Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Housing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-04
2001-07-03
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Housing
C362S579000, C362S481000, C362S459000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254263
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a durable mounting assembly used for high intensity halogen lights on an off road work vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Work vehicles carry a work implement for performing a work operation. To increase productivity of work vehicles they are provided with lighting systems so they can be operated during the hours of darkness. It is important that these lighting systems fully illuminate the work area being operated on by the work implement and also the area in the direction the vehicle might move. In the past, relatively large lamps were used to fully illuminate the work area and direction of travel. With the advent of high intensity halogen lamps, the lamps have become smaller and more directive, specifically focussing on the desired areas to be illuminated.
Off road work vehicles operate in impact prone environments. The vehicles encounter branches and other damaging obstacles that can break the lamps. Of course larger lamps increased the probability of lamps being damaged. Some solutions to the problems of impact prone environments have included mounting the lamps to the roof of the cab so they are protected by the overhang yet still can be directed to the work area and direction of travel. In addition, the lamps may be protected with wire framed brush guards, lenses, or recessed in a housing so as to let the housing deflect the branch. Of course these additional measures incur additional costs and make it more difficult to access the lamp to replace it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lamp mounting structure for an off road work vehicle which provides good protection of the lamp while also allowing the lamp to be easily accessible for replacement.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a lamp housing that corresponds to the roof structure of an off road work vehicle that provides for a smooth transition between the lamp housing and the roof so that branches and other debris are deflected by the lamp housing.
An off road work vehicle is provided with an operators cab having a roof. The roof is provided with a flat top surface that is defined by a front edge, a rear edge, two side edges and two outwardly angled edges extending between the front edge and the side edges. Two lamp housings are mounted to the side edges of the roof. The lamp housings are provided with a top plate corresponding to the roof and outwardly angled flanges corresponding to the outwardly angled edges of the roof, so that the roof and top plates and the outwardly extending edges and outwardly angled flanges provide a smooth transition between the roof and the lamp housings.
The lamp housings are also provided with a mounting flange and a lamp mounting plate that extends downwardly from the top plate. The lamp housing is secured to the vehicle by the mounting flange. The lamp comprises a bulb portion for emitting light and a rubber lamp deflector. The lamp mounting plate is provided with a lamp aperture having a specified perimeter that is smaller than the outer dimension of the lamp. The rubber lamp deflector is used to adjust the angle of inclination of the lamp relative to the lamp mounting plate. The deflector also provides a cushion between the rigid lamp mounting plate and the bulb portion. A lamp ring is bolted to the lamp mounting plate and traps the lamp therebetween. The rubber lamp deflector is in contact with the lamp ring. The lamp ring may be provided with an integral longitudinally extending deflector ring further protecting the lamp. It should be noted that the outer dimension of the bulb portion of the lamp may be smaller than the specified perimeter of the of the lamp aperture but that the outer dimension of the rubber lamp deflector mounted to the bulb would be larger than the specified perimeter.
In the preferred embodiment the lamp would be a high intensity halogen lamp having a circular configuration. The respective lamp aperture would also be circular for receiving the lamp.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2184208 (1939-12-01), Brown et al.
patent: 2781443 (1957-02-01), Cargle
patent: 2992321 (1961-07-01), Robbins
patent: 3405898 (1968-10-01), Ringle
patent: 4513356 (1985-04-01), Mikola
patent: 5258893 (1993-11-01), Finneyfrock
patent: 5413188 (1995-05-01), Ui
patent: 5546286 (1996-08-01), Branham
patent: 5564749 (1996-10-01), Branham
Brochure entitled “Tree Farmer, C5D Direct Drive 100 HP Class Specifications”, printed in Canada, Jun. 1980.
Brochure entitled “Tree Farmer, C4D 80 HP Class Specifications”, Jun. 1980.
Brochure entitled “ROME Model SHM Grapple Shear”, printed in U.S.A., Oct. 1972.
Brochure entitled “Valmet 880S”, 321 R-15, printed in Finland, date unknown.
Brochure entitled “Caterpillar 966D Log Loader”, AEHQ9436,date unknown.
Brochure entitled “National Hydro-Ax”, Owatonna, MN, date unknown.
Brochure entitled “ROME Parallelogram Grapple”, Seried CG, date unknown.
Mueller Daniel Joseph
Torborg Kevin Henry
Deere & Company
Negron Ismael
Sember Thomas M.
LandOfFree
Protected lamp mounting assembly for an off road work vehicle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Protected lamp mounting assembly for an off road work vehicle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Protected lamp mounting assembly for an off road work vehicle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2463999