The present disclosure relates to a work machine that has a fresh air filter for use with an operator station.
There are work machines having an operator station configurable to provide an enclosed space for an operator of the work machine. Inside the operator station, an operator controls the work machine. To maximize the comfort of the operator, the operator station may be heated, cooled, and ventilated. To accomplish this, the operator station may draw air from outside the operator station through a fresh air filter into the operator station.
Fresh air filters may be serviced from time to time (e.g., weekly) to optimize their performance characteristics. Servicing a fresh air filter may include, for example, cleaning or replacing the fresh air filter.
According to the present disclosure, the work machine comprises an operator station and a filter door mounted to the operator station for movement relative thereto. The work machine further comprises a fresh air filter to filter fresh air that flows from outside the operator station into the operator station. The fresh air filter is mounted to the filter door for movement therewith relative to the operator station.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the operator station comprises a fresh air inlet and is configurable to define an access opening. The filter door is mounted to the operator station for pivotable movement relative to the operator station between a closed position and an opened position. The fresh air filter is mounted to the filter door for movement therewith relative to the operator station. When the filter door is positioned in the closed position, the fresh air filter is positioned to filter fresh air that flows from outside the operator station through the fresh air inlet into the operator station. When the filter door is positioned in the opened position, the fresh air filter is arranged relative to the access opening so as to be accessible outside the operator station through the access opening from inside the operator station. The work machine may also have a latch actuator operable from inside the operator station to unlatch and open the filter door for access to the fresh air filter by the operator.
As such, to service the fresh air filter, an operator located inside the operator station can open the filter door from inside the operator station, reach through the access opening to the fresh air filter (e.g., an opening defined by an opened window of the operator station), and remove the fresh air filter for cleaning or replacement of the fresh air filter. In this way, the operator can remain located inside the operator station and keep the fresh air filter, and the contaminants trapped thereby, outside the operator station while the operator services the fresh air filter. This may be particularly useful with work machines having an elevated operator station, such as knuckleboom log loaders or tower cranes, in which the fresh air filter may be difficult to access from the ground without use of a ladder or other elevation aid.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the work machine comprises an operator station, a filter door, and a fresh air filter to filter fresh air that flows from outside the operator station into the operator station. The fresh air filter is mounted to the filter door. The filter door is mounted to the operator station for movement relative thereto so as to be openable toward a window of the operator station for access to the fresh air filter outside the operator station through the window from inside the operator station.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for a work machine is disclosed. The method comprises releasing the filter door, accessing the fresh air filter outside the operator station through the access opening from inside the operator station, and removing the fresh air filter from the filter door.
The above and other features will become apparent from the following description and the attached drawings.
The detailed description of the drawing refers to the accompanying figures in which:
Referring to
The operator station 4 is mounted to a support frame 2. The support frame 2 is mounted to a platform 23 via a swing-bearing arrangement 7 for rotation of the operator station 4 about a vertical axis. In this embodiment, the platform 23 is a semi-trailer, but the platform 23 may take other forms as well (e.g., a truck). An articulated boom 3, having inboard and outboard arms articulated to one another, is mounted for rotation with the operator station 4 relative the platform 23 via the swing-bearing arrangement 7. A grapple 5 is attached to the boom 3 (i.e., the outboard arm thereof). The boom 3 and the grapple 5 may be used to load timber onto trucks.
Referring now to
As shown, for example, in
Exemplarily, the louvers 13 of the door 10 are positioned so as to minimize entry of water (e.g., rain water) into the filter 12. The louvers 13 are positioned below the filter 12 and above a compartment drain (not shown) of the compartment 30 for drainage of water that may enter the compartment 30. The louvers 13 are angled upwardly to direct the flow of fresh air toward the filter 12.
As shown, for example, in
As such, the filter door 10 is mounted to the operator station 4 for movement relative thereto so as to be openable toward the window 48 for access to the fresh air filter 12 outside the operator station 4 through the window 48 from inside the operator station 4. Exemplarily, the pivot axis 90 is offset horizontally from the window 48 to promote access to the filter 12 when the door 10 is opened. More particularly, the window 48 has a forward side edge 48a and a rearward side edge 48b, and the pivot axis 90 is rearward of the rearward side edge 48b.
