Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-01
2001-07-24
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S166000, C182S127000, C180S009100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264227
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally relates to work vehicles having a step assembly provided to facilitate ingress and egress to an operator cab. In particular, the invention relates to an articulated work vehicle having a moveable step assembly. The step assembly moves in response to vehicle maneuvers, to avoid interference with the vehicle propulsion system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Work vehicles, including, but not limited to, agricultural work vehicles such as tractors and combines as well as construction equipment vehicles such as loaders and backhoes, can be configured as articulating vehicles, that is having a pivot intermediate the work vehicle's front end and rear end. A central pivot serves to improve maneuverability of large or long work vehicles. Such work vehicles may be configured using a system of wheels, a system of tracks, or a combination thereof, to propel the work vehicle. The use of a pivot in a work vehicle has many advantages including maneuverability at a work site, such as a farm field or a construction site, and maneuverability on public roads during transport from work site to work site.
Large work vehicles often require a system of steps by which an operator may gain access to the operator station from the ground, or gain access to the ground from the operator station. It is desirable for the system of steps to remain stable and usable throughout operation of the vehicle so that a person may gain access to or exit from the operator station during reasonably slow operation of the work vehicle.
It may be desirable to locate a step assembly adjacent the vehicle pivot. The region adjacent the vehicle pivot provides added complexity in mounting sensitive and complicated equipment due to the vehicles movement in the pivot area. Therefore, due to the simplicity of the step assembly and proximity of pivot region to the operator station, it may be desirable to mount a step assembly in the pivot region.
Placing any equipment in the pivot region provides difficulties because the equipment may interfere with the tires or tracks of the work vehicle when the vehicle makes a turn. Therefore, there is a need for a system of moveable steps whereby the steps move in response to the turn of the work vehicle. For example, if the steps were located on the right side of the tractor adjacent the pivot, a right hand turn would cause interference between the steps and the wheels or tracks of the work vehicle. Therefore, there is a need for a step assembly that moves away from the interference area during a right hand turn. It would be advantageous to have the step assembly remain fixed while the tractor is going substantially in a straight line or during a left hand turn (if the steps are mounted on the right hand side, and right hand turn if the steps are mounted on the left hand side) in which there is no interference between the step assembly and the tracks or wheels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a moveable step apparatus including a step mount, a step assembly moveably interconnected with the step mount, an actuator mount, and an actuator coupled with the step assembly and with the actuator mount. The actuator provides a force to the step assembly, in response to a motion communicated to the actuator, to selectively move the step assembly relative to the step mount.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes an articulated vehicle having a moveable step assembly. The articulated vehicle includes a front vehicle section, a rear vehicle section, a pivotable joint interconnecting the front vehicle section and the rear vehicle section, a step mount interconnected with the vehicle on one of the front vehicle section and the rear vehicle section, a step assembly movably interconnected with the step mount, an actuator mount interconnected with the vehicle, and an actuator interconnected with the step assembly and with the vehicle. The pivotable joint facilitates steering of the vehicle. The actuator provides a force to the step assembly in response to a vehicle motion communicated to the actuator, to selectively move the step assembly relative to the vehicle.
A further embodiment of the present invention provides an articulated vehicle having a moveable step assembly. The articulated vehicle includes a front vehicle section, a rear vehicle section, and a pivotable joint interconnecting the front vehicle section and the rear vehicle section. The articulated vehicle further includes a step mount interconnected with the vehicle on one of the front vehicle section and the rear vehicle section, a step assembly movably interconnected with the step mount, a first push arm interconnected with the step assembly, an arm mount interconnected with the vehicle, a second push arm interconnected with the arm mount and interconnected with the first push arm, a sleeve interconnected with the first push arm and the second push arm, a slider substantially fixed to the sleeve and slidable with respect to the second push arm, and a spring engaging the second push arm and the slider. The pivotable joint facilitates steering of the vehicle. The first push arm and the second push arm are forced to move in response to steering actions of the vehicle and the step assembly is forced to move in response to motions of the first push arm.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes a push arm assembly including a first rod coupled with the step assembly, a second rod coupled with the actuator mount, and a spring engaging the first rod and the second rod.
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patent: 4218006 (1993-12-01), None
Garberg Bryan J.
Johnson Brad
Lykken Thomas G.
Case Corporation
Foley & Lardner
Johnson Brian L.
Lerner Avraham H.
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