Apparatus and method to facilitate maintenance of a work vehicle

• US 20030230412A1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Archer, Dave
• Granted Patent: US 7,055,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/24
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 27/00 Fire-fighting land vehicles

Abstract

An arrangement of equipment elements to facilitate the maintenance of a work vehicle. The work vehicle has a support structure with a power source mounted on an end of the support structure and a vehicle body mounted on the support structure and enveloping at least a portion of the power source. The arrangement comprises a center compartment located at the rear of the vehicle body and configured to allow access to the power source. A first compartment on one side of the center compartment contains wet equipment elements. A second compartment on another side of the center compartment contains dry equipment elements. Another embodiment of the arrangement of equipment elements to facilitate maintenance includes an additional compartment on a side of the work vehicle proximate to the rear of the work vehicle.

Claims

1. An arrangement of equipment elements to facilitate maintenance of a work vehicle, with the vehicle having a power source and a vehicle body, the arrangement comprising:

at least three access areas in the vehicle body, with each access area configured to provide access to a predetermined class of equipment associated with the vehicle; and

a door associated with each access area.

2. The arrangement of equipment of claim 1, wherein at least two of the access areas are contiguous.

3. The arrangement of equipment of claim 1, wherein one of the access areas is aligned with the power source.

4. The arrangement of equipment of claim 1, wherein one of the access areas contains wet equipment elements.

5. The arrangement of equipment of claim 1, wherein one of the access areas contains dry equipment elements.

6. The arrangement of equipment of claim 1, including an additional access area on a side of the work vehicle, proximate the rear of the work vehicle.

7. The arrangement of equipment of claim 1, wherein the work vehicle is a fire-fighting vehicle.

8. The arrangement of equipment of claim 7, wherein the fire-fighting vehicle is a crash truck.

9. A work vehicle comprising:

a support structure having a rear end;

a power source mounted at the rear end of the support structure;

a vehicle body mounted on the support structure and enveloping at least a portion of the power source, the body configured with at least three access areas in the vehicle body, with each access area configured to provide access to a predetermined class of equipment associated with the vehicle; and

a door associated with each access area.

10. The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein at least two of the access areas are contiguous.

11. The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein one of the access areas is aligned with the power source.

12. The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein one of the access areas contains wet equipment elements.

13. The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein one of the access areas contains dry equipment elements.

14. The work vehicle of claim 9, including an additional access area on a side of the work vehicle, proximate the rear of the work vehicle.

15. The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein the work vehicle is a fire-fighting vehicle.

16. The work vehicle of claim 15, wherein the fire-fighting vehicle is a crash truck.

17. An arrangement of equipment elements to facilitate maintenance of a work vehicle, with the work vehicle including a support structure, a plurality of wheels coupled to the support structure with each wheel coupled to a modular independent suspension, a power source mounted on an end of the support structure and a vehicle body mounted on the support structure and enveloping at least a portion of the power source, the arrangement comprising:

a center compartment located at the rear of the vehicle body and configured to allow access to the power source;

a first compartment on one side of the center compartment and containing wet equipment elements; and

a second compartment on another side of the center compartment and containing dry equipment elements.

18. The arrangement of claim 17, including an additional compartment on a side of the work vehicle, proximate the rear of the work vehicle.

19. The arrangement of claim 17, wherein the wet equipment elements include a filter.

20. The arrangement of claim 17, wherein the dry equipment elements include an electrical component.

21. The arrangement of claim 17, wherein the work vehicle is a fire-fighting vehicle.

22. The arrangement of claim 21, wherein the fire-fighting vehicle is a crash truck.

23. The arrangement of claim 19, wherein the filter is coupled to a transducer, with the transducer coupled to a monitor used to indicate the status of the filter.

24. The arrangement of claim 23, wherein the transducer and the monitor are coupled to a data bus mounted in the work vehicle.

41. The method of claim 24, including the step of servicing equipment in the additional compartment on a side of the work vehicle.

25. A work vehicle comprising:

a support structure having a rear end;

a power source mounted at the rear end of the support structure; and

a vehicle body mounted on the support structure and enveloping at least a portion of the power source, the body configured with a center compartment allowing access to the power source, a first compartment on one side of the center compartment, and a second compartment on another side of the center compartment.

26. The work vehicle of claim 25, including an additional compartment on a side of the work vehicle, proximate the rear end of the work vehicle.

27. The work vehicle of claim 25, wherein the first compartment is configured to house wet equipment elements.

28. The work vehicle of claim 25, wherein the second compartment is configured to house dry equipment elements.

29. The work vehicle of claim 27, wherein the wet equipment elements include a filter.

30. The work vehicle of claim 28, wherein the dry equipment elements include an electrical component.

31. The work vehicle of claim 25, including a plurality of wheels coupled to the support structure, with each wheel coupled to a modular independent suspension.

32. The work vehicle of claim 25, wherein the work vehicle is a fire-fighting vehicle.

33. The work vehicle of claim 32, wherein the fire-fighting vehicle is a crash truck.

34. The work vehicle of claim 29, wherein the filter is coupled to a transducer, with the transducer coupled to a monitor used to indicate the status of the filter.

35. The work vehicle of claim 34, wherein the transducer and the monitor are coupled to a data bus mounted in the work vehicle.

36. A method to facilitate maintenance of equipment on a work vehicle, with the work vehicle having a body, a power source, a support structure, and a plurality of wheels coupled to the support structure, with each wheel coupled to a modular independent suspension, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting the power source on the support structure at the rear of the work vehicle;

configuring the body of the work vehicle to provide access to the power source through a center compartment;

configuring the body of the work vehicle to provide access to a first compartment on one side of the center compartment;

configuring the body of the work vehicle to provide access to a second compartment on another side of the center compartment;

installing wet equipment elements in the first compartment; and

installing dry equipment elements in the second compartment,

wherein, maintenance on the equipment elements and power source is performed in each of the respective compartments.

37. The method of claim 36, including the step of changing filters installed in the first compartment.

38. The method of claim 36, including the step of changing belts installed on the power source in the center compartment.

39. The method of claim 36, including the step of manipulating and adjusting switches and dials in the second compartment.

40. The method of claim 36, including the step of configuring the body of the work vehicle to allow access to an additional compartment on a side on the work vehicle, proximate the rear of the work vehicle.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the work vehicle is a fire-fighting vehicle.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the fire-fighting vehicle is a crash truck.

44. The method of claim 36, including the step of monitoring the status of the equipment elements with associated transducers coupled to a data bus mounted in the work vehicle.