right side portion, the floor, and the roof. The seat is positioned to provide the operator a view of the implement below the frame at the front of the cab.
Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanying figures in which:
Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Further embodiments of the invention may include any combination of features from one or more dependent claims, and such features may be incorporated, collectively or separately, into any independent claim.
In addition, the operator may command the implement 15 to move. The implement 15 may be positioned at a front of the work vehicle 10 and may be attached to the work vehicle 10 in a number of different manners. In this embodiment, the implement 15 is attached to the work vehicle 10 through a linkage which includes a series of pinned joints, structural members, and hydraulic cylinders. This configuration allows the implement 15 to be moved up 45 and down 50 relative to a surface 55 or ground, rotate around a vertical axis 60 (i.e., an axis normal to the ground), rotate around an implement longitudinal axis 65 (e.g., a fore-aft axis of the work vehicle 10), and rotate around a lateral axis 70 (
The operator may command movement of the implement 15 from the cab 20, which may be coupled to the work vehicle 10 and positioned behind the implement 15 or located remotely. Those commands are sent, including mechanically, hydraulically, and/or electrically, to a hydraulic control valve. The hydraulic control valve receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump, and selectively sends such pressurized hydraulic fluid to a system of hydraulic cylinders based on the operator’s commands. The hydraulic cylinders, which in this case are double-acting, are extended or retracted by the pressurized fluid and thereby actuate the implement 15. Alternatively, electronic actuators may be used.
With continued reference to
The seat 25 may be coupled to at least one of the left side portion 95, the right side portion 100, the floor 105, and the roof 120 via at least one linkage. The seat 25 may be positioned to provide the operator a view of the surface 55 below the frame 135 at the front 85 of the cab 20 and/or a view of the surface 55 between the first support 145 and the second support 150.
A front portion 165 is coupled to the left side portion 95 forming a left front edge 170 and coupled to the right side portion 100 forming a right front edge 175. The front portion 165, the left side portion 95, the right side portion 100, and floor 105 may comprise a transparent portion 180 that may be glass or another see-through material. With reference to
The first support 145 and the third support 155 cover only a portion of the left front edge 170. The second support 150 and the fourth support 160 cover only a portion of the right front edge 175. The first support 145 and the second support 150 cover only a portion of the front floor edge 185. The remaining portions of the left front edge 170, the right front edge 175, and the front floor edge 185 may include the seam 195. Less framing structure and the seam 195 provide enhanced visibility.
