Motor vehicles – Power – Hoods
Utility Patent
1999-01-15
2001-01-02
Mar, Michael (Department: 3619)
Motor vehicles
Power
Hoods
C180S069240, C016S289000, C016S361000, C016S358000, C016S357000, C403S083000
Utility Patent
active
06167977
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to work vehicles, such as agricultural tractors and construction equipment, having a compartment containing, e.g., an engine, machinery, or tools. It relates particularly to such vehicles having openable hoods for covering such compartments when in a closed position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Work vehicles, including agricultural tractors and construction equipment, are provided with compartments such as engine compartments. Such a compartment is often at least partially covered by, e.g., a hood, for protection from dust, debris, weather, theft, etc. Engine compartments may also be covered to contain noise and to route cooling air flow. Such compartments are generally kept covered by hoods in normal use of the vehicle and in storage, but must be opened to provide access for periodic maintenance and inspection and for repairs.
Hoods are often mounted to work vehicles with one or more hinges and at least one latch. The hinges generally include a stationary leaf affixed to the work vehicle structure, or frame, and a pivotally movable leaf affixed to the hood. The hinges and latch coact in the work vehicle manufacturing assembly process in that they must all be located in proper positions with respect to each other and to the hood (i.e., aligned) for proper functioning of the hinges and latch. Due in part to buildups of manufacturing dimensional tolerances, alignment of hinges and latch during assembly of a work vehicle can be arduous and time consuming. Similar difficulties may also be encountered when reinstalling a hood to a work vehicle after completion of a service operation (e.g., engine replacement or overhaul) requiring removal of the hood from the work vehicle.
In general, engine compartment hoods of work vehicles such as tractors used in agriculture and construction need be raised only partially (e.g., 40° from the horizontal) in order to perform routine, daily tasks such as inspecting and cleaning radiators and oil coolers, inspecting fluid levels and belt tensions, looking for fluid leaks, etc. Such hoods are large and relatively heavy and, although balanced by gas springs and the like, can require significant reach and effort to close after having been fully opened to a relatively large angle (e.g., 65° from the horizontal). It is therefore sometimes desirable for a hood to have more than one position of opening; e.g., a first position of a lesser degree of opening sufficient for routine daily inspection and maintenance, and a second position of a greater degree of opening for more extensive work requiring a greater degree of access.
It would be advantageous to provide for the hood of a work vehicle to be installable to the vehicle without necessity of aligning of hinges and one or more latches, irrespective of normal and typical manufacturing dimensional tolerances.
It would also be advantageous to provide for the hood of a work vehicle to be openable to a first, partially opened position providing sufficient access for performing of typical daily maintenance and inspection tasks, while also providing for the hood to be further openable to a second, fully opened position for tasks which need to be performed less frequently but require a greater degree of access.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a work vehicle including a frame provided with a compartment, and a hood for at least partially covering the compartment when disposed in a closed position, wherein the hood is coupled to the frame by at least one hinge and at least one latch when in the closed position. The latch includes a stationary portion associated with the frame and a movable portion associated with the hood, and the hinge includes a first portion associated with the frame and a second portion associated with the hood. The latch is configured for the stationary portion to engage the movable portion in a particular and predetermined location with respect to the frame when the hood is disposed in the closed position, and the second portion of the hinge is configured to assume an approximate position with respect to the first portion of the hinge, and thereby to the frame, upon engagement of the latch, the latch thereby aligning the hood and the second portion of the hinge to the frame when engaged.
Another aspect of the invention pertains to a work vehicle including a frame provided with a compartment, and a hood for at least partially covering the compartment and having a closed position and at least one opened position. The hood has a hood pivot, the hood pivot including a hood pivot major axis about which the hood is pivoted for opening and closing of the hood, the hood pivot further including a stationary portion associated with the frame and a movable portion associated with the hood. The work vehicle further includes a biasing device having a first end coupled to the frame and a second end coupled to the hood, the biasing device configured and disposed to exert a moment upon the hood about the major axis of the hood pivot substantially equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to a moment imposed about the major axis of the hood pivot by the weight of the hood, the hood being thereby repositionable with respect to the frame by a worker irrespective of the weight of the hood. The work vehicle further includes a hood positioner for controlling the amount of opening of the hood, the hood positioner including a cam pivotally mounted to one of the frame and the hood by a cam pivot disposed adjacent the hood pivot, the cam pivot including a major axis which is parallel to the major axis of the hood pivot, a first end of the cam surface including a first stop for a cam follower and corresponding to the closed position of the hood, a second end of the cam surface including a second stop for the cam follower and corresponding to the at least one opened position of the hood. The work vehicle further includes a cam follower affixed to the other of the frame and the hood, configured and disposed to engage the cam surface, and a biasing means for maintaining engagement of the cam follower with the cam surface.
Another aspect of the invention pertains to an apparatus for the securing of a hood to a work vehicle, the hood disposable in closed and at least one opened positions with respect to a frame of the work vehicle, the hood coupled to the frame and configured for at least partially covering a compartment of the work vehicle when disposed in a closed position. The apparatus includes at least one latch, the latch including a stationary portion associated with the frame and a movable portion associated with the hood, the latch configured for the stationary portion to engage the movable portion in a particular and predetermined location with respect to the frame when the hood is disposed in the closed position. The apparatus also includes at least one hinge including a first portion associated with the frame and a second portion associated with the hood, the second portion of the hinge configured to assume an approximate position with respect to the first portion of the hinge, and thereby to the frame, upon engagement of the latch, the latch thereby aligning the hood and the second portion of the hinge to the frame when engaged.
Another aspect of the invention pertains to an apparatus for positioning of a hood with respect to a frame of a work vehicle, the work vehicle having a compartment, the hood configured and disposed for at least partially covering the compartment and having a closed position and at least one opened position. The apparatus includes a hood pivot, the hood pivot including a hood pivot major axis about which the hood is pivoted for opening and closing of the hood, the hood pivot further including a stationary portion associated with the frame and a movable portion associated with the hood. The apparatus also includes a biasing device having a first end coupled to the frame and a second end coupled to the hood, the biasing device configured and disposed to exert a moment upon the hood about the major axis of the
Adamson William H.
Bahr Jesse J.
LoPiccolo Salvatore
Case Corporation
Foley & Lardner
Mar Michael
Phan Hau
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