Work vehicle windshield

Details Work vehicle windshield Work vehicle windshield

1999-04-12

2001-03-27

Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)

Motor vehicles

Bodies

Tractor and similar vehicle cabs

C280S779000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06206120

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to work vehicle windshields. In particular, the present invention relates to work vehicle front windshields.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Work vehicles, such as tractors and construction equipment, typically include an enclosed cab surrounding an operator station.
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventionally known work vehicle operator station
10
. Operator station
10
is generally located behind a hood
12
enclosing an interior
14
of a work vehicle. Operator station
10
includes steering column
18
, steering wheel
20
and hand pump
22
. Operator station
10
further includes a cab enclosure
24
including roof
26
, front windshield
30
, firewall
28
, side panels
32
and a rear panel
34
. Fire wall
28
comprises a metal panel supporting steering column
18
which extends through fires wall
28
. Front windshield
30
comprises three vertical glass panels, front panel
31
and angled panels
38
,
40
, sealed to one another about fire wall
28
. Panels
36
,
38
and
40
are sealed between roof
26
and the floor of operator station
10
.
Side panels
32
extend rearwardly from angled panels
38
,
40
towards rear panel
34
. Rear panel
34
extends along a rear end of operator station
10
. At least one of side panels
32
is typically formed as part of a door for entering an interior of cabin enclosure
24
. Side panels
32
and rear panels
34
are also sealed to one another between roof
26
and the floor by silicon caulk. Fire wall
28
and glass panels
32
,
34
,
36
,
38
and
40
collectively form an enclosure about steering wheel
20
and an operator seat (not shown).
Current MAGNUM two-wheel drive tractors sold by Case Corporation also utilize three panels of glass about fire wall
28
to form a front windshield. However, such current MAGNUM two-wheel drive tractors have a slightly different configuration. With such tractors, front panel
36
extends across the entire top of the cab and two smaller lower side panels extend along opposite sides of fire wall
28
. As a result, the seams between the glass panels are horizontal rather than vertical.
Current MU-7 tractors sold by Case Corporation utilize a one-piece front windshield. However, the one-piece windshield includes an exaggerated vertical cut-out which receives and extends about fire wall
28
.
The above-described current front windshield designs have several drawbacks. First, the individual glass panels or the single glass panel must be precisely cut with minimal allowed tolerances to enable the front windshield to fit about fire wall
28
. Second, such front windshields are extremely difficult to assemble because each junction between adjacent glass panels and between the glass panels and fire wall
28
must be sealed. Third, such glass panels are difficult to manufacture and have poor durability. Since most glass breakage starts at defects or high stress points at the edge of the glass and since the glass panels forming the front windshield have edges with a relatively long linear length, the glass panels forming the front windshield are more susceptible to cracking and breaking due to stresses on the glass during manufacturing, handling, shipping, installation and operation. Moreover, any inside cut, such as required to form the cut-out receiving fire wall
28
increases the chance of breakage. This problem is even further exasperated when the glass is tempered to increase strength or to shape the glass.
As a result, there is a continuing need for a work vehicle, a cab enclosure and an operator station including a front windshield which has few parts, which can be easily and inexpensively manufactured without high tolerances, which is less susceptible to crackage or breakage during manufacturing, handling, shipping, installation and operation, and which conveniently, economically and reliably provides a sealed enclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one embodiment, the present invention provides an operator station for a work vehicle. The operator station includes a steering column, a steering control coupled to the steering column and a transparent panel. The transparent panel includes a continuously bound opening therethrough which receives the steering column.
According to a second embodiment, the present invention provides a cab for use with a work vehicle including an operator station having a floor and a steering column supporting a steering control. The cab enclosure includes a roof configured to extend opposite the floor and at least one transparent panel extending from the roof towards the floor. The at least one transparent panel includes a continuously bound opening therethrough located and sized to receive the steering column.
According to a third embodiment, the present invention provides a front windshield for a work vehicle having a steering column. The front windshield includes a transparent panel formed as a single unitary body and including an opening therethrough sized to receive the steering column of the work vehicle.
According to a fourth embodiment, the present invention provides a work vehicle including a chassis and an operator station supported by the chassis. The chassis includes a frame and a plurality of ground engaging motive members. The operator station includes a steering column, a steering control coupled to the steering column and a transparent panel supported by the chassis. The transparent panel is integrally formed as a single unitary body and provides a continuously bound opening through which the steering column extends.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3656799 (1972-04-01), Malm et al.
patent: 4781260 (1988-11-01), Morita et al.
patent: 4895391 (1990-01-01), Groat

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