An exemplary filter mount 14 is fixed to the filter door 10, as shown, for example, in
The filter mount 14 is formed of, for example, sheet metal. In so forming the mount 14, a piece of sheet metal is cut from a blank to create the rim 47, and three flanges of the blank, extending outwardly from the segments 47a, 47b, 47c, are bent away from the rim 47 to form the walls 16, 20, 22. The walls 16, 20, 22 are then fixed to the interior surface of the door 10 through welding, for example. As such, the rim 47 is configured as a perforated plate.
Exemplarily, the fresh air filter 12 comprises a filter element 29, a gasket 27, and a frame 25. The filter element 29 comprises a block of pleated paper. The frame 25 surrounds the periphery of the filter element 29. The gasket 27 is mounted on the frame 25 therearound and is made of, for example, urethane. An example of the filter 12 is provided by Cummins Filtration Inc. of Stoughton, Wisconsin and has Deere Part No. AT191102.
The filter 12 is inserted through an opening defined by the rim 47, and a first portion 27a of the gasket 27 is urged into the rim opening 62 such that the filter 12 is mounted to the filter mount 14 via an interference fit between the gasket portion 27a and the rim 47, and its segments 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d, and a sealed connection is established between the filter element 29 and the rim 47, and its segments 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d, by use of the gasket portion 27a. As such, the rim 47 surrounds the filter 12 upon attachment of the filter 12 to the rim 47.
When the filter door 10 is positioned in the closed position, a second portion 27b of the gasket 27 is compressed between a face of the rim 47 and the interior wall 34 so as to establish a sealed connection between the rim 47, including its segments 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d, and the interior wall 34 around the air inlet 6. Such compression further facilitates mounting of the filter 12 to the filter mount 14.
The machine 1 may have a latch mechanism for latching in the door 10 in the closed position. As shown, for example, in
The striker 42 is, for example, a striker post, as shown, for example, in
The latch actuator 46 exemplarily comprises an operator interface 33 and a rod 31. The rod 31 extends from the latch 44 into the operator station 4 to the operator interface 33 so as to interconnect the latch 44 and the operator interface 33. The operator interface 33 is positioned in the operator station 4 for ready access by the operator 9 and is configured, for example, as a knob. In other examples, the operator interface 33 may be a handle or other suitable structure for interfacing with the operator 9 to actuate the latch 44. When the operator 9 operates the latch actuator 46, via the operator interface 33, the latch 44 releases the striker 42 and the filter door 10 pivots from the closed position to a released position (shown in phantom in
As shown, in
As shown, for example, in
As shown, for example, in
The operator station 4 may have an access panel 11, shown, for example, in
Referring to
The tether 50 may be, for example, a chain or a cable. The first end 52 may be attached, for example, with a tether fastener 56. The second end 54 may be attached, for example, with a tether tee 58.
Referring to
Referring to
Afterwards, the operator 9 accesses the filter 12 outside the operator station 4 through the access opening 8 from inside the operator station 4. In particular, in act 74, the operator 9 opens the window 48, in the direction of arrow 69 (see
In act 82, the operator 9 removes the filter 12 from the door 10. The operator 9 detaches the filter 12 from the mount 14 by detaching the gasket 27 from the rim 47 and pulling the filter element 29 through the rim opening 62 in the direction of arrow 86 (see
Thus, when servicing the filter 12, the operator 9 can remain located inside the operator station 4, while the filter 12, with the contaminants trapped thereby, is kept outside the operator station 4. This may be particularly useful with work machines having an elevated operator station, such as knuckleboom log loaders or tower cranes, in which the fresh air filter 12 may be difficult to access from the ground without use of a ladder or other elevation aid. In the illustrated example (see
While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/059530 to Stephens et al., which is titled “WORK MACHINE WITH DOOR-MOUNTABLE FRESH AIR FILTER,” filed Aug. 20, 2008 (Docket NO. 18541 W-US), and hereby incorporated by reference herein.